New Year, same you?

The world we live in now for most of us is one that is faster paced, with endless information at our fingertips leaving us feeling less and less connected to the things we love the most.  Whilst we strive to learn more, do more, earn more, be more, have more, holiday more, exercise more, what can often happen is we damage one of the most important relationships in our lives.  Our relationship to self.

For those reading this article who have experienced a Bowen Therapy session with me or someone else, what you will know is that there is no way to walk out of a Bowen Session NOT feeling connected to self again.  The precise nature of the moves helps to connect the mind and body together again in areas where there may not have been harmony.  Some people will feel warmth, tingling or muscles contracting and releasing between Bowen moves, others feel just a deep sense of relaxation.  For some it is the only time in their week/month where they can have a quiet space with their own thoughts away from and without the distraction of people, phones, the endless to do list needing your attention.  Personally, I have found the process I use to “adjust course” within in my life when making goals is quite like a Bowen Session.  I thought I would share this process for anyone wishing to delve a little deeper than the surface with their New Year Resolutions.  

Step One – PAUSE: Like the pauses in a Bowen Session, pause before you create goals.

When was the last time you truly asked yourself what you want?

What do I want my average day to look like? 

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to sit down, evaluate the path you are on and decide whether this path is serving you?

Step Two – REFLECT:  Similar to reflecting on how your body feels as each set of Bowen moves is completed.

A New Year can be a great time to reset and make some personal, familial, or business goals.  Before making those goals though an effective way to make sure any new goals will be truly aligned to what you want is to stop and assess where you are right now.  As humans we are often attracted by shiny objects so it can be easy to move between goals without really spending time paying thanks, congratulating ourselves or reflecting on why we found it easy to complete some goals and others we gave up on completely. 

Something that you used to enjoy may no longer give you those true feelings of joy that they once did, but you might still be going through the motions and continuing to do it.  This could be the case with regards to certain people, places, food, hobbies or even a workplace.  Realising that something/someone no longer serves you does not need to be a negative thing.  Rather accept that this person, place, or thing served a purpose at that time, pay it thanks (gratitude), acknowledge the lesson you may have learned and move on.   Looking closely at what something did or did not provide to you on a deeper level will help you to make more informed choices/ goals aligned to your true self in the future. 

Step 3 – CONNECT: The feeling that comes on after your Bowen session as your body aligns and you feel really connected, like your whole body is working synergistically.

My challenge to you is to incorporate people, places, things, hobbies that help you to feel “connected” as your Resolutions/goals for 2021.  Prioritise spending time with people who leave you feeling, energised and excited about life.  Those who you can be your true self around.  There is nothing more comforting than feeling, “Gee that person really got me!” 

Think of one place you can go either daily or weekly that leaves you feeling connected/grounded.  Maybe you feel grounded and connected when you get out and garden, maybe it is when you go for a bushwalk or head to the beach for a swim?  What can you change about your everyday environment to help you feel connected to your environmental space?  Maybe your work desk is so cluttered that you cannot even see let alone appreciate the important photo of your family or the special souvenir from your favourite holiday.  The art of feeling connected to the objects/environments around you lies more in removing what is not important so that you are better able to clearly see and appreciate what is important to you. 

Hobbies or interests that deepen your relationships to yourself or to others can help you feel more connected.  That could be playing a team sport or attending an exercise class with others who share your interests.  It could be joining a choir or community group.  If hanging with others is not your idea of fun, yoga, breathwork, meditation are all ways to strengthen the relationship between mind and body within yourself.

So, in closing remember that anytime you are feeling overwhelmed or like the universe is fighting you every step of the way you can go through this process.  You do not need to wait for a New calendar Year to make positive changes in your life.