Six months into 2019 and I look back with a mixed reaction. On one hand, time is flying past by me in its own tantalizing and taunting way, leaving me behind to catch up and on the other hand, I feel content for the time I got to spend with 2019 so far.
The year began with promises to the self – to take care of myself more than anyone or anything. It says “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. ” This quote is from Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist which was my latest read. What’s amazing is that I always believed that when we truly want to achieve something we will be able to do it. I had experienced that very phenomenon in my life before.
But when your goal is to take care of yourself, that needs some serious derails to prove that you indeed are taking care of yourself in a meaningful way. Sort of that light needs darkness to prove its brightness conundrum. So yes, there were days when I wasn’t at my best self, but those days were just what I needed to show to myself that how committed I was in this “taking care of the self” business.
Six months into 2019 and I am happy that I had my back, that I succeeded in not neglecting myself for someone else. It’s a huge achievement in my book.
Almost three months ago, I started writing Morning Pages and I must tell you, I agree with Julia Cameron the author of The Artist’s Way who codified this exercise called morning pages – it frees up your head and lets your creativity flow. That’s what happened to me. I believe my courage is also improving as I am contemplating about some ideas for the days to come (I need more courage and lose a lot more fear to see those ideas into action). I will have a detailed post on morning pages up on the blog soon if you are interested in knowing the whats and the hows.
Blogging didn’t happen the way I intended at the beginning of the year, but I am glad that my time was spent productively on most days. Preparing for the exam which I appeared last month was more or less to prove to myself that I had it in me than anything else.
Here are some lessons that 2019 has taught me so far:
- Everything is possible, all it needs is your willingness and commitment.
- The universe believes in you.
- Your failures will help you get better more than your successes.
- When you are aiming to achieve something that has a long term impact, give a long term time frame to achieve that, to begin with.
- Give yourself a break, you are not perfect, you are not meant to be perfect.
- Tools are just that, tools. It’s up to you to use it to help you.
These are the six lessons from the first six months of 2019 that I learned. How was 2019 to you so far? Care to share your thoughts with me?
This post was inspired by the tag I received from Aesha who blogs at Aesha’s Musings and I am passing this on to Ishieta who blogs at Isheerias healing Circles.
Glad to connect with you through this blog hop. Also happy to know that 2019 is shaping up so well for you. Best wishes always.
Thank you, Aesha! 🙂
Reading your latest posts, I’m so happy to see that the practice of Morning Pages is working for you. It’s obvious from your tone that you are doing so much better. It has been a life saver for me.
Yes, Corinne. Morning pages are having a positive effect on me. It’s not that I am all sorted out, I just feel that there is something I can come back to that will help me every day. That feeling is the source of all positivity I guess. 🙂
I tried the morning pages and must admit that after January ( more than the 21 days required to make a practice into a habit) it just fell by the way. My blogging did pick up a bit but then again flagged due to inertia I think. Yes the Universe does help but only if it is meant to be for you. Does this make sense? Often I’ve wanted something so badly that I feel there is no way I won’t get it. But alas, I must be asking the wrong Universe because I land up not getting it. Then I console myself that it wasn’t meant to be else I didn’t want it badly enough.
Yeah, Universe helps, but the Universe is not our maid. We have to do the heavy-lifting, a lot of heavy-lifting. Because the Universe tests us before helping us to make sure that we are not testing the Universe. That’s what I understood from my experience. Keep faith, Sunita. Also nothing comes easy and to see results it will take some time. We have to have trust in our trust. You will get what you are looking for, I am sure.
Oh yes . Thanks for your encouraging words . There is. I gain without pain .
I agree with all the lessons that you have shared, have experienced them. Corinne had shared Morning Pages with me and I have been meaning to work on it for a while now… but havent. Glad that you are writing Morning Pages and it’s working for you beautifully! Looking forward to your post on Morning Pages!!
I am sure I must’ve heard about Morning pages from Corinne, too, but the truth is I don’t remember it. One of the YouTube channels which I follow introduced me to Morning pages. Then I read Artist’s Way and that was that. I already journal a lot and three pages of stream of consciousness writing daily was right up my alley. Try it out, Shilpa. I am sure you will love it. ?
I loved all the six lessons Vinitha. This is such an encouraging and positive post. I hope you keep taking good care of yourself. Love and hugs.
Thank you, Balaka. 🙂 <3
Good to see you getting back into writing..even if you dont publish it. Great going Vinitha.
