LyndyH

This will be the last in my small series on daily rituals. Here I explore the feelings I have about how daily rituals can help in coping with the situation that continues to dominate our lives – lockdown during Coronavirus and share a few more of the rituals I follow.

Pause for a moment and consider your routines. We all have routines we follow, many on a daily basis. Notice I have used the word routine. The difference between a routine and a ritual is the feeling behind the action.

Routines are often things we feel we have to do (like brushing our teeth, making the bed). Routines may seem dull and boring, but in my own experience I have found routines to be soothing and comforting as I believe they help ground me and keep me experiencing what’s happening in each moment. They help keep me mindful and self aware.

For me, I am convinced that my sub-conscious mind becomes steady and safe through repetitive motions and expected outcomes. I have been taking advantage of this time to expand on my daily routines to fill my days with more creative and joyous pursuits that make me feel good. These then become my daily rituals … routines for joy! They make me feel good  because I believe my habits create my mood and my mood is a filter through which I experience life. So therefore to experience life as joy, I am responsible, it is up to me to make my life work for me and I do this by being in control of my mood. I have been adding daily rituals to my daily life because I choose to live with joy. Finding inner happiness or joy is what we all strive for. For me I find this blissful state by ‘filling my cup’ with rituals that help keep me free from anxiety.

I am living through a beautiful, relaxing time during lockdown and I am convinced this is because I have carefully chosen daily rituals to keep me balanced and feeling grateful for being alive.

Here are my daily rituals:

1. Creative Writing. You can read about this : here
2. Practising Yoga. You can read about this : here
3. Meditation. I practice meditation to go within, to still my mind and to connect with my inner flame, the real me, the I AM.
4. Walking. It goes without saying the many benefits there are in walking but I am enhancing the wellbeing of my daily walk by taking my time to slow down and appreciate every step I take. I use all my senses to take in the environment and give thanks for nature.
5. Daily musing on Bliss. It has been wholly healing to mediate on the word bliss and what it means for me. Bliss is where I wish to reside. I have been sharing a few words about how I feel about Bliss and combining my thought for the day with a photograph I take on my daily walk. I post my photograph alongside my words on Instagram. It will be something beautiful I can look back on when lockdown ends and will remind me of the wonderful walks I have enjoyed.
6. Singing. The wellbeing benefits of singing are well documented and well known. I have found HUGE pleasure in singing for Gareth Malone since day one when he started his Great British Home Chorus
7. Being grateful. Every day I give thanks for existing.

I hope anyone who has read this far (and thank you if you have) finds inspiration to consider their daily routines and  turn them into beautiful, life enhancing daily rituals.

Here’s a link to a wellbeing site where you can read more about the benefits of creating daily rituals. I hope you find it useful

LIHazleton.
Follow me on Twitter where I connect with other writers and all things writing. Follow me on Instagram if you love nature, dogs and other animals.

In the second in this series of my musings about daily rituals (see here for my first posting on one of my daily rituals – writing) I will be exploring what yoga means for me and why I have a daily practice.

I am hopeful that everyone is coping well (or as best they can) during lockdown for Coronavirus and I trust that everyone will make careful personal choices as to how they approach life as lockdown shifts to the next phase (whatever that may be).

I imagine many people are discovering that daily rituals feed and maintain wellbeing. In sharing my daily rituals, I hope I might inspire other people to think about building a structure to their day and be careful in choosing daily rituals that keep spirits high and positivity flowing, so they might benefit from this time of enforced social isolation. There are many resources available to help people during this time and to tap into creativity and wellbeing activities could be hugely rewarding and who knows – lead on to bigger and better things once this is all over. One of my goals is to be able to look back to this time and feel I spent my time wisely and it was a wholly positive experience for me.

Yoga as a daily ritual. 

Those who know me well, know that for the last ten + years , I have been practicing yoga and for the last five years, have developed a daily practice.

Yoga is one of my daily rituals.

