It is pretty amazing when a friend sends you a text sharing a podcast she believes you will find helpful and valuable during a time of self-reflection and refinement of your business plans/goals.
She was right. I subscribed to Emily P. Freeman’s podcast right away and have listened to episodes 1 – 23 so far. It is my goal to listen to one every day. They are short and I can easily finish one episode driving from my home to work and catch up to her latest episode (currently she posted episode 88.)
Emily’s invitation starts with this…
“When we have a decision to make, what we want more than anything is peace, clarity, and a nudge in the right direction. If you have trouble making decisions because of either chronic hesitation or decision fatigue, Emily P. Freeman offers a fresh way of practicing familiar but often forgotten advice: simply do the next right thing…Whether you’re in the midst of a major life transition or are weary of the low-grade anxiety that daily life can bring, Emily helps create space for your soul to breathe so you can live life with God at a gentle pace and discern your next right thing in love.”
This summer, I am taking time to pause, to reflect, to search and discover what my “next right thing” is for my business, Mary McCarthy – Resilience & Grace. I am grateful to be supported not only by my family. friends and students, but also by mentors and coaches helping me along the way.
Most mornings I am spending time alone in the quiet, reflecting and creating space for my soul to speak. This sacred time looks like this:
- 5:45am Alarm goes off.
- 6:00am Begin my morning meditation using my Rod Stryker’s Sanctuary App.
- 6:20am Make coffee and sit outside with my journal and inspirational books taking time to read, pause and reflect on the words of wisdom.
- 6:45am Stop and get ready for my day entering my home of chaos and love.
This is successful for me because I LOVE mornings and sitting outside in the summer is the perfect opportunity to get away from household duties and listen to the birds chirping while rocking on my front porch in reflection and prayer.
In addition to this sacred time, I am investing in my business and have hired Christi Hegstad as a business coach. She is outstanding to work with and I am grateful for her wisdom and guidance. We are not dwelling on the past but looking forward into the future with meaning and purpose. You can learn more about her online.
I am reading Debra Landwehr Engle’s latest book, “Be the Light that You Are.” It is a beautiful book reminding each of us ways to transform our world with love.
Deb provides stories and tips encouraging us to:
- Be the Light
- Foster Self-Love
- Meet Others Without Judgement
- Rise Above the Battleground
- Practice True Forgiveness
- Set Your Self Free
- + More
I am reading a chapter every day so I can pause and process.
The practice of yoga also reminds us we are light and to look at ourselves with eyes of love. Our asana practice has the intention to move our body from a place of love. We can be in our bodies using modifications and props because it doesn’t matter what we look like on the outside when we are practicing yoga with love.
Every time we step onto our mat, we can reaffirm our intention and pause to turn inward toward our inner light and not only look at ourselves with light and love but look to others and our world through eyes of love.