Day 172/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
The winter solstice is upon us. That time when the earth's tilt away from the sun means less sunlight, longer and darker nights.
At these times I reflect on the child that was. The little person of innocence and wholeness that has navigated the decades, adjusted and shaped herself to fit her world.
I reflect on the many paths I've taken, the many obstacles I've encountered. The hurdles, the learnings of the way things are, the accommodations that took me a long way from the innocence that was.
The influences of the world that continually inform me and shape me into their mould. That have robbed me of my creative expression in order to fit their bland and colourless agenda.
The struggle to shine my own light is real. It's painful, difficult and exhausting. Yet it's a struggle that I have put all my energy into. It's the determination to live by my own tune, to dance my own steps, to craft my own existence.
It's a struggle to let go of the shackles of the economic imperative, to live simply and honestly. To live clutter free and connected with what's real and thriving. To reacquaint myself with the natural world and take from there, my inspiration.
Let your light shine. Let your passion light you up. Let your radiance illuminate others.
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.
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