Twenty-Twenty Insight for the New Year
/
January is named for the ancient Roman god Janus. Depicted with faces looking backward and forward, the image suggests the wisdom of taking time to see where you’ve been and where you’re going. But, it’s also an opportunity to stand on the threshold and see where you are. A prudent practice for any transition, this can be especially rewarding at the beginning of a new decade.
More than simply taking stock, looking inward opens the door to insight, intuition, and inspiration. In order to find that door, however, you need to slow down, get quiet, and pay attention. This can be a challenging assignment. When your daily routine and sense of self are built around external connection and experience, shifting from outward to inward can feel disorienting. You’ll probably encounter push back. But, hang in there.
To support your introspective intentions, you’ll want to be by yourself- without the distraction of companions, scheduled obligations, i-connections, mantras or even ambient music. Find a place to sit or walk that feels comfortable and uncluttered. Stay focused inwardly until you clear the airwaves and get the gift. As you tune in, don’t be surprised if you come across layers of fatigue, parades of word thoughts and piles of emotional leftovers. Here are three strategies to keep you on track.
Take a walk without a talk. Whether on the beach or a mountain trail, walking outside in silence helps clear your mind and focus on your senses. Feel the essential motion of left-right cross crawl synchrony. Notice the sounds and images around you. As you go along, leave behind the world of emotional turmoil and over-crowding. Feel your sense of space expand to include trees, sky and water. Without expectation, invite inspiration to ignite your creativity.
Disconnect and sit quietly. Find a comfortable place to sit privately and focus your attention on the present moment. In order to do this, turn off your smartphone and put it in another room. Removing the distraction of being in touch helps you get in touch with yourself! Spend enough time to let the discomfort of being “alone” fade. If your mind loses focus and wanders off, disconnect and reconnect again to the sensations of right now. Without expectation, let your intuition reveal what you’re missing/ what you need.
Centering in the moment. Sitting or lying down, focus your primary awareness in your body. Let all tension soften and succumb to Gravity. As your body relaxes, notice how your mind fluctuates from the past to the future, by-passing the present moment altogether. Your breathing body can help you stay in the uncluttered NOW. If your awareness is centered on exhale-pause-inhale-repeat, notice how word-thoughts can’t compete. Without expectation, invite an insight to guide your way.
Rather than rushing forward and getting on with the agenda, pausing for a moment of inspiration, intuition, and insight is a wise way to start the new year. Aligned with inner truth, your intuition can help you make decisions, your inspiration can help you set course, and your insight can inform your resolve. In the words of local author Diana Raab, “It's not about making New Year's resolutions; it's more about having the intention to move forward.”
Here are more encouraging words for the New Year from our creative wellness community:
“Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within.” — Eckhart Tolle, spiritual teacher, author
“Everything that comes to me is for me, either as a lesson or a blessing!” — Valerie Girard, DC, chiropractor, author, teacher
“May 2020 bring your greatest visions!” — Oprah Winfrey, media celebrity
“As we step forward into this new decade, Pause, ask yourself how can I Be Joy-Full & how can I share this Joy through acts of consciousness and Kindness?” — Monika McCoy DC, chiropractor, intuitive healer
“Move in the direction of your dreams.” — Jack Canfield, author, life coach
“Enjoy Life.” — Pamala Oslie, author, intuitive, aura reader
“We are all faced in 2020 with enormous social responsibilities. There is nothing we cannot accomplish this year if everyone of us knows we deeply matter and act with that conviction. 2020 is about reaping the consequences of our actions or inaction.” — Jennifer Freed, PhD, therapist, author, astrologer
“When we cultivate kindness for ourselves and our beautiful, awkward, imperfect, goofball humanity, we can find a lot of wisdom in discomfort and use it to grow in remarkable ways.” — Dave Mochel, teacher, author, inspirational speaker
“Plan to set time aside this year to look inward and discover your greatest asset- body wisdom.” — Ann Todhunter Brode, somatic healer, author, teacher