It's Ok

I don’t even know where to begin.  I have been avoiding writing this, something, anything all month.  Voices inside my head say, “Who are you to offer up insights, support, advice during this time?  You are barely holding your own shit together yourself somedays!”  But it’s that realization that compels me  to write and share just that; I don’t have it all together these days, and that’s ok. 

I have always been a  driven professional.  I embrace leadership roles.  I love to teach, mentor and coach others and take on any role whose job it is to ensure that everyone has what they need to be successful. But lately,  I have been shrinking into myself and taking on a persona that is quite the opposite.  I am limiting the number of clients I work with.  I allow myself unscheduled time to read, walk the dog or just sit in my back yard and watch the clouds, and that’s ok.

I am not pushing myself to be the best that I can right now.  I am not developing business growth plans.  I am not taking online courses or workshops.  I am not keeping up with my online presence or marketing strategies.  I haven’t even taken the time to go through my financials this month, and that’s ok.

There are days when I feel my heartbeat race and I need to stop and do my breathing meditations to cleanse my mind and soul.  There are moments when I cry just because I allowed myself to deeply focus on the present moment and my surroundings and am overcome with a fierce gratitude for the beauty of the world in front of me at that moment and its contrast to what is happening in other places in the country/world, and that’s ok.

And then when I need it most, I find inspiration from friends, authors, spiritual teachers and amazing thought leaders.  I see people being friendly to each other in public, trying to smile as wide as they can behind their masks so that it is apparent that they are smiling at you. Small children catch your eyes in the grocery store and wave from their shopping cart.  I hear stories of loving kindness on social media and even the news.  I watch all the cute animal videos that come across my radar.  I use social media to send positive thoughts out to the world and my loved ones.  I realize that I can let go of my physical office space and use a full virtual platform for my coaching. I find hope in the fact that I don’t have to limit myself to helping only those in my area, but can reach and support individuals across the country.  I tap into the positive thought that, I know, it’s going to be ok.

I leave you with one of my favorite mediations that I continuously turn to these days as shared by one of my favorite spiritual teachers, Gabby Bernstein:

Lovingkindness Meditation:
Begin your lovingkindness meditation by focusing on yourself. When you develop love, kindness, and compassion toward yourself, you cultivate more love for others.
Breathe in gently. Exhale gently. Then silently repeat each of the following intentions. It’s okay if you don’t get it word for word at first – with practice you’ll memorize the phrases. Your intention is what’s most important.

Silently repeat these phrases, directing lovingkindness toward yourself:
May I be filled with lovingkindness.
May I feel supported and safe.
May I have love and compassion toward myself.
May I live with ease.

Next, bring to mind someone you love. Feel your appreciation for them, and then share this offering of lovingkindness to them.
May you be filled with lovingkindness.
May you feel supported and safe.
May you have love and compassion toward yourself.
May you live with ease.