As 2013 has rolled in despite the end-of-the-world prognostications for late December, I have felt renewed creativity, inspiration and energy to manifest some new projects as well as to rejuvenate some old ones. I could call these “work,” because they are all related to my own personal success, but what’s good about them is that they don’t feel like “work” because of that renewed creative energy. They feel fun. And having fun is key to staying healthy.
I have kind of a short “stay-healthy” wick, however, and if I don’t keep it trimmed just right, my energy candle can go out completely.
In keeping with new beginnings, I have had two wonderful readings of late, one shamanic and one astrological. In both I was fairly strongly cautioned that I must take care of the physical body (stay healthy!) and not let my more esoteric and creative side carry me away to its detriment.
Gosh darn! I have about seven new projects, each requiring layers of attention and “work,” all of which I am very excited about. But my little inner “stay-healthy” guys are beginning to squeak a bit, signaling me to slow down and take a deep breath. Just a little frustration here, chaotic thinking there, feeling pressure about deadlines and goals I myself have set—maybe a bit of a sore throat in the background… and lots of forgetting to take my supplements and eat as well as I know how to.
Uh oh. Time to regroup on the stay-healthy front.
This can be hard for me since I personally LOVE these periods of high creativity. But I feel like a new mom who took fertility drugs to bring that long-awaited baby and, instead, ended up with six little cherubs, all shrieking for attention. Frazzled. Candle going out. Throat getting sore. Etc.
So, accepting the fact that my requirements for staying healthy may not be totally in sync with what I’d like to achieve, and the speed with which I’d like to achieve it, here is my note to self:
- First and foremost, make the time necessary to prepare wonderful, nutritious food for myself. Don’t let the fun, but often frenetic, energy of creation absorb or obscure that sacred, self-nurturing act.
- Make sure I get enough rest and sleep. Fortunately, I’m a good sleeper, so this one is not too hard. Though I do notice my dreams aren’t what they should be if my mind is in chaos – even good chaos.
- Exercise – daily! Sorry, self, but going out to feed the horses twice a day doesn’t qualify.
- Take the supplements this, ahem, somewhat older body needs to stay healthy. At least almost every day. This of course includes the blue-green algae I’ve relied on for years to fill in the nutritional gaps I create when I am not eating everything I should.
- Tackle one. thing. at. a. time. And give each some quality time. It’s okay to work on three–or seven–different projects on the same day, but not all at once.
- Prioritize. Unfortunately that sometimes means putting catching up on bookkeeping way ahead of plotting my next children’s book. Not fun. But in the long run, comforting. Because I’m one of those people who needs to know I’ve got all my ducks in the right row, including those required by law, like taxes.
- Make a large-print list of all pending projects (AND chores) and post prominently on the refrigerator. This helps me keep said ducks in the proper order.
Whether you need to make lists, or herd ducks, or slow down, or what, if you want to stay healthy then take a look at your priorities and activities, the balance of what you are doing for others versus yourself, and, above all, when you start getting signals that your energy is taking a nosedive, take a deep breath and regroup. Listen to and follow the energy.
Do whatever it takes to stay healthy. Because if you don’t stay healthy, you can’t achieve your dreams and birth all those baby projects, much less do justice to them once they arrive.
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