What Is Nourishing You?

In a recent session of A Mindful Life we explored what it means to be nourished. I asked what makes something nourishing; what do you feel when you are nourished? The answers across all the groups included words like: full, satisfied, inspired, replenished, taken care of, having a need/longing met, feelings of calm, presence, relief, joy, connection, among many other life affirming terms. I then asked what was on their plate in the week ahead that was nourishing, keeping in mind all the things that we do for ourselves that are, in fact, nourishing. Because we do them regularly, we can easily stop taking in that many tasks we do are nourishing (eating, exercising, driving our kids to practice, bathing, cleaning). The interesting thing is that when we really look at what makes something nourishing, we start to see that so much of it is the way we perceive it -- the intention we bring to what we do and savoring it as we do it and after it's done. Having this time now, writing to you as I sit in the Gravity Vault as my daughter climbs, is nourishing. It gives me space and time to think about what I want to share and why. This is nourishing because I value connection, having purpose, and wanting to be of service.

Why is it important to reflect in this way? Because when we don't take in all the ways we nourish ourselves, we think we are empty, deprived. We feel we are missing something when, in fact, we just haven't taken in what we have that replenishes us, brings sustenance, energy, rest. We have to allow ourselves to be filled. It is a mindset we have control over.

My invitation this week is:

1) Ask yourself the question, what makes something nourishing? How do you know it is nourishing? What do you feel when you are nourished?

2) Based on that information, look ahead into this week. From now until Sunday, what will you be doing that is nourishing, (bearing in mind all the things you do that allow you to be replenished, to thrive, anything that helps you to feel at ease, connected, satisfied and full)?

3)  How does it feel to look at your week this way? Is anything different about it?

This is something we can do at the end of every day. When you get in bed at night, you can ask, "what today nourished me or what tomorrow will nourish me?" Change your mind to change your experience. It is a powerful and kind thing.

🌷
Jean