But what do I mean by yoga? Is it exercise? Is it about improving posture? Is it about gaining flexibility? Is it stilling the mind? Is it breath practice? Is it relaxation? Is it being about being mindful? Is it a meditation?

For me, it’s all of those things and so much more.

Yoga was intended to be an entire lifestyle, a way of living, a philosophy for life. When I first began to learn about yoga, it was a surprise for me to learn that the ‘asanas’ (the yoga poses we practice on the mat) were not even part of what the originator intended. How many people appreciate that?

The birth of yoga originally comes from the Vedas (ancient Hindu scriptures). This dates back between 4,000 to 5,000 years and the knowledge was passed down from teacher to student in the way of verses and poems. It wasn’t until the second century B.C. that a sage named Patanjali outlined what is known today as the Eight Limbs of Yoga (or Raja Yoga).

I have chosen to follow Raja Yoga as it provides a framework and has as its essence the union of ourselves — our mind, body, soul, spirit, and emotions. The word ‘yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, which can be translated into ‘yoking’ or ‘union’. Raja Yoga is far more than a form of exercise and my daily ritual of rolling out my yoga mat to practice asanas has become a metaphore for the way I chose to live my life – what I learn and practice on the mat, I take with me off the mat and into the rest of my life.

To discover more about Raja yoga, this might be a useful place to start: The eight limbs of yoga.

LIHazleton.
Follow me on Twitter where I connect with other writers and all things writing. Follow me on Instagram if you love nature, dogs and other animals.

The days pass. Tick tock. We mark time during this Coronavirus pandemic — in our calendars, our diaries. Some of us dare to plan. Some of us dream of the future. Some of us choose to stay in the present. Some reside in the past. All of us are feeling emotions and coping with them in the best way we can … or not. Some of us feel alone, but this experience is universal. We are not alone. We never are.

Whilst this world crisis continues, recognise that hope is a source of strength. Choose to hope all will be well. Choose to be strong. Choose Bliss. I have been posting daily musings about Bliss on my Instagram feed, accompanied by a nature photograph. One of my daily rituals. Take a look — scroll down to the bottom of this post and click the Instagram icon.

To reside in hope, to know this Coronavirus will pass, daily rituals can be helpful to structure our days and focus our minds. My daily rituals help me focus and remain in the present moment. They help me remain calm and reside in peace.

In a small series of blog posts, I will be sharing some of my daily rituals in the hope they may help or inspire you. This is my first.

For me, one of my daily routines which helps keep me grounded in the present moment and helps enable me to move forward in a positive way is writing. Before the beginning of Coronavirus when I was deep in the mire of my recent personal crisis, I decided I would extend my writing practice (which had been sporadic of late) and commit to a daily practice. Not to challenge myself, but to feed myself, because when I write, I feel good.

Writing for me is almost wholly about self care. I decided I could write daily if I was kind and gentle with myself. I didn’t need to write two thousand words a day, two hundred words, twenty words, even one word a day (although I vowed I would write at least one word!). I told myself that as long as I was thinking about my writing, researching, interacting and learning from other writers, even reading the stories and novels I admire and would love to write myself, then this would count towards my goal of writing daily.

Being compassionate with myself in this way, I was delighted to discover, not only have I written every day, but I have written far more than twenty words each day. Some days I have written hundreds of words. For me this is a remarkable achievement. Not only am I progressing as a writer, becoming more skilled, more confident in my abilities, but I feel good about myself in many ways, especially that I am giving of myself in a meaningful, honest and true way. In writing I can be wholly authentic.

