Can you roll with life and keep your own cup full?

Life throws us all kinds of hiccups and bumps as we walk our journeys and normally we are all able to take them in stride and just roll along right...
 
Because life keeps going and if we don't keep walking with it, where are we left?

I have been great at rolling with life and making the decisions that are best for me in the moment.  I have walked away from a marriage that I was very unhappy in, I have moved countless times and I have completely changed my chosen career.  I made it through the passing of my mom, the collapse of another very serious relationship, and the revamping of my chosen career. 

Going through all of that change was not easy, but most of the time I was able to do it with joy in my heart and a smile on my face because I knew that I was strong, I could handle it and all I had to do was keep moving forward and making the best decisions for me that I could.

Interestingly I have been recently going through another phase of change and this time, even though it does not appear as extreme as some of the changes I have faced so far, this time I am struggling.  To be blunt and frank and get straight to the point, I'm sad and I don't know why.  I am completely unmotivated and have seemingly lost my drive to do, well, anything.

Today as I was driving (which I often am), I thought that maybe this is what depression feels like.  An overwhelming sadness that has no source, that I can find anyway.  It is pushing me to make a decision, to possibly make some changes.  What those changes are, I'm not quite sure yet, but one thing I do know...

It is time to come back to me.  It is time to do only what makes me happy and nothing else, it is time to re-embrace myself in all my glory, perceived faults and all and just put one foot in front of the other and continue to move forward.  It is time to find the focus I desperately want and channel that focus into all the areas that are important to me, that help me to feel whole, balanced, and completely in love with myself.

How am I going to do that you ask....  well right now I am not sure, but this blog is step one.  Why?  because quite simply I love to write and it is time to let go of the fear of possible judgement on what I have written.  To be honest, this blog is for me and if you read it, I thank you.  If what I write about resonates with you, then I am blessed to have possibly made a difference, even if it is just that I have gotten you, the reader, thinking a little about the possibilities and the different perspectives out there.

Other than that, I am just going to take things one day at a time.  I am going to make sure the choices I make are for me and fill my cup, so that I can also extend a hand to others who may be struggling.  Even if it is just a simple smile on the street or a kind word at the right moment. 

We are all walking our individual journeys and sometimes we feel stuck or unhappy and have no idea why.  I personally think the best thing we can do for ourselves in those moments is to make sure we are being taken care of on all levels, and we are the only ones who can do this for ourselves.  This may mean taking a few days for you, to do whatever it is that makes you happy on a base level.  This might be daily walks in the woods or an evening bubble bath with candles and a glass of wine, or even getting back into that exercise routine that fell to the side when we got too busy.

Whatever it is for you, it's time to give back to yourself, it is time to fill your cup. 

But hey, these are just one girls thoughts....

If you would like more information about Nicole and the services she offers please visit her website at www.intuitivebalance.ca

Expectations, where do those lead us?

Expectations, we all have them. We place them on the people in our lives, on ourselves and on situations that we wish to control.  The interesting thing about expectations is that they usually leave us in a space of disappointment. 

As human beings we like to be in control and know what is coming for us, but that isn’t how life tends to work.  We have situations come up that we were not expecting and we have to adapt, bob and weave to get through them.  We have to be flexible to navigate through our journeys and the more we hold onto control and the need to plan out exactly how our life is going to happen the more difficult it can be to flow with whatever happens to show up for us.

This can be a heavy lesson for some and an easy lesson for others, it all depends on your perspective and how you handle having your plans changed on you.  The interesting thing about this is, when we come up against sudden change or a loss of control in a situation, it is our angels and guides asking us to trust that there is a higher reason for what we are going through and dealing with.  There is either a lesson involved for us to learn or a way to get where we are trying to go that is more stream line, and we are just not seeing it in the moment.

I recently had my personal expectations dashed and through the process realized that it was in fact for my best and highest that my expectations were not met.  I had planned to move back into Calgary from High River for the first of February.  The day I made this decision a close family member came down with some very serious health issues.  I was bound and determined to not let this stop me from moving, even though I was living with and helping this family member at the time.  I stuck to my expectations with a stubborn mind and thought nothing could hold me back from moving forward.  As more information came forward about the needs in recovery of my family member I realized that I would not be able to make the move.  I was deeply disappointed at the time as I saw this as me being held back and I could not figure out why.

Upon reflection I have realized that the house I was moving into was obviously not the right fit for me at this time, and being able to stay where I am will actually benefit me in many other areas of my life, while being there to help my family. 

My expectations were not met, but the result of being able to flow with the situation, to be flexible has benefited me in ways I had not expected.  I stepped into trust and just allowed the universe to show up for me.

I personally think we all struggle with our expectations.  They can cause us to be hard on ourselves as well as those we love.  They can create disappointment and heartache.  If we can let go of those expectations of ourselves, the people in our lives and how we think everything should work, we can step more fully into trusting that whatever happens has  positive and loving reasons behind it, whether it is something we need to learn, or just a different path to get us where we would like to go.

So when you are struggling with your own expectations, whatever they may be, take a moment to try and see the situation, or person from a different perspective.  Look for the positives that are happening in the moment and what you may be learning about yourself and those around you.  There is always a silver lining, sometimes you just have to look for it from a different angle.

But hey these are just one girls thoughts....

If you would like more information about Nicole or the services she offers please visit her website at www.intuitivebalance.ca