GOING TO THE WELL

Life can be hectic. Because I am in a physical body and I live on this planet, I, like all of us, am susceptible to valley experiences. Some days are frustrating, some hectic, some confusing; some experiences provoke a response of anger or irritation, some  create feelings of weariness and depression.  

Then there are the days when I feel like I am on a mountain top. The sun is shining, life is falling into place, things are going my way, On those days I usually feel energetic and glad to be in my body living the life I get to live.

Life has its ups and downs, and since I am a feeling and sensing person I feel a lot in my body. I cannot always control the circumstances that life brings,and I sometimes feel like I am teetering on the edge.  Adapting to life's events can be very tough and even feel unreachable.

I have had to learn, and am still learning, how to stay present and keep myself on as even a keel as I can, as I deal with the ups and downs of life. The way I do this is by continually going to the well.

A well can be one thing, or it can be a combination of things, thoughts and actions that assist you in returning your sensitive nervous system to your window of tolerance. We function best when we feel safe and centered, so having tools at our disposal that will allow us to regain our balance when the going gets tough, is important. I call these tools my well. It is my sip of cool, clean water when I am feeling parched. 

It has taken time and practice to build and fill my well and to learn to go to it when I am feeling tossed by the winds of life. 

GOING TO THE WELL

The first and most important sip I take is to check my connection to my creator. I know mother/father god. I have personally experienced the benevolence and kindness that comes from that connection, so I know how it feels to use that divine love as my soft place to land.

I pause and take deep diaphramatic breaths as I feel my feet on the ground.  I sometimes do this by standing barefoot on the ground so I can absorb the strength of mother earth. 

Other methods I sometimes use to recreate a feeling of safety and well-bring are:

I put my forehead against one of my favorite trees or stand with my spine touching a tree. 

I remind myself who I am and why I am here.

I practice self-soothing. Sometimes I hug and hold myself, other times I lay my head back and take a sacred pause.

I shift the focus to my senses: What do I feel, hear, see, taste, touch.

I stretch my body.

I go for a walk in nature.

I write about my experience in the moment.

I emote my feelings. If sad, I cry, if angry, I express it.

I practice being.

All of these are my well experiences. I have learned that living in this fast paced world that is experiencing huge amounts of anger and violence, and breathing this air, means I have to practice self-care. The more I practice kindness and compassion towards myself the more I am able to go with the flow and allow life to be. 

We all need a well . We all need a place to go and tools to use when the going gets rough. When we don't have a well to go to we run the risk of getting underneath it all instead of being able to maintain sanity and peace.

It is a good practice to sit down and make a list of what is available to you when you are feeling the onslaught of life. Identify what works for you and what you can access when necessary.

If I did not have a well to go to I honestly wonder where I would be in life at this moment. It is my saving grace.