Everyone needs to find time to be alone with themselves. We find time for coffee with friends, our favourite TV shoes, scrolling and responding on social media, but this is not actually time for and with yourself.
You need time where you can truly be in your own space. For some, it might be writing: journaling, automatic writing, releasing. For others, painting or drawing. Or it might be walking or wandering around a garden, admiring and appreciating the abundance of life.
If you’re starting with this, maybe use a guided meditation, guidance cards or daily reflections to assist you. Start in this moment with the rest of this entry. Put aside distractions. If you’re writing, use pen and paper. Find a space that is relatively uncluttered and where you can be for a few minutes without interruption. And just be.
Just be in that space. This is the mindfulness that is no so welcomingly popular. Just being in our own exclusive space. Sometimes this can feel confronting, challenging or create agitation. Life’s pressures can weigh down on you when there is a long list of things to do. Important things, like work, caring for family. However, caring for self is also an important thing to do and this time alone is nourishing. It helps to clear the mind and facilitates greater focus on our tasks, so that they can be completed more efficiently.
Be prepared to set aside the distracting thoughts and give your attention to the practice of stillness. Watch a bird, a tree gently swaying in the breeze or clouds racing across the sky. Breathe deeply and intentionally. Smile.
Be more attuned to the beauty that surrounds you – in this moment, and as you go into your day. There is so much goodness in the world and noticing and giving thanks for it draws even more to yourself. Draw it in, count the ways in which the world supports you. List them, all the people, structures, possessions and resources that help you do you. There are countless things to be grateful for: start with listing ten today and go from there. The people who believe in you, your home and home appliances and luxury items, the government machinations that provide roads and footpaths, parks and libraries.
We are surrounded by so much that has been created for our wellbeing. Appreciate it, revel in it – in this moment and throughout the day. Somewhere, someone has gone before you to make your life easier, more pleasant, more comfortable, more interesting. Acknowledge it, enjoy it, be grateful for it. As you are grateful for what you can currently see, more will be revealed to you and more goodness, help, comfort and peace will be drawn to you.
Sit for a little longer in appreciation before returning to your day, refreshed and renewed.