July musings.
As July is upon us, we have the shorter days here in the Southern Hemisphere, and it really does seem to give us permission to retreat, reset and slow down if that resonates with you.
The seasons remind us that life is always changing. Nothing stays the same forever, and just like nature, we too move through seasons of growth, rest, release and renewal.
Allowing yourself to do not much can actually be a challenge for many of us, especially when we’ve grown up with the conditioning that tells us to “keep busy” and “be productive.” Somewhere along the way we’ve been taught that if we’re not doing something, then somehow we’re being unproductive.
I’d encourage you to sit with that for a moment.
Is there any resistance that comes up when you think about stopping? About simply allowing yourself to just be?
We don’t have to justify our existence. We don’t have to earn our worth through being constantly busy.
It’s okay to do nothing… and actually enjoy it.
No guilt.
No excuses.
Just being.
I often wonder if this is one of the reasons our bodies create illness from time to time. Sometimes it’s the only way we’ll actually stop and listen. Our body is incredibly wise and is constantly communicating with us. It gives us the gentle nudges first, and if we ignore them for long enough, often those nudges become louder.
So let this be your reminder to slow down before your body asks you to.
If you haven’t already, I’d love to challenge you to choose one day, or even part of a day, where you do absolutely nothing.
Zero.
No list to tick off.
No feeling guilty.
No trying to fill every spare moment.
Just notice how it feels.
You might find it uncomfortable at first, or you might discover a sense of peace that you’ve been craving without even realising it.
As humans, we need reminding that we are worthy simply because we exist, not because we’re constantly proving our worth by staying busy.
This is something I continue to remind myself of as well, and I have to say, it’s taken me until midlife to truly understand it.
Nature has always shown us the way. The trees don’t apologise for resting through winter. The animals don’t feel guilty for slowing down. They simply honour the season they’re in.
Perhaps this July, that’s exactly what you’re being asked to do as well.
If you decide to give this little challenge a crack, I’d genuinely love to hear how you go. Your feedback is always one of my favourite parts of writing these blogs.
Many blessings,
Tonia 🙏🏼