Summertime Gladness

Hello Friends! 

I recently arrived back home from a beach vacation in Corolla, North Carolina.
Whenever I do something out of the ordinary like that, I always try to keep in mind, what I can bring back home from such an experience, and how I can integrate chosen takeaways into my every day. 
In that week, I was given the much craved time and space to clear out stagnant mental cobwebs, re-ignite my inner flame, and melt into alignment with the wisdom of how I truly want this life to feel. As a casual devotee of Danielle Laporte's Desire Map, I try to direct my choices in such a way that they are in service of my Core Desired Feelings of the moment.
Currently the prevailing desired feeling is: Ease. 

I desire my life to feel easy.

OK ok...I know how that sounds (naive, whiney, entitled, childish etc), but please bear with me.

For me, feeling ease allows me to flow through my days, with little struggle, softening through resistance, and reduction of suffering. 
Floating in salt-water, surrendering to the current, smiling up at the sky, and keeping a non-committal eye out for dolphins, reminds me that the extra baggage, incessant nagging thoughts, and insecurities are moot.
Feeling small, yet embraced in the vastness, reminds me that not much of what I worry about actually matters...Sand on my eyebrow, a bit of unblended sunscreen on my shoulder, a leftover curve or two on my belly from the Holiday Eating Seasons of Winters Past, water on the corner of my book, the work that awaits me upon my return...  

In the moment
in the water
in the now...
none of it really matters.

This is the feeling I desire to pack up in my suitcase, and take home with me.
Don't sweat the small stuff, right? 
Ease absolutely arrives more readily when on vacation, when the focus is self-care, pleasure, and fun. So, how can those concepts be integrated and brought into focus in everyday life?

Here are some things I am doing:

Wear only clothes that feel good on my body, aligned with my personality, and flow with my form as I move.

Environment. Spend time with nature, in whatever way is available to me at the moment: Enhance my home environment, light candles, use essential oils, place fresh flowers on the nightstand, open the blinds and let the light in.

Stay hydrated, both inside and out. I chug water like it's going out of style, and I love the vanilla spice body butter from Una Biologicals, as well as straight up Sweet Almond Oil

Zzzzz  - -  Get enough sleep! I thought that being on vacation, I would want to be up all night playing, partying, and having fun by the pool, but it's been feeling really decadent to embrace the Irish Goodbye, peace out, and lay my head at 10pm.

Full on nourishment. Allow my body to be sated through taking appropriate supplements,  consuming fresh and seasonal foods, enjoying the company of community, reading for FUN, and never forgetting the importance of a decent and delicious snack.

Step back from social media a bit, and be in awareness of what's around me. Not everything has to be recorded and posted online. 
I don't need to obsess over the latest feud or tragedy that's filling the feeds.
I realized that I'll criticize 24 hour news channels, but lately, Facebook and Twitter aren't that much different. It's definitely important to stay informed of the challenges the world faces, but in moderation. Spending more time on more personalized and curated online spaces soothes my soul and lets me dream of beauty and comfort.

Over to you! 
What brings you a sense of ease?
How could you allow for more of that in your daily life?
How would you advise another person to let go and take it easy? 
Let me know in the comments below, or send me a message! I'd love to hear what you think.

Is this a struggle for you? To imagine a life that feels joyful and easy, even though you strongly wish it to be possible?
If so, I invite you to schedule your DISCOVERY CALL and explore how we can kickstart change, and create more flow and ease in your every day. 
​
All my love,
​Caitlin