Day 25: Ignite

Let’s continue to build on yesterday’s invitation to reframe.

Take a moment (or several) today to contemplate your relationship (ahem, resistance) to the idea of rest and our own pleasure…

After many years of sitting with my own inner resistance, I’ve begun to trace it back to one very specific place: hard work.

The concept of “hard work” feels so darn ingrained in our cultural conversation (and my own inner dialogue) that I find myself forgetting my own lessons that I teach about rest and hard work.

It’s amazing how sticky this default approach is for many of us:

How quickly, efficiently, and precisely can I put the pieces back together in a neat way and “get to the other side” or optimize this situation? How can I “hard work” my way to a “solution” or “answer” and be out of this uncomfortable place I’m in? I’ll rest / relax / play / make my own choices when I’m done!

Even when it comes to like … “how we’re doing in 40 Early Mornings!” 😆

So today I’ll share some lines from the poet Nayyirah Waheed that always bring me back when I forget myself.

In case you need a reminder too…

“you do not have to be a fire

for

every mountain blocking you.

you could be a water

and

soft river your way to freedom

too.

— options”

Ahh yes, options and soft river-ing. I think I'll try some of that today.

I’ll see you right back here tomorrow,
Cath

Meditation: Keep going with Nadi Shodana below. You can safely and wisely keep edging your way into more rounds and cycles. Remember, there’s 3 cycles of 9 rounds for 20 minutes of meditation below. Go at your own pace.

Reflection: How might you “soft river” your way today?