Growing Newness from Mystery

At the end of June I went on a two-day retreat. The cabin in the woods was in the middle of Nowhere, Kentucky. It was a wondrous two days — the ticks even stayed away! To be by myself in the silence was spaciously peace evoking.

I came home and within 7-10 days I knew that something was just not right in my life. Through the cracks of my being something was seeping. As I peered into those cracks, Mystery said, “Look at your life. What needs letting go” I looked. I let go.

I discovered that my schedule was just too busy. A fair amount of the busy was not life giving. In fact, it was life draining. What I actually needed to do wasn’t getting done. I didn’t have the time or energy. So, I decided to put myself on a diet — not the food kind — a diet from the stuff that added to my fatigue and feelings of malaise. 

For the rest of the summer I am fasting from nonessential meetings, learning to be okay with saying no, unsubscribing from email lists, and making better decisions — I hope. 

After two weeks, I have noticed a change. I am better at slowing the swing of my moods. Last week I actually had two nights during which I slept 7+ hours! I am feeling calmer and can more easily recognize my triggers. Sometimes I even avoid tripping them!

Something mysterious is shooting up through the cracks of my being letting me know that I am on the right track. In those openings I see the magical newness of growth amid the destruction of old. The old is crumbling into compost to nourish the new!

How did I get to this place? By listening to my body/mind/spirit/heart. Discovered what was not feeding me. Then I left go of those things that were draining me. Things are changing because I shifted. I made room for the magical newness to grow from the brokenness, the destruction of the old. 

Want to begin? Here are my suggestions: Discover what is taking your energy. Ask yourself before an activity, “What is the level of my energy?" (High energy, mid energy, low energy, or no energy.) Then after the activity, ask yourself again where your energy is. This will give you a clue what to keep and what to let go. 

Suggested check-ins: 

• before & after a conversation or text thread with a friend
• before & after talking to your boss
• before & after exercising
• before & after grocery and/or other shopping
• before & after ??????

You can check in before and after any thing that you do. If the activity is taking your energy, ask yourself, “How can I either let go of the activity or modify it to make it more life giving? If you cannot do either, what can you do to better protect yourself? 

It is a lifelong process this letting go and gathering in. But, each time you make the decision to take care of you the mystery shoots up through the cracks of your brokenness giving birth to magical newness. 

I am a work in progress. So are you. 

Van Hurst, ms, is an intuitive-coach-catalyst. As a contemplative coach, she uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for navigating the mundane and extraordinary. The result of time with Van? Being the change you want to see in the world by creating a blueprint for your life through a deeper connection to your intuition and contemplative nature. 

Van is a professional speaker & author who weaves inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Her most recent book, As Natural As Breathing: Being Intuitive, is available on Amazon. Contact Vanessa for life coaching, intuitive consultations, keynotes, and programs.

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