I'm reading Kimberly Ann Johnson's Call of the Wild: How We Heal Trauma, Awaken Our Own Power, and Use It For Good.
As a result, I'm tracking how often I follow the guru's advice when it comes to structuring my day. (Y'all know I'm a fan of Monday Hour One.)
The message: Keep your butt in the chair, turn off all distractions, and create the result you said you were going to in the allotted time.
And this works. Except when it doesn't.
There's a deeper, more subtle knowing, another kind of flow.
Kimberly talks about the 90-minute cycles our bodies go through...75 minutes filled with activity and upregulation (like an inhale), and 15 minutes are dedicated to rest and downregulation (the exhale).
We can ride the natural waves and allow the flow. Or, like I very regularly do, ride that upswing...and then demand I stay up there until the next peak and go up, up, up.
But how?
...caffeine, sugar, or willpowering my way with "masculine" push energy until I'm exhausted. And not in a good way.
Or...
I can allow for attuned listening, where I am curious about what my body wants to tell me throughout my day. I can intentionally structure the breaks and distractions. I can respond to the body messages I receive, those "elegant reminders" to pause.
Although the gurus all say to focus and eliminate distractions, I can still track my body's messages in the middle of what I am doing. I can even respond to them (rather than resist and fight them back).
I have to remember, there's no Efficiency Police gonna knock on my door.
Today I have the freedom to listen to my body, to respect my inner rhythms.
I AM the guru of me.
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