Life’s a dance

Last week in emails, I reflected on how external catalysts can help us more move ahead on our journey, the three men that have been catalysts for me, and how to find a few more minutes in your day to dedicate time to the big picture.

Today, I want to chat about how to get in touch with what you want on the journey and quiet the noise. 

This morning, I woke up in Piney Creek in the North Carolina mountains, and the massive Mount Jefferson was shrouded in fog in front of me.

The sun was coming up behind me, and its light warmed the page as I wrote.

It felt hopeful.

This quiet time every morning for reflection and centering is my time to declutter my brain.

All the leftover noise from the day before, any anxiety that creeps into my morning thoughts gets sorted out as I deposit them in my journal.  

I started journaling about four years ago, having tried it unsuccessfully in the past.

This time, however, it stuck.

I actually created an entire morning ritual that incorporates the Five M's.

This is a program created by Susie deVille, author of Buoyant and my coach and mentor.

Susie is also a catalyst for me in a subtle yet very impactful way.

Instead of putting opportunity in front of me, she helped me find the opportunity I was quietly seeking inside. 

Susie introduced me to the Five M's and I want to share them with you.

They are:  

• Morning pages - Writing 3 pages daily 

• Making something - Creatively using your hands 

• Movement - For me it's walking  

• Meditation -  I often do walking meditation and combine movement and meditation 

• Moments of inspiration - putting something positive into my brain.  

When I started, I had been walking for years; that was really my only morning routine.

But I added in morning pages first by setting a timer for 5 minutes just to write.

I was surprised how quickly the the timer buzzed on my phone.

I had more to write and I would add five more minutes to the timer, and then five more.

Soon I realized that I needed about 30 to 45 minutes to get my writing done.

If I missed it, my entire day felt off; I wasn't grounded or organized.

Some people say, I never know what to write – neither do I. 

I just start writing. 

My writing often recaps the day before, considers activity for the day ahead, sets my intentions, examines my motivation, works out my concerns, and often creates and prioritizes the to-do list for the day.

It's that alone time where I discover who I am and what I want.

Often I use that time to write poetry.

This is my poem from this morning.  

Past, Present, Future 

The mist shrouds the mountains and the trees.  

The sun's heat and light reveal their splendor.  

Their beauty is evident now.  

Their form a product of the past,  

Years ago, plates shifting beneath the crust of the earth,  

Years of sun and rain, birth and death, creating a fertile ground for growth 

This beauty is evident now.  

But what can we anticipate and expect for tomorrow.  

Catalysts and personal reflection. Past, present, future. They're all part of our life’s dance.  

What is your morning routine?

Do you have the support you need?

I work with my WEB Circle each month to examine our work and personal lives and how they fuel each other.

Here's what one of the women told me last month:  

Being part of WEB has given me the space to talk honestly about the messy mix of raising kids and putting in the work for my business to succeed. The other women just get it, and I always leave feeling supported and with new insights to solve business challenges. - Kayley B. 

If you'd like to focus on building a business that supports your life, hit reply and let's chat.  

Cyndi

P.S. If you're interested in learning more about the 5 M's and Susie deVille's program, check out Buoyant here.