Invite yourself to enjoy

‘Tis the season to feel sleepy. There’s a lot in motion. And isn’t there always “one more thing” that if you have the time and the creative energy and the capacity, you’d love to make happen?

Gift yourself some rest this season, Dear One.

The poetry of the fact that Matt and I treated ourselves to a new duvet and plaid duvet cover this holiday is not lost on me.

Mama needs some rest. And I have a sneaking feeling you do too.

So to satisfy that achieving mind of yours, I have a simple in the moment reframe to offer you (and it). That may even make you feel like you’re “doing” something (even though you’re resting) and you’re “achieving” something significant (even though you’re resting) and that you’re using this time as productively as possible (even though you’re resting!!!)

My offer to you and that achieving mind: intend to enjoy this time.

Rest is productive. But our minds can talk us out of that pretty quickly.

Enjoyment is very productive. It uplifts our energy, uplifts our spirits, and uplifts our experience of an event. Any event. Enjoyment can move us effortlessly into an energy of appreciation and in turn into an energy of receiving. (Which feels Very productive to me!)

By setting the intention to enjoy, you’re giving your mind a job. You’re engaging it in the process. Wherever we place our attention, we place our energy. So in focusing our energy through intention, we can help focus the mind on a lovely activity (or non-activity) that can serve you. And we can energize ourselves through the doing (or non-doing!) of it.

So because I have a feeling you’re still going to try to tuck one (or two) more things onto your holiday to-do list, I’ll keep it short and sweet for today.

Here is how to shift into an energy of enjoyment in the moment:

Intend to enjoy.

Allow your intention to shift your energy towards enjoyment. And simply let yourself enjoy what unfolds before you. Let it gift you. And, if it serves you, let it be restful.

During Gabby’s nap today, I had a dozen things I could have chosen to do. Instead, I had some tea and watched a Fixer Upper re-run. Actually, two re-runs. I needed a recharge. And while, historically, I may have watched with half attention because my mind was trying hard to convince me of all the better ways I could be spending my time, today I simply enjoyed it. I set the intention to enjoy my lounging. My body and mind were begging for it. I allowed that inner wisdom to speak, and I listened. And by simply stating in my mind as my water boiled, “I enjoy this time” I experienced a truly restful 90 minutes.

Allow enjoyment to bring with it a more restful, renewing feeling. This day, this season. Right here, Right now.