I’ve been struggling to write this week, my mind has been pretty preoccupied with things happening in my personal life, my energy a little low and depleted. I’ve needed more rest, more nurturing this week, more nourishment than usual. Life is always in ebb and flow, seasons change within us and what we need evolves over time. One must take the time to listen to what this ebb and flow is telling us. We need to hold space for what our mind, body and soul needs as often as we can. And then to give it to ourselves without guilt or judgment, to take care of ourselves without apology. But so often we forget to prioritise that care, we put ourselves at the bottom of our to do lists as if Nurturing ourselves isn’t the life force that allows us to tick everything else off. As if it is to be ticked off once the more important matters of productivity and hustle are completed. Yet as the saying goes, ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup.’ We all know this but when do we choose to listen to it? Instead we just rush from one thing to the next, living our lives on fast forward without ever pressing pause or playing at life’s true speed. Slow feels wasteful, frivolous, unrealistic.

our language is so full of phrases and sayings that perpetuate this rush, that discourages the prioritisation of rest and recharge -

« sleep is for the weak »

« no rest for the wicked »

« Rise and grind »

« You snooze, you lose »

i could go on forever. are sayings such as these a major turn off for anyone else, or is it just me? I’m exhausted just reading them, let alone the thought of implementing such a way of thinking into my life. I’m all for working hard and striving to achieve my dreams but at the cost of my health and well-being? No thank you. I like my sleep far too much. What’s with the rush? Is there a race we’re all participating in that i missed the memo for? This culture of overworking ourselves disguised as hustle is one that feels alien and unnatural to me. Shaming yourself for feeling depleted, losing touch with your body and ignoring what it’s literally screaming at you for all in the name of success and recognition, tension rupturing through our muscles has become so normal it’s worrying. Haven’t things gone a little too far? Its making us ill, disconnected and out of touch with the natural rhythms and cycles of life. It feeds a narrative of competition, battle and endurance that turns life into an assault course. Life is meant to be lived, in the here and now, not put on hold until we’ve worked hard enough or broken enough records to feel as though we deserve to experience it fully. One of the worst things I could possibly imagine happening to me is reaching the end of my life to realise I missed it all because I was in such a rush to make it to the finish line. To realise that I wasn’t truly present for a single second of it. A true tragedy.

we should think of life as being akin to a set of scales that must be as balanced as possible at each and every moment. Each day calls us to check in with this internal scale, make an evaluation of what feels heavy and deep and what can be done to lighten the load. Sometimes the Weight will become heavier and so more energy should be emphasised upon uplifting and caring for oneself, pouring back into the cup to balance out the scales. Other times the weight will feel so light that our feet may leave the ground, and so we may root ourselves in presence and gratitude for such a lightness of being. It’s all about finding that balance, a constant monitoring and checking in with yourself to maintain it.

this week my scales felt heavy. And despite all the resistance I felt within me screaming at me to maintain productivity and thus proving my worth (which in itself is a whole other kettle of fish to discuss another day), I cared for myself and slowed down, did things that lightened the burden upon my soul. I essentially mothered myself, nurtured myself. We don’t force children to continue maintaining the pace of normal life when they’re ill, so why do we do so to ourselves as adults? Why, as we grow up, do we equate adulthood with an abandonment of meeting our needs? Our bodies keep us alive every single day. Our heart beats, pumping blood through our veins, our breath flows, our organs work to keep it all in balance and harmony. It’s a miracle to be alive, what our bodies do for us is miraculous. And how do we thank it? We reward ourselves with over stimulation, over work and over exhaustion. What a gift… what if we begin tuning into ourselves again, paying attention to that inner scale and prioritise maintaining balance once more? Imagine how much better we’d all feel. How much more aligned and energised we’d be. How much easier to breathe it would feel. Imagine a world where we stopped pressing fast forward and chose to listen and witness the world around and within us at our natural pace. That’s the kind of world I want to live in.

if you want to hear more about my journey towards a more authentic existence, follow me on instagram @the.authenticity.project and on medium . see my photography work on instagram @s.ophiea.lice and connect with me on linkedin.

big love to you all x