Fear Not

Hello all.

Take a deep breath.

Right now.

In.... out....

Another one.

In... Out...

One last time

In.... out....

Okay. Here we go. I know as you read this, you are probably anxious and stirred up. Honor that. I feel it too, and I have to battle my own bouts of overwhelm, constantly refreshing my news feed and trying to keep up with the new information about the coronavirus. But we should not wallow in our fear.

Take another deep Breath.

in... out...

do not go and panic buy. Get what you need, but leave it at that. other people also need toilet paper and sanitary items... you don't need 14 bottles. you really don't.

stay home if your sick, but don't close off from relationships. be a calming presence to those around you, and remember that you are not alone.

have a plan, talk to your family and friends, but don't panic.

take another breath.

In... out...

A helpful prayer for me at this time is the serenity prayer:

"God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Even if you struggle with religion or do not believe in a specific God, sit with yourself and trust that we will get through this. we can take steps to help reduce risk and encourage calm, but we cannot control the entire world. focus on the little things you can do. It will be okay.

Read a book, write, turn off your phone or computer for a little while, step outside and breathe a little fresh air (if anything, just open a window), sit and pray or meditate, catch up on a show you haven't watched in a while, cook something you enjoy. reassess what you value, and honor quality time with your self.

It is a heightened time right now, and all of our lives are going to be changed and slightly uncomfortable for a while, but we don't have to add fear and panic on top of it. We get to choose how we respond to the chaos of the world. Let us choose calm, wisdom, and love in response to the fear and chaos of the world. Let us be a light in the world, helping promote health and wholeness to all those who we come in contact with (both physically and virtually). everything will be okay.

Take one last deep breath.

In....

out....

"God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

A Personal Mission Statement

Recently, a good friend of mine asked me about my personal mission statement. "If you share yours, I'll share mine" He said, eager to hear a ready answer and dig into how I oriented myself in the world and share his own perspective.

I just stared back at him and blinked.

I understood the concept, but I had never sat down and taken time to write my own, always thinking about mission statements in the context of organizations. How funny! I devour self help books, love to journal, and want to be oriented around my values. Writing my mission Statement was just the challenge I needed! Here is what I came up with for this season in my life:

“To be rooted in my empathic and intuitive senses, remain vulnerable, open, and honest, and continue to show up to the people around me in order to call out the best in others and lead people into their wholeness”

Now, I am passing that challenge on to you. What is your mission statement? Your statement is your own and should have your own voice.

Take 15 minutes to read/scroll through the links and questions below and find what resonates with you. What is your soul saying? What is rising up from within you?

Take your time. Mission statements are fluid and ever changing. Listen to yourself. Let it flow. This is a healing and opening process. Let it work its magic. Let it move through you.

Here are a few helpful links to get your juices flowing:

https://brandyourself.com/blog/guide/how-to-write-a-personal-mission-statement/

https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/mission-statement-101

https://www.livecareer.com/resources/careers/planning/creating-personal-mission-statements

https://www.success.com/how-to-write-your-personal-mission-statement/

I would love to hear what you come up with! You are always welcome to message me on this site, facebook, or instagram Or send me an email at eeclark@swbell.net

Lent: a season of honoring exactly where you are

Lent is upon us - the 40 days before Easter; a time to reflect and prepare for the resurrection of Jesus (if you are Christian that is).

Today is ash Wednesday, and many people will take time out of their day to get ashes spread across their forehead as a reminder of their humanity and finitude.

"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

for many people lent is a season that includes giving something up or taking something on to grow closer to god. While it is a season focused on centering around the suffering of Christ and experiencing our own personal wildernesses, i worry that it becomes a time of self-deprivation and frustration for many people. It is important to slow down, analyze our life, take time to sit with ourselves, and listen for god in our every day lives, but it is also important to be self loving and gentle with ourselves along the way. God loves us, not because of what we do or do not do but simply because we are.

I believe God wants us to enjoy life. God does not want us to deprive ourselves of something simply because it is the current thing to do and/or lent popped up on our calendar. God created us to enjoy this world and all of its glory! Lent is a reminder to step out of our routines and expectations and create space for ourselves to be fully present and alive.

What feels good and honoring for you in this season?

How is god moving in and through your life right now?

What brings you joy?

What part of your routine or schedule are you frustrated with? Can you give that up and do something that brings you life instead?

Instead of giving up something like sugar or sodas, really lean into what makes you feel connected, whole, and healthy. Maybe that includes wanting to stop consuming as much sugar or sodas, but don't measure your "success" of the lent season on whether or not you accomplish this goal. Lent should be rooted in sitting with exactly where we are and what you need in this moment. We all have wildernesses inside of us. explore your wilderness in a way that feels good to you. Wildernesses do not have to be scary places. They can also be liberating and freeing, full of healing and wholeness.

Maybe instead of giving something up this lent you could...

dance more

let yourself cry

Unplug for a day

sleep in when you need rest

sing louder

spend time with family and friends

read for pleasure

wake up earlier to enjoy the sunrises

get out in nature and walk in the glory of all of creation

so often, it feels like lent gets simplified and commodified into a task on our to do list that we must complete. this is dangerous, because it can lead to shame and anger when we do not complete the said task.

shame pulls us further away from god; we hide like Adam and eve in the garden, ashamed and afraid, not feeling worthy of god's love. Lent should not be a time of shame but a time of deep joy and restoration.

God loves you no matter what. Lent is not about proving that you can give something up for 40 days. it is a time to lean in, trust god, and honor yourself exactly where you are.

Let us walk into our wildernesses with joy and thanksgiving.