This year. So much has shifted and changed, not just in the world at large, but on an individual level for all of us. I think it’s safe to say that we’re not who we were, or thought we were, this time last year. What began as a year of continuing in the direction of I thought I wanted, has become a dropping away, dropping into myself and the depths of my heart, to discover who I really am.

In addition to nourishing my body with healthy food, nature, movement, creating art and connecting with loved ones, I’ve been listening to an incredible audiobook by Sarah Blondin, called ‘Heart Minded’ to companion me through this deep transition year. It’s a book I need solitude for; carving out moments to truly be present and drink in the beautiful content.

Most of my loved ones know me as a heart-person, however listening to this beautiful book has me going deeper than I ever have before. I’m noticing all the ways I’ve led my life through fear and the illusion of safety, rather than softening into a rooted connection with my heart. As we’re human, I know many of us do the same.

It’s so natural for us to want to stay in the safe and known. Our brains are literally wired for self-preservation, shutting down higher functioning when it perceives a need to fight or flight from a situation. Yet this year has spiked our need to preserve the safety and wellbeing of our loved ones, within a completely unfamiliar set of circumstances, to the point where many of us have transitioned into our fight or flight body almost permanently. I know personally this year in an effort to regain control, I became hyper-vigilant in my approach to daily living, until my anxiety rose to unbearable levels on a day to day basis. I wanted to point my finger to all the things and circumstances that proved my anxious approach was a valid place to be until quite honestly, I just didn’t believe my own self-talk anymore. The price of staying in fear became too high. I forgot a key aspect of who I am — a heart person — and forgoing that essential energy within me was hurting me to my core.

This year I feel, is about shedding, while simultaneously reconnecting deeply with our centre, our spirit, our soulful roots. The challenges we’ve all faced have brought up areas where we need to love, listen and tend to within ourselves. None of us is immune to this calling. We’re being invited to slow IN, to go IN, to face ourselves, our needs and hold ourselves in our vulnerability, our anxiety, our un-love, as well as our joy and claiming our innate worth. We might do this through meditation or making art or soulful chats with friends or reading a nurturing book. This is big work because when we find parts of ourselves that have been weeping for love, we have the chance to open our arms and love ourselves back into softness again. But this new approach means surrendering what we’ve been taught: that a hard protective shell is what keeps us safe. In my experience, hardness can only pretend to keep pain out, and it also forfeits our ability to let love in too, which we, and the world, all so deeply need right now. We all come to the need to transform beyond ourselves, in our own time.

If you are truly ready for a beautiful journey into yourself and meet your heart more fully, I can highly recommend this beautiful book by Sarah. I have no affiliation with Sarah other than following her meditation teachings for a couple of years now on Insight Timer. Something inside me deeply knows the words in this book is important work for many of us. I invite you to check out ‘Heart Minded’ HERE.

If you’d like to use creativity as a tool to strengthen a new loving intention for yourself, my Intuitive Intentions E-Class is also available.

Love, Chrissy x