INVITING ENJOYMENT, PLAY AND CREATIVITY
I spent a lot of my childhood observing… collecting data as I eagerly tried to make sense of this world I felt I had little connection to. The voice inside my heart did not resonate with the outside world I saw with my eyes. In moments of stillness, my heart told me that happiness was simple, quiet and safe. Yet, when my eyes looked outwards they saw possessions, status, money, even relationships making people “happy”.
Over time the power of consumerism silenced the voice of my heart and I became desensitized to the distorted views of our Western Culture; many of them becoming a part of my own limited belief system. I began to set these unrealistic, unattainable “expectations” for myself, thinking that once I had the money, the car, the job, the house, the relationship then I would be worthy of happiness. As I continued to grow, society taught me to look outwards for reassurance, happiness and purpose, taking me further and further away from my hearts’ truth.
It wasn’t until I began having kids that I realized how seriously I had been taking life and how stuck in my head I actually was.
I HAD FORGOTTEN HOW TO ENJOY…
PLAY…
CREATE.
As I sat on the floor with my first born child, watching her explore the world for the very first time, I remembered.
ENJOYMENT, PLAYFULNESS AND CREATION NATURALLY EMERGE WHEN
OUR HEARTS ARE OPEN AND OUR SOULS FEEL FREE.
It was then I realized that I had spent too much time looking outwards when instead it was time to look inwards. I started observing myself, my thoughts, my feelings, asking myself questions along the way to help me re-discover the engagements that I found joyful.
WHEN DOES MY HEART FEEL OPEN?
MY SOUL FEEL FREE?
WHAT DOES ENJOYMENT, PLAY, CREATIVITY
LOOK LIKE, SOUND LIKE, TASTE LIKE, FEEL LIKE TO ME?
While I collected data through observing my own actions, thoughts and feelings, I further remembered a deep knowingness that enjoyment, play and creation (for me) were always quiet actions. Gentle movements. Peaceful.
I discovered that I am fully enjoying when I consciously flirt with my husband or our daughters through tickles and giggles. My heart is open when I give myself the space to sit in stillness. This is where I create, visualizing my aspirations and asking the universe “how does it get any better than this?” I am free at play when I move my body through my yoga practice. My soul feels free when I am barefoot in nature or listening to the whispers of the trees.
When you open your heart and free your soul… how do you choose to incorporate enjoy, play and creativity into your life?
