Finding Flow
Hey there,
Life's ups and downs have got me sidetracked, pulling me away from the noise of social media. I'm pretty stoked to dive back into my writing groove and share some of the recent twists and turns of my journey. Thanks for being here and being supportive:
I'm a total sucker for Fall. It's hard not to be, especially coming from New York where the city buzzes with that special Fall vibe, from fashion to energy. But let's talk about Fall transitions, they don't quite spark the same joy. The recent shift from Summer to Fall hit me hard, and it took a while to get used to it. I found myself caught in an ebb, feeling like I was adrift for weeks. You know those weeks when you start texting everyone you know, asking if something with the planets is fucking with your vibe? That was me .. for a good while. My routines — like taking my vitamins, sticking to my skincare regimen, hitting the gym, drinking enough water, writing – all of it went out the window. And because of that, all the “vibras” these routines brought me seemed to be slipping away. My energy and motivation took a nosedive, and it had a ripple effect on everything else. My phone became a distraction, I hardly communicated with my friends, my body felt sluggish, and the deeper I fell into that hole, the tougher it became to climb out.
I have to give myself some credit, though. Through all this, I managed to stick with my morning meditations. I can't even begin to imagine where my head would've been without those grounding moments. During one of those serene mornings, it hit me that my thoughts were all over the place, and I needed a break from the mental chaos. I've got this deep connection with my journal, but I'd been neglecting it throughout this ebb. I knew I had to put my thoughts on paper to find some clarity.
So, when I finally cracked open my journal, I had a plan in mind. I was going to do three types of journaling:
A brain dump: Imagine opening a cluttered closet and letting everything tumble out. That's what brain dumps are for – getting everything from your mind onto the page. This type of journaling is pretty chaotic, filled with scribbles, to-do lists, random thoughts – you name it. No rules, just get it out.
A free write: Starting with a brain dump helps me free write in a more organized way and gain clarity on what I really want to say. (Without my brain dumps, my free writes turn into messy jumbles).
Manifestations / Hopes / Wishes / Desires: My absolute favorite part! After the clarity from the previous entries, I get to dive into what I want to manifest now that I've turned a breakdown into a breakthrough. After experiencing the ebbs and finding my flow again, I'm in a place where I want to make some changes.
My journaling didn't magically fix the ebb, but it did help. I realized that when I looked back at my to-do lists, all those big, scary tasks didn't seem so intimidating. I could fit them into my daily life without getting overwhelmed. Just like journaling didn't completely solve my ebb, understanding that my to-do list wasn't as scary as I thought didn't make the task any less daunting. I knew I had to start small, given where I was. My self-care couldn't be an all-encompassing project just yet, and I needed some boundaries for my external efforts and energies. So, I began with baby steps and celebrated each little victory.
Another part of my journey was dealing with how I felt physically. I wasn't feeling great because I didn't like how I looked. It was tough to admit because part of me thought it might sound superficial. But what's the point of hiding the truth when you're trying to better yourself. I mean, notice that there's no question mark at the end of that last sentence. It's important to acknowledge that our looks matter, and I realized that I really wanted to maintain the flesh suit and all I've chosen to come with it. If it's that important to me, I had to put in the effort to keep it up. I started with my hair – opted for long twists that framed my face just the way I like it, and it helped me feel more comfortable in certain clothes I'd been avoiding.
I have to admit, it felt kind of silly how quickly my entire vibe shifted with just a simple hairstyle change. I can't pretend that I haven't had those "fresh from the salon" moments when you leave feeling like a superstar. I was all in, embracing the change, and it made me feel like a new, more confident version of myself. This me walked with her head held higher than the one from a few weeks ago who couldn't even look at her own reflection in the mirror. Taking care of myself on the outside had a cool ripple effect, making it easier to enjoy leisure reads, get back into my courses, and engage in activities that fuel my passion. It felt like I was putting the pieces back together, like my spirit was getting a touch of gold to seal the cracks.
This journey from ebb to flow taught me something big. I realized that I have the power to pull myself out of an ebb and that my flow requires some TLC. To embrace and live within my flow, I have to stick to my daily self-care routines that my best self needs. I can't afford to skip those practices anymore. I love being the woman who gets up early to enjoy a peaceful morning before the world wakes up, the one who follows rituals that boost her self-worth, the one who meditates every day with intention. But that also means accepting that sometimes, I'll ebb and miss the mark on all this. And that's okay; it doesn't mean I'm any less of my higher / in flow self.
I've learned a lot from this journey, but one nugget of wisdom stands out – ebbs happen. The more I embrace and nurture myself during an ebb, the quicker I can break free and dive back into my flow. I hope to spot those ebbs even sooner next time, use them as guides, and keep moving forward. I hope you can look at your own ebbs with a rose-tinted perspective.
If you find yourself having trouble navigating a current ebb, try these tips:
Acknowledge the Ebb: The first step is to recognize that ebbs are a natural part of life. It's okay to have moments of low energy, self-doubt, or challenges. Accept that ebbs are part of the journey.
Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself during the ebb. Avoid self-criticism or negative self-talk. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you'd offer a best friend going through a tough time.
Reflect and Journal: Take time to reflect on what's causing the ebb. Journaling can be a powerful tool to gain clarity and insight into your thoughts and emotions. Write about your feelings, challenges, and any patterns you notice. If writing isn’t your thing, have a go at recording an audio note and playing it back for yourself.
Set Small Goals: Break down your goals into smaller, manageable tasks. When in an ebb, focus on achieving these smaller goals to build a sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Self-Care: Prioritize self-care routines that make you feel good. This could include exercise, a healthy diet, quality sleep, and mindfulness practices like meditation.
Connect with Others: Share your feelings with friends, family, or a support network. Connecting with others can provide emotional support and different perspectives on your situation.
Find Inspiration: Seek inspiration from books, podcasts, or people who have overcome similar challenges. Sometimes, hearing success stories can reignite your motivation.
Adapt and Adjust: Be flexible and open to adjusting your plans as needed. Sometimes, the flow takes a different direction than you initially anticipated, and that's perfectly fine.
Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate even the smallest achievements. This positive reinforcement can boost your confidence and motivation.
Maintain Consistency: When the ebb begins to shift toward flow, maintain the positive routines and practices that make you feel good. Consistency is key in keeping the flow going.
Learn and Grow: Use the ebb as an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. Reflect on what you've learned during these phases and how it can contribute to your overall journey.
Stay Patient: Understand that moving from ebb to flow is a process. It may not happen overnight, but with time and effort, you'll get there.
Note: I’m currently creating an Ebb to Flow Guide that will dive deeper into this process and tap into journal prompts to help you use writing as a healing and clarifying tool to understand and create the next steps to your journey, activating your flow-self, and engaging in a maintenance plan that works and allows you to adapt to your own growth. We’ll be diving into some of the prompts in my upcoming Journal Club which will be held virtually on November 10, 2023 between 12-1PM PST. We’ll dig into brief breathwork and meditation focused on flow and allow that to guide us into meeting and creating an maintenance plan for flow-self. My hopes are to turn this into a workshop for the upcoming year so we can enter 2024 flowing like water and allowing that to ripple right out. Stay tuned for all the goodness coming your way.
Thank you for being here.
-a.m.