Pause.

Pause. That's the word that keeps coming to me as I think about this festive season. 

There's so much busy. More than I wish to remember, more than I wish to have to do. And even as I pause, it feels as though our world is still buzzing around me.  

But still I pause. And in that moment I notice where I am. I take a big nourishing breath in, and take stock of where I am. I notice the little things that pull me back to the present, and steer my thoughts from tasks to moments, from rushing to gratitude, from routine to rhythm.

I notice where I am standing. My connection with the ground, with whatever is under foot. I visualise myself putting down roots and connecting as deep down as I need to go until I reach Mother Earth.

I notice my body and how it's feeling as a whole. I allow myself to notice the parts of my body that may be struggling right now. And I give thanks for them. For the job they're doing, despite strain and perhaps despite my full attention.  

I notice my breath, it's rhythm, it's depth, it's sound. I dwell here with the breath, choosing not to manipulate but to be witness to it's presence today. I notice how with my non-judgement and loving attention it naturally slows, becomes deeper, fuller. For my breath, I give thanks.

I notice what's around me. I see mess, I see food that needs to be cooked, I see a lengthy to-do list and floors that need sweeping. I close my eyes, reminding myself to look deeper. When I open them I see with my heart. I see an abundance of wants met, I see healthy nourishing food ready and waiting, I see a beautiful life being lived fully and a home that while messy is one of peace. 

I place one hand on my heart, the other on my belly. I breathe, visualising my life breath travelling back and forth between the two. I give thanks for love and all that nourishes me in each day.

I pause. And in that moment I notice where I am. I return to my day, with an adjusted rhythm. Remembering who I am, where I am, and all I have to be thankful for. Especially when the world may feels like it's buzzing around me.

xx

Pause and interrupt busy with slow, mindfulness and gratitude, and in doing so, nurture. It's my plan for the next month, and going by how it feels I think it's a good one for me. Will you join me? Elisa x

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---------------->> My free five-day mindfulness bundle incorporating breath work, journaling + meditation {the tools + rituals I use to cultivate nurture + space for what matters most in my day} will launch in the New Year. More info here, if this sounds like you xx <<----------------

Raindrops

 

The rain began overnight and continued on and off throughout the day, and I couldn’t help but miss the sunshine that had graced our recent days.

I lamented on plans that had to be changed, and things that couldn’t now be done.

When the weather finally calmed I stepped outside to collect the mail, but raindrops began to fall once more.

This time I paused in my thoughts, I felt the raindrops, noticed where they landed and chose to bask in them as I do the sunshine.

Later I stopped to look to the sky - grey in places and cloudy all over - and I chose to see wonder and a reflection of our ability to change.

As I drove to my parents’ house, I noticed tiny raindrops landing on my windscreen. One by one, until they met each other and slid down the glass.

And it reminded me of the little steps I can take to make changes. Little steps that can seem insignificant on their own, but really they are filled with hope and change, and when they come together they have the ability to create an amazing sense of new - renewed possibilities, awareness, wonder.

xx

{Images by me – my first time photographing raindrops. So much beauty found in the last place I would have thought to search. Elisa x}

{Gratitude this week for beauty in the ordinary; the ability to change, heal and start again; and for friends who listen with their eyes, ears and hearts and then tell me with love what they’ve heard. Thank you xx}

Missing. Lately.

 

I've been missing in action at With Grace & Eve lately.... Right when I thought I'd found a relaxed mindful rhythm of heart centred moments...when I'd found my balance... mother guilt and fear crept up on me.                       

 

I almost immediately intentionally pulled back to centre in on me - my emotional wellbeing - and to reassess, to slow further, to find my clarity and to release the guilt and fear that weren't serving me one bit well.

 

That pulling back was really a letting go. And a reminder to do what needed to be done, and do nothing extra. A releasing of old patterns, to create time and space for new.

Clarity came and showed me what was missing. Slowly.

 

I craved the written word, and particularly that which I'd read before. So I read the same words, but gained new insight.

 

 I wrote just for me. I created new affirmations. And silently and repetitively I affirmed: "My best is good enough."

 

And I spent the solo minutes my day afforded me in stillness, drawn to meditation and realigning myself with the power of my breath. 

 

And after two birthday celebrations (now we have a little miss two and little miss four!) this past two months I have felt the need to hold my babies close a little more each day.     
 

As I slowed, it felt as though time was affording me more heart moments. But less I wanted to share.     
 

I gave myself a mindful project, to ground and centre with two little girls in tow. I stepped outside at about the same time each day for seven days to take photos at the same place. Minutes of just being with my girls, in awareness, mindful of moments and the power of presence all at once.

And I've missed this space but the lesson has been in the missing. It's made me notice what's missing from my days, and it's shown me once again the freedom and presence that comes from honouring where I'm at. And the wonder that comes from making space for new and change.

   

xx

 

Has anything been missing from your days of late? And does that affirmation {"My best is good enough"} resonate with you? When I shared it on facebook, it was reassuring to know it was something others felt they needed too. Elisa x

 

Pressing pause

The past month I've done more rushing than I thought possible.

But this week I pressed pause on the chaos I was creating.

I stopped to breathe, and stopped to drink my tea while it was hot.

I walked slowly {and I still arrived at my destination}.

I took a detour home via the beach to watch the waves {and take in the wide-eyed expression on a little miss two's face}.

I gazed at my sleeping baby, felt the rhythm of her breath and blew her kisses.

I put everything on hold to listen to the little girl in my life's voice {listening with my ears and my eyes, listening with my heart}.

I'm working on less rushing each day, even though I know there will always be some form of busy bubbling about {in the background}.

But when I fill my day with moments of calm {mindfulness, grace and love}, scattered as these moments may be the energy of rushing seems to fade and the sun shines that bit brighter on my day.

Elisa xx

{I'm grateful I pressed pause and chose to create a week less rushed, a week more gentle, a week more calm ~ Linking with Maxabella and the gratitude over at Kidspot's 52 Weeks of Grateful. You should most definitely check it out! x}


What are you grateful for this week?