A card for you: Finding connection through joy & grief.
I want to start this blog today with a quote by Rebecca Campbell. It is from a card that I pulled out of her Rose Oracle Deck (I will link below). I loved the passage and want to share it here with you:
OPEN.
Say yes. Expand through the extremes. Trust life.
“This is probably one of the biggest challenges of Life: keeping your heart open through the extremes. No one is immune to the highs and lows of the human experience. From the ecstasy to the agony, the joy to the grief, the love to the loss. We can't bypass the difficult parts of being human if we want to truly experience the bliss. And if you close your heart off to the grief, you won't be able to fully experience the joy.
The rose teaches us this, season after season. She knows that if She doesn't surrender to each of the seasons, come summer She won't be able to bloom.
Living and dying with your heart open is truly a courageous act, as a life well lived is full of losses and tragedies as well as great love, triumphs, and adventures. When we're going through difficult times, when we most want to separate, the healing is often found in connection not separation. When we close our heart and shut down because the pain is too much, we often find ourselves more separate than before. The rose shows us how to open to the world, no matter what the day brings.
This card is here to encourage you to say yes to life, to expand through the extremes, and to put your two feet wholly and completely in.”
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The truth is, every human being experiences this ebb and flow. When we are feeling good, it is easy to meet our experiences with an open mind and an open heart. It is easy to trust and to remain present. But when we are met with challenge, it is often easier to shut down or try and push away // run from the hard stuff. This is a natural reaction - nobody enjoys the hard times.
I am not here to tell you how to feel or how you should handle your “stuff” — I understand that life really can throw some sh*t at us. But I AM here to e n c o u r a g e you to resist the urge to run away or mask your unwanted feelings. It is okay to not have it together all of the time. It is okay (and normal) to go through periods of stress or anxiety or sadness — whatever it may be. Just as we will experience periods of joy and alignment and feeling good — and all of the ones in between. We don’t need to run from these feelings, and we can’t. Healing comes from turning inward and taking care of ourselves. It comes from facing every moment of our life with awareness and connection and trust that we can get to the other side of whatever we are going through.
Life doesn’t come with a set of rules or a guidebook. It doesn’t let us know what’s ahead or how to forget what’s behind — and that is true for everyone. We have a choice every single day to align ourselves with more loving thoughts, even if we don’t necessarily believe them all of the time. We can choose to create an environment that supports our wellness. We can choose to surround ourselves with those who support us and offer us encouragement through both the highs and the lows. We can choose to make healthy and empowering choices. We can’t always choose how we are feeling. But we can make the choice to better help ourselves through how we are feeling.
So, what are some ways we can flow through the hard stuff?
Lean into those around you. Talk to your friends or family. Get out of the house and make genuine connections. We are social beings, we need community and we aren’t meant to handle everything alone.
Open your windows. Get outside. Fresh air and sunlight are healers.
Eat well and move your body. Negative emotions are transmuted through movement. Stagnant energy creates disease and leaves less opportunity for healing. Healthful foods and supplements will support your body in doing what it needs to do to remain energized and motivated.
Cut out unnecessary stress. Write a list of the things bringing your vibe down and purge what you can — this may have to include people. CREATE SPACE.
Be mindful & selective of the information you are taking in. Sometimes this means limiting social media and certain television channels. Read articles and books with more positive story lines. Your subconscious will thank you.
Shower, do your hair or makeup every now and then, get your nails done — treat yourself to some self-care that boosts your confidence.
Get curious about how you are feeling. Pay attention to when you are feeling good versus when you are feeling off. When are you feeling your best? DO MORE OF THAT.
Lastly, but probably the most important on the list: Practice gratitude. It is easy to forget about all of the blessings we have around us sometimes. Write down what you are grateful for and focus on adding more and more to that list each day. Nothing is too big or too small to appreciate.
&& lastly, what are some ways that we can better take in the good stuff?
Take photos. If you are feeling good, snap a picture to remember the moment. Save it and look back on it when you need a little pick me up.
Be present. Listen, engage, smile and connect. Distractions are all around us, when you are having a good day try and take in every moment.
Surround yourself with people who support your successes, cheer you on and want the best for you. The special moments in life are sweeter with good people by your side.
Along with feeling supported by those around you — support those around you. When someone else wins, be genuinely happy for them. People succeeding around you just means that you are that much closer to your own successes.
And again, practice gratitude. The good times are to be appreciated, always.