Here are some of the ways I have discovered a daily writing ritual feeds my soul and keeps me in the realms of bliss:

1. It offers me escapism — when I choose to remove myself from what’s going on in the world right now (which is much of the time), I can come to my desk, open a file on my MacBook and begin to write. I know I will be transported to another world. A world I choose to reside in. I can be in this other world even when I’m not sat at my writing desk. I can pick up a notebook wherever I am. I can even switch off my mind and think only about my writing. Having my writing to hand, totally accessible, I can drop in to my reality and escape the so called reality around me.
2. It keeps me connected — writing can be a solitary activity and can feed the introvert in me, but writing presents a most wonderful opportunity for connecting with others. The community of writers is vast and prolific and with technology at our finger tips, it is easy to find solace in other people and their writing and to share my writing and hopefully help others in their quest to be writers. But more important than connecting with others, writing has gifted me with the ability to connect with myself. To feel my feelings, to recognise my patterns, to ‘hear’ my thoughts, to give meaning to my existence.
3. Catharsis — writing is an aid to releasing emotions, to preventing them from festering and disturbing equilibrium. I can process my emotions on the page using my personal journal in an intentional way, but what is more powerful and healing for me, is when my emotions can be expressed in a more creative way; for example in dialogue between characters who are having an argument or using the technique of ‘close third’ where I write about a characters inner world, their thoughts and feelings. Letting go of damaging emotions is essential for keeping a state of homeostasis and regulation within our bodies. More than ever, this is what we need  and writing is an effective tool that can help.
4. Meditative — writing can become meditative, especially when fully in the flow. When my writing becomes fluid, when I’m not planning, thinking about characters or plot, when I’m not searching for a poetic phrase or an appropriate word, when my writing flows, it is like a meditation. I am in the gap between thoughts, there are no thoughts. Nothing else matters, nothing else is vying for my attention. I am in bliss, I am in a dream-like state between the conscious and unconscious.
5. Therapeutic — writing is a therapy for me, either intentional journalling, creative prose, or non-fiction writing — indeed any writing where I can express myself.  Alchemy and serendipity abounds in writing. It’s like a gift from my subconscious. Without trying, without having to ‘go into therapy’ I discover and experience healing moments, sometimes tiny, sometimes momentous.
6. Purpose and meaning — writing gives a sense of purpose and meaning to my life. It provides a way in to knowing myself fully and to understanding, or at least appreciating all there is to know about being human. I feel satisfied I am using my time and the gifts I have as a human being wisely. I am giving of myself wholly and completely. My writing is for me, but moreover, my writing is for everyone who chooses to read it and my wish is that someone, somewhere may benefit from reading the words I am crafting. Creativity is an amazing gift. We all have it and I am grateful for it. Dust if You Must but wouldn’t it be better to leave a gift of your soul, your creativity?

LIHazleton.
Follow me on Twitter where I connect with other writers and all things writing. Follow me on Instagram if you love nature, dogs and other animals.

In my present circumstances, I have needed to slow down to allow healing to take place. My days are leisurely, measured and subdued – in a good way, allowing me time to become curious about the physical sensations I am experiencing in my body, curious about my thoughts and curious about my feelings and emotions.

To be where I am right now, to be in this state of enforced rest has given me the opportunity to reflect and to be aware of each moment so I can become more aligned to my true self and what is important to me. To know myself; what I think, what I feel, what I believe, what I like, is a discovery. I see this period of resting and digesting as a gift and a learning experience where I am discovering the blessing of trusting the journey.

To be in this state of rest and digest is to live moment by moment and to know whatever  I am feeling is OK. I am where I am meant to be. All is well.

I am learning to trust the journey by developing faith.

I am learning to surrender and to let go and to allow life to reveal itself through me.

But neither faith nor surrender implies apathy or inaction.

Faith is a slow-burning flame that requires time and patience and a constant fanning of the flame so it can grow.  Surrender is an active letting go of deeply embedded thoughts, pre-conceived ideas and beliefs about life. It requires a willingness to give things up. It requires discipline and effort.

As I heal, emotionally and physically, as I rest and digest, I develop my faith and I learn how to trust the journey.

“None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, yet still we go forward. Because we trust. Because we have Faith.” — Paulo Coelho

In my writing life, I am developing trust. A trust in my own abilities to be a writer. I trust I will write what I know I must.

LIHazleton.
Follow me on Twitter where I connect with other writers and all things writing. Follow me on Instagram if you love dogs and other animals.

