The Magic of Space
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Space Mood Lady |
With that title, this newsletter could be about a lot of different things, couldn't it? I could start talking about the space program and how I wish I could walk on the moon. Well, it might be kind of interesting to walk on the moon, but to be honest, there are a lot of other places I'd rather walk. That space suit is way too much for me.
I've been marveling about the idea of Space for a while now and have been relishing IN its Magic in quite a few different ways. It feels like kind of a new best friend -- like the more I get to know it, the more beautiful things I see in it and the more time I want to spend with it. It's exciting and fulfilling and quiet and peaceful and effortless.
So I hear whispers of your question..."What exactly are you talking about Janette? What is this Space that you are getting to know on a whole new level?". Good question! Let me tell you more...
This is really such a big issue I almost don't know where to start. So I'll start at the beginning, at least for me. Before I started living my life very intentionally, I didn't have a lot of space in it. There were always things to do, 'shoulds' to complete, goals to achieve, dreams to fulfill, 'supposed tos' to get done, plans to make, lists to create, things to check off the list...Boy, I'm wearing myself out just thinking about it. I thought this was the way it was supposed to be. Much of the time, this is what seems to be valued - always having a busy schedule, always having a plan, always striving for the next step.
I LOVE goals and lists and dreams and plans - don't get me wrong. But when this was all that was in front of me, there was no SPACE. Without the space, I had a hard time seeing what was most important. I also had a hard time seeing that many of my priorities were changing. I was on automatic pilot so there was no time or energy to re-assess where I was and where I was going. There was also no space to enjoy what I had already achieved and all that I already had in my life. And lastly and I think most importantly, there was no space for all the possibilities that I couldn't see. There were and are LOADS of those. But when I was focused on filling up my time, I missed the SPACE for all the options that weren't already in front of me. There was no openness for those currently unseen options or even the notion of them.
One of the beautiful things about coaching is that the issues our clients come to us with are usually magically connected with our own lives. Sometimes it's something we have been working on ourselves for a while or something that we went through not long ago or something that we need to look at. Soon after I realized the Magic of Space, I had many clients that were having their own journey with this. It is a beautiful thing to see when someone starts really looking at how they are spending their time, how they want to spend their time, letting go of what isn't TRULY important to them and what gems they find in the space that often follows this process. I love being a witness to their exploration - when they step past the fear of the unknown and they let the space come and find them. It's THEN that they can see its magic -- its gifts.
For some people, having space can be a little scary. One reason for this is that we get used to filling all of our time so it can feel so empty when it isn't filled. It can feel just plain wrong. It ends up being almost a reflex -- finding something to DO with this empty hour, minute, second. We can almost sense a kind of panic when confronted with the empty space as it feels daunting. Since we aren't used to it, it can feel almost ominous. "What might be IN there?," we wonder. We know what we have outside the space and even if it is FULL and overwhelming and often exhausting, it feels more certain than that VERY uncertain Space. "I'll just stay out here", we say to ourselves either consciously or unconsciously.
The thing is for most of us, the filling the space really doesn't work very effectively. Since we are just filling the space and not being really aware of what effect that is having on us, it is often draining and unfulfilling. It can feel that even when we get rest, we don't feel rested. It can feel that no matter how much good is going on in our lives, there is still a hole -- there is still something missing.
When you stop to allow Space in, a lot of this gets worked out. That's why it feels like Magic. Space gives you SOOOO much. It gives you the opportunity to breathe - to sit back and see what's all around you with new eyes. You can see all you have and all you are and finally have a moment to ENJOY it - to experience it. It gives you the chance to look at where you are and how you're doing things. Are you doing something because you truly want to or because you 'should' or because you've always done it that way? Space helps you see this distinction clearly. In this way, it helps you really see YOU in there and not some reflection of your parents, your partner, society, your friends. And when you tap into the Magic of Space, you will most likely see possibilities you NEVER saw before. It's like putting on a different pair of glasses. "How could I have missed this?", you might wonder. Ah yes, Magic...
Space can look very different depending on you and your lifestyle. For some people, Space might be a weekend or a day away - spending time on your own. Or it could be 5 minutes before the house wakes up where you can BE - just BE, nothing else. It could be meditating or gardening or writing in your journal. You might need to start really small or really big. There's no right way to bring space into your life. However, I do invite you to follow these 3 guidelines:
1. Technology-less quiet: no tv, no radio, no cell phone, no computer
2. Choose a routine/easy activity or none: you might like to walk (one of my favorite space-promoting activities!), garden, swim, meditate, write - something where you don't need to concentrate so much on the activity itself.
3. Be present. Whatever you decide to do, quiet your mind as much as possible. This is when Space can really do its Magic.
Remember, wherever you are with this whole space thing is a perfect place to start. Whether it feels like you have LOTS of time to explore or none, I invite you to take some time to experiment with this. Even if you just spend a few minutes a day to allow some space to come into your life, that's something. Notice how it feels...is it comforting, uncomfortable, impossible, inviting? What does it feel like for you? There's isn't a 'right' way for it to feel -- it's all just information. So be curious, put on your Space Suit & be ready to experience the Magic. |