Six Steps to Wholeness

www.essydphoto.com
www.essydphoto.com

I’ve determined that I need to make some changes in my life in order to feel ‘nourished’ in mind, body and soul. In a previous post, I listed the areas that are important to me. I’ve decided to start working on it, one area at a time…just baby steps…and hopefully I can connect with someone else out there that may be reading this and we can inspire each other.

So from that list I’ve come up with these six target areas that I need to address, so that what I believe is more in line with what I do. I will be following up on each one in greater detail as I go along. For now I’m just setting up a ‘wish list’ if you will.

1)First target area is that entire realm of health, with diet and exercise being the most predominant factors. I’m what some would consider ‘crunchy’. I believe in the power of wholesome foods and herbs for keeping us strong and healthy. I believe in embracing a fairly clean diet and exercise program as a way of life, one that provides energy and does not make me or my family ill. I believe that pharmaceuticals have a purpose, but should be kept to a minimum. 

As an Autism mom, the book that has made the most sense to me in explaining the why as well as offering a solution is The GAPS diet. So this is what I aim for in my family…or at least The Paleo diet which is very similar and more people are familiar with it. 

The Paleo Cure

2)Intimacy with my Creator. For me as a Catholic, at the top of that list is frequent Reception of the Sacraments in a place that feels authentic. I’ve found that as a ‘sensitive soul’ a more traditional setting serves me best. I like all the bells and whistles in my Liturgy.

3)Intimacy with others. To be in relationships where I can lay it all out and feel accepted for who I am but yet challenged to be better. To be surrounded and reaffirmed by people who are similarly called. Where I can both feed and be fed and nurtured and can have a safe exchange of ideas.

4)To guide and nurture my children in the most authentic way possible. Being attentive to their special needs and distinct calling. For me, this involves choosing a homeschooling curriculum that fits our needs. And developing a method of discipline that reaches their heart.

5)To live in an organized and fairly clean setting. Surrounded by nature and beauty. Beautiful music, art and good books surround me.It means de cluttering my living spaces and putting together a cleaning schedule that works for us. A la Flylady.

6)To express my creativity and make a living at it.
Productivity is of huge importance to me, as is providing financially for my family and for the things that The Lord puts in my heart of course. Right now, my photography is my passion. I believe that this is my current calling, and the tool that I’m to use to connect to others.

All of me a duet

Do you ever sing romantic songs to Jesus? I used to do it all the time, but haven’t done it in a while. Until this special song came out. It’s one of my favorites and yet not quite worthy to be sung to a mere human…so I sing it to Him, the lover of my soul, the One who does not disappoint, the One who will never leave me. The one who will indeed love me through it all. It’s a beautiful duet…a Communion Song if you will. 🙂

[Verse]
(Jesus)What would I do without your smart mouth
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
Got my head spinning, no kidding, I can’t pin you down
(Me)What’s going on in that beautiful mind
I’m on your magical mystery ride
And I’m so dizzy, don’t know what hit me, but I’ll be alright

[Bridge]
(Me)My head’s under water
But I’m breathing fine
(Jesus)You’re crazy and I’m out of my mind

[Chorus]
(Jesus)‘Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you
(Me)You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I’m winning
‘Cause I give you all, of me
And you give me all, of you

[Verse]
(Jesus)How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you’re crying you’re beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I’m around through every mood
(Me)You’re my downfall, you’re my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can’t stop singing, it’s ringing, in my head for you

[Bridge]
(Me)My head’s under water
But I’m breathing fine
(Jesus)You’re crazy and I’m out of my mind

[Chorus]
(Jesus)‘Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you
(Me)You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I’m winning
‘Cause I give you all, of me
And you give me all, of you

(Jesus and me together)Cards on the table, we’re both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it’s hard

[Chorus]
(Jesus)‘Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you
(Me)You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I’m winning
‘Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you

(Jesus and me together)I give you all, all of me
And you give me all, all of you.
image

Highly Sensitive Content

image

Characteristics of Highly Sensitive Souls

1)extremely intuitive

2)highly aware, keenly observant

3)attuned to the subtleties of the surrounding environment light, noise, sound, temperature, etc.

4)emotionally sensitive and caring, easily affected by the energy and emotions of others

5)often empathic

6)experience emotions with great intensity and depth

7)have a lower tolerance for stimulation than others

8)need adequate rest, nutrition and time alone to feel balanced

9)highly conscientious

10)intense, passionate, emotional

11)able to concentrate deeply with uninterrupted time

12)prefer to work independently

13)process information deeply and from many sources of information

14)often more right-brained, artistic

15)often feel very different than “everyone else”

16)have a rich, complex inner life – often highly imaginative

17)often seen by others as sensitive or shy

18)often introverted, though 30% of HSPs are “socially extroverted” according to Dr. Aron

19)can get extremely engaged with work and ideas

20)often prefer to avoid news and TV

21)have an important role to play in society as advisors, sages or prophets from many sources of information

This is ME! It also seems to describe my closest friends, I believe that these sensitive souls are the ‘mystics’ that the Carmelite spirituality embraces. The St. Therese’s and the St. John of the Cross’s of today. We may not be saints yet…we are still a work in progress…but we can look to them in living our daily lives in the here and now. We are a passionate bunch for sure…maybe even seem a tad on the insane side to the casual observer.

The new direction of this blog is in honor of this newly discovered path. It used to be called ‘stepping aside’ but it no longer describes my calling. The mission that I am now embracing is one of living fully and authentically. Of being all that The Lord wants me to be…it may sound selfish to some…but that couldn’t be further from the truth…extinguishing God’s creation in any form is sinful, even and maybe especially when done to self.