If you’re on my email list or follow adenaroseayurveda on social media, you know I share Ayurveda from my personal life and experiences. Many of my teachers say things like “Ayurveda takes time,” and “Be your own experiment,” and it does seem like (perhaps especially here in the US because our Ayurvedic education is still growing) this is the only way to go.
So, though I am lucky to be quite healthy, I have also been given painful and difficult experiences that have tested my mind and my body and my faith in Ayurveda and natural healing. In these, I have been able to put my beliefs to the test, and learn from my experimentation.
It’s certainly not all black and white, good or bad. But I do have more ability to be with ‘what is,’ and also know the truth that everything is always shifting and changing.
Thanks for witnessing my path. It’s important to share our own stories, ad to hear others. So if what I write resonates with you and your own journey, please, write me if you feel called.
—
I think most of us dream about ‘the simple life.’
And most-likely, because we don’t feel like we are living it. Our lives are pretty complex and complicated, and it’s not our fault. But it’s a truth.
Here is a shot of the sourdough bread I finished at 9:30pm last night 😉 and of course had to break into. In Ayurveda, routine is said to be extremely balancing to our body mind system. I think in our modern lives that word is synonymous with ‘boring,’ and something to be avoided if we are to live a fulfilling life and take advantage of all their is to offer.
I’ve been there – in my 20’s. And perhaps I will be there again. A time of rich ojas and less responsibility and perhaps I’d say less purpose.
If healing is required (when is it not, on some level?) we need to root out to cause of the imbalance. Often times in this complex life, simplicity can be the medicine. Simplification as the opposite, and balancing quality of complexity and chaos.
The solution is different for each of us, though I will tell you what is working for me.
1. Making a weekly meal plan (will share mine later.)
2. Sleeping and waking at the same time each day.
3. Warm water each morning, and waking before my son for ‘me time.’ (Meditation, pranayama or writing.)
4. Turning off the radio in the car, and only listening to inspiring podcasts
5. Baking fresh bread every Sunday (just kidding, but #goals.)
When we add things, old things must fall away. How can you simplify? Are you afraid of letting go? Things you know are not serving you? Or on the other side, can you follow with awareness what IS serving you?
We can use a more forgiving word: rhythm. And when you have rhythm in your life, your body responds with predictable rhythm in your sleep wake cycle, menstruation, energy levels/cortisol maps, bowel function, and more. The little things do matter, the little things shape your life.
One thing that prevents me from letting go, and many of my clients and friends and colleagues is ‘nothing’ but FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out.
For example, we don’t say no to the glasses of wine because we might miss a fun time. We might be judged by our friends. We might lose those friends.
So we post-oine healthy choices for ourselves (for how long?) and just continue with the old standard. Which usually doesn’t give more fun or more satisfaction.
We think we need to register for all the things – retreats, conferences, trainings – because our colleagues will ‘get ahead’ of us. Or we won’t be seen as relevant or hip. But we have a baby at home, we are pregnant, we have a mother to take care of, we have to put it on a credit card, we are ill and really should wait of rnext year…etc.
Are these ideas implanted by outside influence? Social media? Other people? Or are they true desires or aspirations, things you need to do to feel fulfilled?
Because sometimes they are, and need to be fulfilled, no holds barred. And other times, much of the time, they are just obsessions, or pressures, or expectations and ‘shoulds’ we hold ourselves to.
I don’t have the answers, but I think cultivating awareness (and maybe experimenting and learning from truths and failures!) is the only way to figure it out.
And slowing down, and simplifying, allows us to have more awareness.
I made a list of what is working for me lately (above). And if you’ve have me, I’ll be sharing more. And please, share yours. Thank you for being here.
Love,
Adena
