The day I spent at Healing Journeys’ workshop with Julie Interrante, Love me Tender, was a gift. I have learned over and over again how valuable it is to take some time out of my busy life to look within. Time just for myself. I want to share with you a few of the lessons I learned again.
The wisdom of my soul is what I came to the planet for. I didn’t come to please others, or to follow anyone else’s agenda. Learning to listen to, and trust, my deep soul wisdom and my intuition, may be the most valuable and important way I can spend my time. That means quiet time with myself on a regular basis. That needs to take priority over taking care of others.
In the workshop, we said “I take full responsibility for my life today — my needs, desires, feelings, thoughts. Thereby I contribute to the safety of the group, family, and planet.” It makes sense to me. If I try to take care of you at my own expense, I will build up resentment, and I won’t do a good job of taking care of either one of us.
In the workshop we took a nap after lunch. After the nap, we asked ourselves how we felt and what we needed. I felt relaxed, optimistic, hopeful, excited, full, and happy. I knew I needed to slow down, have more quiet and relaxation time in my life. So often, when I’m working, I feel tired and tell myself I just need to push through and keep working. I seldom give myself permission to take a nap. But a 15 minute nap made a big difference in how I felt. I hope I will remember this experience next time I face that choice.
Another quote from Julie at the workshop is “When I am resting, God is working.” Julie gave an example of a time she thought she should be working on her marketing plan, but felt tired. She surrendered, took a nap, and when she woke up there was a voice mail with exactly the help she needed to create the marketing plan. My guess is that we all have stories like that, but still sometimes think that actively working is more valuable than resting.
We talked about how a cancer diagnosis creates an urgency to be who we came here to be, and how we need to tap into the wisdom of our souls to know what that is. There are many ways to engage the wisdom of my soul, and I appreciate the guidance I received in Julie’s workshop to keep that alive in me.
As always, I welcome your comments; to reply please click here.
In the Spirit of Healing,
Jan Adrian, MSW
Founder and Executive Director
Hi Jan,
As always, your writing touches me. I loved this latest installment. And the bit about taking a nap (in the middle of a workshop!) was so, so intriguing. Really made me smile. Yes, I know about God working while we’re resting/sleeping. I’ve often awakened after a good sleep with answers to stuff bothering me when I laid down. I’ve also felt an overall sense that things will be okay, really okay, after I’ve rested. The anxiety melted away while I slept. Reading your post truly makes me wish I had been at Julie’s workshop.
Thank you, Jan, for sharing your experience with me, with us, as always.
Much love,
Cathy
Hi Jan, I was transformed with hope by attending the Campbell, CA “Cancer as a turning point” and met survivors with my same diagnosis. I felt encouraged and inspired. I was wondering if the Westerbek seminar by Jonathan Ellerby is sponsored by Healing Journeys, directed at cancer patients and survivors or is it open to anyone wanting to better themselves (general public)? Just curious.
I again want to thank you and everyone responsible for putting this incredible seminar together. It changed my outlook on life.
Blessings, Laura
Thank you, Jan, for your thoughtful post. I feel that most of us could use a gentler approach toward ourselves. Thank you also for giving us permission to take a nap! I had an immediate urge to do just that, and I ended up walking the dog instead, but tomorrow I may choose the nap. It’s so tempting to “power through” as you said, so it actually takes a bit of discipline to say NO, my body needs a nap.
Love,
Alice