I'm noticing how often I find clarity after I take a pause.
Dearest Doodle Soupsters,
I created the artwork above by painting layers of blue, green, white shades. Then, I carved a continuous contour line through the final layer. The work's soothing colors co-exist with this line's rapid twists and turns weaving through the painting.
Sometimes, when I set my mind to a goal, I feel compelled to buzz about non-stop until I reach it. However, I'm realizing that some of my goals — well, I'll be working toward them throughout my life. And I know how I want to live my life. I want to be present with the people I love. I want to notice the magic in ordinary moments.
And I want to keep learning and growing. I want to continue to cultivate openness to skills and experiences that may cause some discomfort — I want to step outside my comfort zone and be kind to myself about whatever comes up. I value having the courage to act and I value deliberately taking moments to pause.
Clarity and movement can come from times of pause, moments of stillness.
There are so many times when my mental wheels churn, churn, churn, vroom, vroom, vroom, a million miles a minute. And I'm thinking, geez I know nothing! Everything is so complicated! Where's my clarity? Where's my true north? I have no clue. There are times I become consumed with doubt and what ifs. And those thoughts aren't worthless. They are there for a reason.
Yet, I'm noticing how often I find clarity after I take a pause. And then, I naturally come across the space later to step outside of my thoughts and observe them from a bit of distance. Once I do that, I find all of these connections and I realize what they're really about.
Sometimes, it's just something I need to feel and let pass, not requiring any action. Other times, I realize wow, okay, this deeper thing is what I'm really afraid of. Then, the little surface layer worries fall away and instead of feeling overwhelmed by a bajillion different things, my true north reveals itself. I get in touch with my intuition, my direction — and then, I know what to do. And what I really don't need to do or worry about.
So I pose these reflection questions to you my dearest Doodle Soupsters:
- What does your intuition (or soul, true self, wise mind, etc. — use whichever term you feel most connected to) have to say when the world feels still and you don’t feel so much pressure to feel a certain way?
- What do you believe in the moments when it seems anything is possible? When have you experienced those moments? How do you find them?
As always, I love hearing from you! So continue to send me your replies when a Doodle Soup edition speaks to you :)
Still learning,
Nicole Sylvia Javorsky