Writing comes first, right? 🙂 I have to get my publishing mojo back. Thanks, Lata. Good to see you here. 🙂
What a beu6post, Vinitha. There are a lot of positive affirmations in this post that even I believe, better things are on its way
Thank you, Shalini! 🙂 <3
“Six months into 2019 and I am happy that I had my back, that I succeeded in not neglecting myself for someone else. It’s a huge achievement in my book.”This requires a standing ovation. It is what what a lot of us aspire to but fall short. I am so glad for you.
The morning pages and Julia Cameron have been a turning point in my life too. I can never thank Corinne enough for introducing me to this concept.
All the best for the rest of the year!
Thank you, Sunita. It took a lot of self neglect, stress and burnout to choose this path of self love adamantly. 🙂 I still have a long way to go, though.
Morning pages are the best. I cannot explain well, all I can say is it helps me somehow. 🙂
Morning pages are the bomb! I did them for a long time too this year – finally – before life happened and I didn’t have much time in the mornings. But I will be picking it up again as soon as I can.
Oh yes, life happens and habits get interrupted. But don’t get discouraged. Pick up from where you left of. That’s another learning I had this year. 🙂
Vinitha, I think Morning Pages is like a kind of meditation, observing your own thoughts. I am looking forward to your detailed post on morning pages.
It is. You let your thoughts flow as it is without trying to disrupt it. It helps to know what you are thinking and how you want to go about it. It’s very therapeutic. Thank you for stopping by, Madhavi.
I loved the lessons you shared at the end, VIni.
I relate to each and every one of them. Yes, the Universe believes in you, looks after you and knows what you need! SO, put all your trust in the universe.
<3
Yes, have faith and do your work. Everything will fall in place. That’s what I believe, Shilpa. <3 🙂
?❤
This year I have witnessed a new you in your blog posts. Your poetry has become deeper and profound. Your reflections have become full of contentment. The universe is listening to you, for sure and so are you to the universe. I think I need your help in understanding morning pages and how to go about it. I need to incorporate it in my daily schedule else to address that one part of my existence which when comes to the forefront gives me a lot of anxiety and messes me up. Next time you feel like chatting/talking, we will take this up 🙂
This year I relearned that you attract what you carry in your thoughts. So every positive bit that I keep with me is a deliberate action. I am not sorted yet, I don’t know where I am going, but I like to think that it is going be a good one no matter what. I am so happy to hear you say such nice things about my poetry, Anamika. (Although, I always thought that I was writing deeply and profoundly. 😀 ) I hope you are enjoying writing your morning pages. Will talk to you soon. See, it is not a miracle path in figuring out everything. But I am sure you will enjoy this writing process. 🙂 Thanks for being here always, Anamika. <3
I so loved point number 2.’the universe believes in you’. I need to have this framed, as a reminder for all the times that I doubt myself. A very honest and inspiring post.
That’s a good idea, Apeksha! Thank you for visiting! 🙂
Loved reading those lessons and telling myself too that they are important for self care.
I liked the positive tone of this post.
Tell me more about the morning pages. What is it? I’m very curious to know.
How did the exam go? 🙂
My exam went well, Parul. I cleared it, but it was one of the difficult exams I appeared. 🙂
Morning pages is an exercise where you write three pages of stream of consciousness writing on a notebook every day first thing in the morning. It doesn’t have to make sense, legible, mistake-proof. It’s pouring your thoughts floating that lovely head on to a paper just the way it appear. People like me who overthink and carry the weight of this world in their little head benefit through this exercise. 🙂
Thank you for the encouraging words, Parul!
Loving and caring self is the most difficult task to undertake and be consistent about it. Kudos to you that you have worked consciously to achieve that.
Look forward to series of posts on “Morning Pages” Vinitha. Have no clue about it. So await it eagerly.
Great lessons Vinita. I agree with you. Everything is possible with determination and hardwork.
Those are amazing lessons. And Cameron is fantastic. I remember starting with her book many years ago.
I’m so glad that the Morning Pages became a regular thing for you! I must say this year I’ve seen you with a fresh new confidence and your beautiful poems for our #wordlesswednesday blog has brought out your thoughts in a much deeper light! I hope, wish and pray that the rest of 2019 brings you more productivity, more accomplishments and more joy to the soul.
I believe in each of your learning. We need to be patient while expecting results. And yes tools are just tools,not to overwhelm by them. Wish you much luck for the coming years.
Love the positivity in your post Vinitha. I haven’t heard of morning pages before. Will read more about it.
OMG, I have been dreaming up this content (the one on top) for a long time, and I’ve never seen anyone create it until now! I do not like to plan out breakfast and lunches, but rather have a list of things we can choose from. But, I like to plan out dinners because I can plan the type of meal that need for that day (crockpot, quick and easy, etc). Thank you so much