Experiencing grief (see my previous blog post Grief Practice) is a process which, if we can practice self-awareness may have many surprising and positive outcomes. I am fortunate to be able to experience my feelings in a moment by moment basis and use various techniques to enquire of myself with the intention to discover the source of, and any hidden meaning, behind the emotions I feel.

Due to my present circumstances, I am currently in a state of a heightened sense of awareness and have been for the last four months. I anticipate this situation will continue for some time whilst my body and my mind continues to heal.

One of the positive outcomes to this state is that I have been pondering change and new beginnings. There is a voice deep inside me which is saying this is the right moment for me to experience new beginnings in my life. It’s calling to me so loudly that I know it cannot be denied. I have no choice (or so it seems that way) to make changes, to move forward in life with a different purpose and to challenge myself in the realms of taking risks, trying something new and releasing chains that hold me back and keep me stuck in old ways of being. Now I feel I am being guided to a new beginning and being asked to let go of things that no longer serve me.

As human beings we have a tendency to be habitual creatures, clinging to old ways of doing things, to routines, to habits and to superstitions past down to us by our parents and other significant people in our lives. We hold on to relationships that may not be healthy for us, familiar patterns in our behaviours that may be toxic for us. We tend to do things in the way we’ve always done things, always writing the same story over and over again which is our life and making the same mistakes. It is common to identify ourselves with our past. We think we are the person who has experienced our past and continue to identify with that person and re-live experiences over and over again, not realising that this doesn’t have to be the way. We can break free and start afresh. Find our own sense of self and live our lives according to our own inner sense of what is right for us.

The good thing is we can choose to re-write our own story any time we choose. We can do this quite simply by cultivating self-awareness into a daily (and ultimately) a moment by moment practice. At the source of everything we do, everything we say, all our behaviours, is a thought. If we can catch our thoughts and change them, we can change our vocabulary and we can change our actions. We can choose our thoughts and therefore speak a different dialogue and we can determine our own actions. We no longer have to live with behaviours, habits and relationships that are to the detriment of our wellbeing. We can go a new way, have a new beginning and write a new story.

In recent months, I have been considering writing a new story. What would I like to read about myself and the life I lead in a year from now? What would it look like? What would I be doing? What would I be experiencing? What would I be thinking and feeling. What would my daily practices be? My passions? My achievements? What would my relationships be like? Would they be fulfilling? Would they be based on honesty and love? Would they be real and enriching? Would I be feeling peace and joy? Would I be living in the light?

To help me re-calibrate, I have been focussing on ‘new beginnings’ in my daily mediation practice Rather than write lists, targets, goals, objectives, I have allowed my mind to ponder ‘new beginnings’ in moments when I have been in meditation, active in creative pursuits like writing and painting, or wellbeing activities like yoga and walking. Using the analogy of planting a seed and letting it grow and blossom, I have been watching what happens when an idea comes to me and settles in my mind. Some ideas haven’t taken root and have withered, whilst other have firmly established themselves and are growly strongly.

Before new beginnings can be established, it is necessary to ‘create space’ for them. Like clearing out your wardrobe of unwanted clothes, purging your bookshelves of books, we can create space in our lives by ceasing activities we no longer enjoy, stopping habits that are bad for us, letting go of unhealthy relationships and releasing ourself from torments of the past. When we do this, we can buy new clothes that suit us better and books that nourish and entertain us.

New Beginnings, a New Story and Creating Space for both – this is my current focus because …

“One day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted. Do it now.” — Paulo Coelho

And my writing?

I feel compelled to revisit my earlier projects – my hybrid novel (fiction based on fact) and my memoir. Floating in the back of my mind is the idea of taking the best from both, reframing and re-structuring my writing to craft a new story. I am excited about the possibilities for change, for development and for growth. New beginnings in my writing, fresh growth and a time for trying again is a stimulating and exhilarating prospect.

LIHazleton.
Follow me on Twitter where I connect with other writers and all things writing. Follow me on Instagram if you love dogs and other animals.

