Let your soul lead

On the cusp of the transition from Spring to Summer, I took my very first “soulcation” - a vacation led by my soul. I chose a 10-day period during which I set aside non-essential activities + tasks and let my soul speak to how I would spend my time. I began this summer in an energetic state of exploration, and this solution beautifully supported the needs of my seeking self.

I continued to manage the household - tending to all shopping, meal-planning, and child-care responsibilities. On the professional front, I continued to support my clients and team members. But from there, I fully went with the flow. I took a pause on all personal development activities and strategic initiatives for my business. I planned no play dates and set aside all non-essential errands. Most notably, I set the intention for the next 10-days to be “soul-led.” And though I didn’t communicate that to many individuals, it was a personal North Star for me as I moved through the week and a half timeframe.

I recall waking up the first morning of my soulcation with a gentle feeling of ease. All morning activities for a stay-at-home mama are generally static - personal hygiene, breakfast, games, conversation - but each act felt simpler. And also felt more real. I linger on using the descriptor “real,” striving to come up with a more clear synonym… but the best parallel I can think to share is not a word but a brief story. I had lasik eye surgery when I was 22 after 10 years of wearing glasses + contacts. Once the miraculous results of the surgery took full effect + all healing was complete, I recall feeling that I was finally, truly seeing what was in front of me. My hand, my book-filled night stand, the leaves on the trees. I had viewed these all countless times before, but seeing them fresh + clearly without looking through a lens created the most “real” view I had experienced. That was what I felt when I observed my very ordinary a.m. activities on day 1 of my soulcation.

I’ve known for awhile that I wanted to share about this unique journey into my soul-led self-care, and there are many elements of the time itself as well as what’s come since prioritizing this pause that I will share at a later time. For now, I’d like to leave you with the journaling that I completed upon deciding to take this time for myself. You can view the following content as a combination of deep soul communication, sweetly laced with messages from the divine. I am sharing this introspection at the chance and in the hope that this message aligns to you + energizes you to prioritize your own soul needs. As we are on the cusp of yet another seasonal transition, one where activities + schedules tend to pick up in both pace + frequency, I pray that whatever space you intentionally create for yourself personally + preciously serves your own unique, beautiful needs. Right here, right now ♥️

Personal reflection:

This is the time to care for you. You feel the need for further nourishment and deeper care. Take it. This is not a time for pushing, hustling, or excelling. It is time to birth a new pace of living. Allow it. You know there is more in less. You feel there is a more profound life experience outside of hard work, max effort, and trying. Now is your time to downshift. Let the shift of the seasons shift your focus away from external objectives and towards internal success. There will never be an “ideal time” to slow down, so choose now. It’s time to choose you, now. Choose your care, your needs, + your soul’s soft requests. Care for you. The true treatment of all you need and all you struggle with is within you. This time is your gift. This is your time to define, create, craft, manifest, and envision exactly how you want your life to be. Pause to be. Pause to feel. Pause to enjoy. And you do not need to return to a hustling pace. You can define a new standard for success - a “you” standard. This is your choice. This decision - every decision - is yours. Take the break. Stop for now. Pause anything that you can gently set down. Perhaps the only room to truly lighten your burdens is in the expectations you set + carry for yourself. Carefully, lovingly put them aside for a bit. You’ll notice more things go still around you to support your intention during this time. Your care for yourself is the top priority during this time. Make it a day, a weekend, or more. This can be your sacred time - your sacred space. And during this period, give yourself time to be still, to listen, to ask, to engage with the divine, and to write. You can find this experience juicy + rewarding, even fun, when your soul takes the wheel. This can be a joy-ride - a vacation - led by your soul. A “soulcation.” To honor this time + space for you, set the expectations where needed. Many respond well to the boundaries set through taking a “staycation.” You can use that terminology. But for your soul-aligned connections, feel free to share what you’re doing. ‘I am experiencing the need for a soul recharge, and I am honoring it by prioritizing myself + my care. For the next (chosen time period), I am committed to giving myself adequate space + soul nourishment. I will be limiting select activities during this time, including (chosen activities to pause). If you need me, you can always connect with me directly via cell phone as you may notice limited presence on social media. I am choosing to share this with you because of how deeply I value you in my life and due to the personal + profound support I have received from you. If this concept appeals to you, I would be so happy to share about my experience at the conclusion of the time.’ Much can become clear for you during this time. It is okay to take this time for you. This time is yours, this life is yours, and you choose how you wish to spend it. You are exactly where you need to be. And this is all quite lovely for you. Enjoy it all.