Women's Health & Spirituality
I wrote this topic down last year to discuss on the podcast and it's taken a year but I think now is as good as time as ever to dive into it. Our health and our spirituality. Now you might hear that and say what in the world do they have to do with one another? I think a lot if we start to align the two.
When our faith is strong can our health be?
Yes. I think without a doubt that when we have faith in whatever you believe you can have good health. I would go as far to say when you are really living in tune with your faith you see your body as a temple and vechile for the spirit to work through you. Just like a car that's running on flat tires your body isn't good when it's running on empty. Whether that be from always being on the go which now that might look like distracting yourself with work, or hopping from one news website to another, or social media network. You could also be taking on the heaviness feeling that's in the air right now, there is a lot of it.
How to keep the faith
I know right now is not an easy time for the majority of the people around the world. Not only do we have a virus that is spreading, but we have a tremendous amount of jobs being lost, which can make people spiral. I get it. My husband lost all of his income the 2nd week in March, one of my brother in-laws was laid off 2 days later, my family are farmers who have a ton of unknowns right now. It's not easy and I spiraled when my husband lost his job as we were both equal contributors financially to the household which means I will have to step-up.
Instead of stepping up the first week I went there, I went to the worst case scenario financially, what if we lost everything, couldn't pay our bills, keep our house, had to declare bankruptcy? Would we still be okay? Yes, we would all still have each other and have supportive families. My family I know would be fine if we had to stay with them if needed for awhile. Once I went there for about a week I felt better. Now I'm not saying that will work for everyone but knowing or exploring what if's and realizing at the end of the day it's just stuff you're holding onto and what stuff even makes sense for you to keep, I realized not a lot for us.
How does this affect our health?
For me health is mind/body/soul. I'm not talking just from a body component. I'm really discussing this from a mind and soul component. I think right now to keep our soul fed which for me is my faith in a higher power both a feminine and masculine form. I sit every morning and go through a meditation with Sarah Blondin on Insight Timer, I journal, pull oracle cards, read a chapter in my book, and sometimes write poems if I feel one on my heart. I know on days that I'm tuned into myself and a higher power I feel so much better. I feel equipped for the day.
Trash days
Let me tell you I've had my fair share of days though that I wake up after I had 2-3 glasses of wine the night before because I just had, had enough of the day, fear had taken over, and I probably observed the news too much, or was on social media for far to long and wine was the only thing that I thought could tame that edge. (Which is never true if we really sit with ourselves) I usually will do a condensed version of my morning rituals and open up the news to start my day before I train virtual clients. Those are the days that are like groundhog day. I feel anxiety, I feel fear, I need the wine at night and it keeps repeating itself. I lose track of my faith and just feel blah.
I say that so you know this is a work in progress for us all. I don't like to focus on how long will this last but instead already am assuming it will go until the Fall. If it's shorter even better as mentally I'm prepping for the long haul.
Where can you grow right now
In times of uncertainty we are being asked to grow. Whether you enjoy it or not we all are being asked to do new things. Even if you are working right now you're being asked to go to work during a pandemic where the future is uncertain (which isn't it always). But now more than ever we feel that. We feel the pressure of being at home working possibly even harder than you've ever had to. So many of us are learning new skills, needing to cook from home more often, homeschool, work behind a computer more, spend more time alone or with family depending on your circumstances. Looking at all of that you are growing. We might not be able to reflect fully on the way we have grown until after this is over, but know the reflection time will be there.
Give yourself grace
Finally I think what we can all benefit from is giving ourselves grace. We are doing the best we can with what we have been given. I know there is a drastic amount of differences in the way people are feeling this pandemic right now. Some fortunate enough to not feel anything, others lives shifted overnight, while others are just clinging to survive. My one suggestion would be to take care of you in some way during one part of your day.
What do you need
For me some days the taking time for myself looks like kicking everyone out of the house to take a bath, other days going out in nature for a long walk on my favorite trail, reading a book in the middle of the day, working out, attending an online restorative yoga class to end my day, morning ritual routine, I would love to say an evening ritual but I haven't gotten there yet. What would light you up, how can you carve out time. It will look different for everyone as we all are experiencing this differently. Honor that and don't shame yourself for not doing it like someone else. There is no blueprint for this, or right way for us all. But there is a right way for you.
Concluding
I believe now is time we connect back to ourselves by connecting to a higher power if you believe in one. I know so many are feeling a little empty right now and reworking what spirituality means to them. For me I had do some healing around that and am in a much better place and stand stronger in my belief that doesn't fit into a box per say. I will share a few of the books I've read that helped me connect to my spirituality if you have been feeling the call but unsure where to start.
- Mary Magdalene Reveled by Meggan Watterson
- The Red Book by Sara Beak
- Women who run with the wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
I would love to know what books you have enjoyed in the comments below. I share that list not for those who are steadfast in your faith, I honor that and it's something to hold onto. I share that as I know so many are walking a different line with their faith right now as well.
Connect with Andrea
To dive deeper into a program geared to help you connect with you check out the Seasonal Living Collective which starts May 1st!
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