Women’s Life- Self Care Enchantments for Oct 23, 2008

I think that in North America, we have been taught to believe in the dream, you know the one about “life being happy, easy and if you just work hard enough, you can have everything you want”?  I haven’t lived in the East, however I have travelled to underdeveloped areas and from what I understand, in less developed areas, where people still live “closer to the land”, a deep understanding about the ups and downs of life is present in the cultural psyche.

 

Both my parents grew up on farms and during summer holidays I often spent time with my cousins and the farm animals.  I saw “farm life” in clear definition and remember in particular seeing how our food that is milk, beef and chicken got from the natural state to the plate.  On a farm, things are messy, smelly and real.  It is accepted that there is joy and suffering, good smells and bad smells, planting and harvesting.

 

We have been talking about a deeper exploration of one’s habitual patterns and default programs and playing out the concept of paradox.  As a continuation of this, how influenced do you feel you are or have been by your dominant socio cultural belief systems?  What do you believe about life?  Should you always be happy and life be easy?  What if all of us “made room” for or “created space” for,  the notion that pain and suffering are the natural counterpoints to joy and happiness.  When I start to explore this with coaching clients, what they often express is that welcoming pain and suffering creates a sense of melting and relaxation.  In fact, although it seems counterintuitive, they often say “ahhhh, I don’t have to try so hard to be happy.”

 

Your enchantments for this week continue in this theme and include some further questions and a fun art exercise.

 

Self Care Enchantments for the week:

 

1.  What is the “dream” that you are trying to live up to?  If you find this difficult to answer, try to gain a different perspective, perhaps imagine that you are a visitor from another culture and then ask the question again from an observer point of view.

 

2.  How much energy do you devote to “being happy” and living the dream.  How can you create more “spaciousness” in your life?

 

3.  Create an art doll that represents your “harvest” this fall.  Did you ever do this when you were a kid?  Maybe make a doll out of a pine cone or grass or old fabric?  You can add in glitter or crystals or other items to represent your life and its ups and downs this year.

 

“The true harvest of my life is intangible – a little star dust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched” – Henry David Thoreau

 

We would love to hear about your experience with these enchantments.  Please share about your learning and exploration with these enchantments in the comments section!

 

namaste,

 

Zoey

 

Zoey Ryan

coach . catalyst . shakti sage

life & business coach for women

“Coaching for your heart & soul and the heart & soul of your business”

www.positivelyoutrageouswomen.com

www.entrepreneurialsuperstars.com

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