Simple Abundance: The Basic Tools
Our Simple Abundance message today is….
‘There is no companion so companionable as Solitude, Thoreau reminds me as I carry a hot cup of tea back to bed. The house is hushed now after the hustle and bustle of a weekday morning. The cats follow me up the stairs, scurrying for nests in the rumble of covers. Everyone here knows that a reassuring ritual is about to take place, a civilized ceremonial for a common day.
Although it is still too early to receive a business call, to avoid interruptions, I turn on my telephone answering machine. The next hour is spent going within: working with my illustrated discovery journal, writing my daily dialogue, in prayer, playing with my treasure map collage, embarking on the golden mirror meditation, planning my day, and then just sitting in silence. Listening attentively. Waiting expectantly.
These are the basic tools that have helped me on the Simple Abundance path to authenticity. Use them together as I do, or begin to use whichever one sounds intriguing. See if you can’t give yourself the gift of one hour a day to journey within. You need enough breathing space to allow your heart to ponder what is precious. Or perhaps you can let your imagination soar to the twilight where dreams first dwell. If you feel a solid hour is too much of a luxury in the beginning (it isn’t but we’ll go gently), break up the time during the day. Start with a half hour in the morning and another half hour before you retire in the evening.
Most days after my inner excursion is over, it appears as if nothing has happened that has dramatically changed my life. I have just spent an hour alone. I am not aware of any new insights, inspirations, or guidance. But sometimes I am able to bring the larger picture into sharper focus. You will, too.
This much I know: if you go deep enough, often enough, something good is bound to come back to you. Very often glimmers of the inspiration I desire or the insights I need will come later in the day when I am driving the car pool or preparing supper. But whether or not revelations have been part of my morning, each day offers its own gift.’ Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance A Daybook of Comfort and Joy
‘Ponder what is precious’- I like that.
Let me share something with you that is so very interesting.
Today I was making my way down my blogroll (the blogs that I follow which are listed on the left sidebar of my blog).
One had a recent update…. it caught my eye. It said ‘are you a stay at home mom that needs a break?’.
A break?
For reals?
Are they spying on me?
So, I click on the link and from there she is leading readers to a fellow blogger by the name of Theta Mom.
Once a month Theta Mom is hosting a ‘blog party’ about Time Out for Mom’s. She wants mom’s everywhere to spend one hour of their time doing something for themselves and then blog about it and post to her site.
I thought to myself (and commented to the post)… an hour? A whole 60 minutes to myself? I can not even go to the restroom without these guys chasing me down and beating on the bathroom door.
Then I read my Simple Abundance book as kids are bouncing around all over the place. What do you know? One of the most basic tools in this journey is making time for yourself.
How is it, I am 32 years old and do not know this?
Or, maybe I do and I just ignore it.
Baby steps, my friend. Baby steps.
We deserve 60 minutes to ‘ponder what is precious’. The ‘gift to journey within’…. we just have to do it. Make it happen.
‘Take the gentle path.’ – George
Herbert
I may have to google it, but it she the same author of "Excavating Your Authentic Self?" I remember reading that and if it's the same author she's fantastic! Glad to see you will try and make some time for yourself mama! 🙂