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.

Hallelujah

This video had me in tears first thing this morning. Watch it right now and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

I too have struggled with anxiety at some points in my past and more recently with depression. It is more debilitating than anyone can imagine. I really think though that it is more common than people realize, especially for the ‘sensitive soul’. We soak up all that is going on around us and it gets overwhelming. I’m hoping that as more and more people are inspired, they are able to share their stories too and we can stand together and strengthen each other. As you can see from this girl, many sensitive souls are extremely talented…it is a shame to lose them to either isolation or in the worst case scenario…suicide.

And then there’s this one. Not anxiety related…just joyful…you need to watch this beautiful bride sing to her groom.

http://www.godvine.com/This-Bride-Had-The-Best-Surprise-For-fb-gv-5501.html

Beauty

www.essydphoto.com
www.essydphoto.com

simplehomeschool.net/beauty/

The above link takes you to an article on homeschooling which is perfect for the ‘sensitive’ mom. It really captures my heart, this is what I aim for as well. I fall short of it of course…I mean very short of it…lol…but it inspires me to try harder.

I also love all the coping strategies for the sensitive mom, over at www.sortacrunchy.net, it’s basically feeding all of your senses in ways that will nourish and refresh your spirit and keeping away from that which depletes you. For me, being a very visual person…I need to keep clutter at bay and have pretty things that I enjoy looking at close by me. I love taking a walk in my garden when it is in bloom. I am very sensitive to smells as well, and do enjoy lighting up a favorite scented candle. I have to be aware of sounds too…can’t take yelling at all…loud tv noises irk me. I like the sounds of nature…birds, water…etc.

Hiding from Love


(Click on picture to take you to Amazon)

I’m in the middle of reading this book and it is amazing! It really gets down to the root of most of our problems today.

“God had a “plan A” for us: a life of unbroken connectedness with Him and each other. Not only was there to be unbroken attachment, but we were also to experience a deep, satisfying sense of purpose and accomplishment in performing the task that He gave us.”

So we were meant to live our lives feeling deeply loved and appreciated, in relationship with Him and our brothers, with a sense of purpose and productivity. WOW! No wonder so many of us ‘sensitive souls’ just feel so darn restless all the time. Our main connections are either totally gone, or so distorted that it’s difficult to draw an ounce of pure love from them. Like trying to breathe in a polluted environment.

Also the productivity thing…yea…umm…take a look around. It’s not that we aren’t ‘busy’ enough…I mean, no one has time for anything as it is, right? But how ‘productive’ are we really? What are we putting out? Do we have pride of accomplishment in our work? It doesn’t matter what it is…a farmer, a writer, an artist, a home maker, a contemplative nun…all productive members of society. It’s in our mind set and how we go about our lives.

And I also venture to say that the two are connected. As in…by being ‘productive’ we serve our brothers and sisters and thereby enter into relationship…and as we enter into relationship and feel loved, we want to be more productive. The ultimate example of this of course being marriage. Where are called to be fruitful and multiply…in other words, be productive!”

Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
(Genesis 1:28)

Highly Sensitive Content

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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.