Today I have been experiencing  grief. Rather than push it away and deny my feelings, or even worst, rather than be annoyed with myself and tell myself to get a grip, I decided to honour my feelings and where I am today and practice self love.

To move through what I am feeling, to give myself the support I need and to give myself a hug, I turned to a yoga grief practice.

Rolling out my mat, settling in, I began by noticing my breath and relaxing my shoulders, working to calm my nervous system and finding a little support from within. I needed to feel held. Not always is there someone around who can do this for me and so I am cultivating a practice where I can ‘hold’ myself. After all, it’s only me who really knows what I need in any given moment. Without rushing, taking my time, one breath at a time I began.

Starting to deepen my breath, connecting to my inner world, I began to feel the emotion of grief and tears threatened to spill. Rather than wipe them away, I allowed them to roll down my cheeks. I was on the mat to take whatever I needed and to leave behind that which wasn’t serving me.

Moving through recent trauma, I know that holding my breath, tightening, being closed, feeling fear have been natural human responses to what is going on for me, so in this yoga practice, I wanted to focus on my breath. Allowing my breath to naturally deepen, to slow down I could feel my body relax, soften and slowly let go. Ahhhhh, sweet relief. With loving awareness I checked in and began to really notice the sensations in my body.

A yoga practice can be gentle and loving, focussed entirely on pranayama, sitting with stillness and allowing the energy to flow. Sitting up straight, my spine long and erect, my hands placed on my heart, I drew my attention to breathing in for a count of 4, holding for a count of 2 and exhaling for count of six. Deep relaxing breaths to balance out.

After several rounds of breathing, I began to add movement with a simple vinyasa involving a small sideways stretch, and a contraction. Turning my attention to my spine, I opened my heart, lifting my arms out to the sides and then exhaling, folding one arm over the other to give myself a hug.

Simple gentle yoga movements, marrying the breath with the movement is deeply therapeutic and refreshing.

As my grief practice continued, my moving meditation, I focussed on staying in the moment and if thoughts came, I gently let them go, coming back time and time again to my breath.

Twenty minutes later, remaining present with what I was feeling, allowing my emotions to flow, not denying, but accepting, I felt more calm, more balanced, grateful for where I am today and with compassion in my heart.

Namaste.

Using the tools of yoga is an aid to my writing. I am cultivating a daily writing practice,  concentrating on short stories and flash fiction. Being relaxed and focussed, I can let the words flow.

LIHazleton.
Follow me on Twitter where I connect with other writers and all things writing. Follow me on Instagram if you love dogs and other animals.

The 30 day yoga journey is done and I am ‘Home’.

Of course, I always have been ‘Home’, the symbolism of ‘Home’ being my spirit, my soul which is always there within me, at the centre of my being, my heart.

Sadly, I am not always connected to my soul as I let fear get in the way. Fear I have discovered is (for me) an absence of love. If I love, if I believe I am love, if I know I am loved, then there can be no fear. During these first days of this new year, I have been inviting love into my love. Loving myself first and foremost, loving others, loving all life and the universe and believing I am love. Connecting with the real ‘me’, my spirit, is a nurturing, comforting and healing experience.

Adriene Mishler Yoga with Adriene is an inspiring teacher. Her subtle spiritual teachings through the asanas nudge me along and keep me on my path. My yoga is a daily practice and like mediation always brings me ‘Home’.

I have been practising yoga since 2009, but at the end of last year, a heavy heart, a tightness in my chest, a feeling of doom and a darkness surrounded me. There was no joy and I felt acute fear. I turned to yoga as my guide, to spiritual practices, to healing and ultimately to my inner teacher. I have been comforted and have discovered I have internal strength to face what I need to face. I am grateful.

Namsaste.

And the real beauty is that the journey continues.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

JOHN O’DONOHUE, excerpt from Anam Cara

And my writing? During this 30 day journey, I have written a short story and a piece of flash fiction. My writing journey continues.

LIHazleton.
Follow me on Twitter where I connect with other writers and all things writing. Follow me on Instagram if you love dogs and other animals.