Some great suggestions here for balancing your body and mind, and have a happy 2014.
2014 is just around the corner. Besides cozying up with our loved ones and celebrating this special period, most of us also take time to reflect. Looking back on the year that is passing and pondering how to make the one that’s coming the best ever.
Step in the (in)famous New Year’s resolutions! OK, before I let you in on the yogic twist on the subject, let’s take a quick trip back to where it all started.
A tradition dating back to B.C.
As it turns out, the first New Year’s resolutions date as far back as the Babylonian times (from 1894 BC on). Then promises were mostly made in order to earn the favor of the gods. The actual tradition of making New Year’s resolutions began much later though, during the reign of Caesar, after 46 BC. The month of January in fact gets its name from
Once again, Ms Bernhard gives us an expanded perspective on life with chronic illness. The main point seems to be to escape our narrow focus on our ailment and engage the world around us more. The way we think can influence our view of our own pain and also affect others’ views when they interact with us.
1. Less is more
2. Ruminating about the past and worrying about the future to make me unhappy
3. Rushing to judgment about others can lead to painful misunderstandings
4. Paying attention to my body’s needs is of utmost importance
5. Expanding my thinking beyond my own personal problems helps me accept the life I have
Barbara, over at Me, My Magnificent Self is setting up a January challenge to write an E-book with 31 stories about real people’s Awakenings and how they’re moving forward.
I’ve signed up to add my story but we still need a few other people to join to get the 31 stories.
Head over and see if you’d be interested in joining us.
I have had so much good feelings, feedback and inspiration since writing my post about the stages of awakening… that I really want to go a stage further… and create together with my friends within WordPress (and outside… *see comment at the end)… ‘A selection of True Awakening Experiences’, put together in a ‘Free E Book’ so that we can ALL share it on our own blog to help inspire others… (maybe giving it away to people who sign up to our blogs, increasing our circle of friends/community…)
I love challenges, especially ones that you do together with others… So here goes…
December holidays… A quiet time to reflect on our life, in preparation of moving forward into a new year, new times, new ways, new dreams, new energy…
So what better time than the month of January to post our individual awakening experiences… a post a…
Here is a Haibun I’ve written for Paint the World with Words poetic form of the week. It focusses on Christmas Eve dinner with E’s family…
The Red Dress
Last year bouncing, spinning, dancing, singing. This year smiling, resting, sitting, listening. Last year body limber, jumping. This year body aching, dragging. Always family sharing, celebrating, joyful and happy.
Alone with the fog and pain
But surrounded with joy and laughter
Accepted with peaceful love
(c) Megan S, December 2013
I’m going to take some time off now to spend with family. I’ll return in the new year refreshed and re-energised, ready to begin the adventure of defining the best me.
“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”– Carl Jung
As I mentioned in my previous post on Aspriations for 2014. The new year is going to be all about defining the best ME. To do this I will be focussing in on 3 core topics for the year and aiming to answer certain questions and experimenting with different activities, treatments and adventures to define what “the best ME” is and to live my life accordingly.
The third (and final) core topic that I will be focussing on is the Spiritual.
Over the past 8 months I have been focussing a lot more on meditation and yoga. I’d like to explore both of these further as I feel that they are helping a lot with increasing both my physical and mental health. The focus of the Spiritual topic will be on creating a greater bond between my physical and mental self.
In the new year I will be aiming to answer the following questions about my spiritual self:
What am I passionate about?
How has becoming ill helped me move along this path of healing and connectivity?
How can I use yoga and meditation more effectively to pace myself and work on my physical and mental health?
How can I be more mindful during my daily activities?
I will be trying not to focus solely on my bad health next year, however I feel to begin focussing on the positive aspects of my health as it is at the moment I do still need to answer some questions about my illness and how it affects me spiritually.
On top of answering these questions I will be continuing my practice of daily yoga and meditation. I will be aiming to increase the time I can spend practicing yoga as I absolutely love it even though I can’t do much at the present time.
My goal for 2014 is to practice yoga and meditation daily and nurture the connection between mind and body through daily mindfulness practice.
Posts related to defining the best Spiritual ME will be posted under a new regular column called Wisdom Wednesdays
(c) Megan S, December 2013
So, please join me in the new year to discover more about defining the best Spiritual ME.
Do you have any spiritual related goals for the new year?
Are there any features of defining a best ‘ME’ spiritually that you feel I have missed and should add to my thoughts?
Check out Claire’s post on how to invite a spoonie over for dinner. I’ve definitely appreciated when my friends and family have recognised my limitations but not made a huge fuss about them.
Ensuring there’s something that can be eaten and somewhere to lie down are probably my 2 biggest requirements that I often feel guilty about.
I’ve also had to cancel at the last minute due to flare ups, or at least modify my plans.
Chronic Fatigue is tricky to deal with, especially if you’re the friend of someone with it. Nobody wants to be the person that drags the unwilling sickie out the door to exhaust them even more with a dinner party where they will be a complete wet blanket. Except that most people with Chronic illnesses are extremely isolated and desperately need and want to be more social. Earlier in November I was invited over to have dinner with Matt and Amanda. Amanda has battled with Chronic Fatigue herself and her experience and understanding helped to make the night a great success for everyone.
These suggestions might make it easier for you to enjoy an evening with your chronically ill friend.
Do the asking. Your spoonie* is alone and confused and may have issues with arranging a get-together. These could range from fear/anxiety related to exertion, to a reluctance to ask…
“You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need.”– Jerry Gillies
As I mentioned in my previous post on Aspriations for 2014. The new year is going to be all about defining the best ME. To do this I will be focussing in on 3 core topics for the year and aiming to answer certain questions and experimenting with different activities, treatments and adventures to define what “the best ME” is and to live my life accordingly.
The second core topic that I will be focussing on is the Mental.
I have been unable to work since becoming ill in April this year. This has removed a big part of my mental activity from my life. I also struggle a lot due to the brain fog and fatigue and this has meant that even outside of work I have not been very active in using my mental facilities. I blog and ocassionally can read (but not very often) and I can do a little bit of sewing or other activities that uses the creative side of my brain.
In the new year I will be aiming to answer the following questions about my mental self:
What activities can increase my sense of wellbeing and fullfilment?
How can I increase my mental activity and fight through the brain fog?
What are the best ways of me to increase my capacity to a level that I can work in some way in the near future?
How can I maintain my positive outlook and avoid becoming depressed?
I will be trying not to focus solely on my bad health next year, however I feel to begin focussing on the positive aspects of my health as it is at the moment I do still need to answer some questions about my illness and how it affects me mentally.
On top of answering these questions I will be continuing my experiments with creative activities such as sewing, card making and writing poetry/fiction.
My goal for 2014 is to develop my creativity further and move towards being able to return to the workforce in some capacity. I would also like to publish the picture book I have been working on that helps us to explain our pain and brain fog to others in simple terms.
Posts related to defining the best Mental ME will be posted under a new regular column called Mental Mondays.
(c) Megan S, December 2013
So, please join me in the new year to discover more about defining the best Mental ME.
Do you have any mental health or activity related goals for the new year?
Are there any features of defining a best ‘ME’ mentally that you feel I have missed and should add to my thoughts?
As it turns out, the first New Year’s resolutions date as far back as the Babylonian times (from 1894 BC on). Then promises were mostly made in order to earn the favor of the gods. The actual tradition of making New Year’s resolutions began much later though, during the reign of Caesar, after 46 BC. The month of January in fact gets its name from 
Liveken - my chronic life journey 