The rate of growth is astounding. Green life is everywhere and plants gain inches if you look away. Every crack has something pushing up as life looks for every possible way to express itself. This can be overwhelming. Weeds can take over, and an aggressive plant can dominate a corner and crowd out shyer beauties. Gardens, yards, and lives need management and attention. Lots of decisions have to made, as so many things are clamoring for attention. Prioritizing and planning, visioning your end goal and breaking things down into small steps- it is a whole job in itself!
The Wood Element, the element of spring, correlates to the liver, which works so hard for our body, to purify our blood and remove toxins. The Liver in Chinese medicine has the role of planning, creating a vision and, paired with the Gall Bladder, implementing the vision with decisions. The liver loves detoxification and our lives also like it when we let go of things that don’t serve and allow the truly important things more time and space. Just pulling out the weeds from around a rose bush lets such beautiful buds emerge. The same holds true on all levels of our lives.
Overwhelm, anxiety, clutter, indecision, an inability to let go of the past, and resentments- these are all weeds crowding out our joy. Most of us have a goal of feeling our best and experiencing a joyful awareness of the present moment with all its possibilities. These negative emotions have to be released for that joy to be experienced. Too often we cope, ignore, or distract rather than really let our feelings release through the process of transformation. When we are functioning well with enough quiet space, we can use intention and awareness to let our feelings pass without getting stuck or thrown off center. Sometimes we need help. We need an energetic boost to shift into a larger perspective where we can find the encouragement to change old patterns, mental and physical. Acupuncture helps.
Inflammation and pain can be a signal that it is time to change, time to purify and detoxify. Our bodies need care and attention, especially as we age. We can really suffer when we overdo or neglect to invest in self-care. Doing too much without good awareness of posture and appropriate rest and stretching can be a recipe for physical pain. Diet can play a big role in how our bodies respond to stress. And our underlying energetics are crucial in how our body responds to our diet- whether it successfully eliminates toxins and absorbs nutrients or whether we get bogged down by systems that are not functioning optimally. There are so many delicate balances at play. We are miraculous beings and there is much that is not well understood. But we do know that health and wellbeing is a multileveled affair. And we know that our environment, lifestyle, and attitudes all play a role in how we feel.
It takes energy to take care of ourselves. I have been feeling so tired and run down lately, I had to line up some help so that I could implement the things that I knew would help. I saw a nutritional counselor and started some new supplements and herbal remedies. I lined up some acupuncture and committed to healthy priorities. I had some good talks with friends, recognized some ways I could look at things differently and some small changes I could make in my routines so as to take care of myself better. Weeds had taken over and I could feel it in the fatigue I was experiencing in my body, and notice it in my yard, my home, and my business. Small steps were the key to a big turn around.
Facing everything at once is a recipe for more overwhelm and discouragement. We are capable of far more than we imagine if we align ourselves with our goals and surrender to the flow, we don’t have to exhaust ourselves with an uphill battle. Our society encourages us to push, push, push constantly, but alignment is more important than effort. Yoga teaches us to find that balance between a strong foundation and ability to hold, and a loose surrender into ease.
There is too much stimulation in our culture and society. It is harder to get to those things that are really important because you have to wade through a morass of input that we don’t really want. At the same time, really quality things are available to us- we just have to sharpen our willingness to make good choices and make sure to make the time to be quiet and to restore, so that we don’t end up reaching for sugar, caffeine, and inflammation producing substances, just because we are tired and distracted.
If you are not feeling your best, decide to improve your wellbeing by working on a lot of levels. First, find a way to encourage yourself. Quiet, meditation, and rest are essential. Do one or two small things to improve your circumstances- clear out a drawer, weed a corner, repot a plant, taking a load of unused goods to Good Will, set up an acupuncture appointment, do some yoga, cross things off your to do list, whether you have done them or not. Small steps speak to a higher power about the direction we are moving.
Create a vision of your wellbeing- what will you do with the extra energy? What is it that you would like to improve and how would it feel when that is in place. Cultivate gratitude as the cornerstone of your life. Let the obstacles to joy dissipate with mindfulness and awareness. If you have chronic pain or soreness, realize that it can take quite awhile for your body to reset and ongoing maintenance is the key. Recognize the pain as an opportunity for self care. Don‘t be one of those people who won’t stop until they are in pain- tune in and get a sense of what your body needs and wants. Make a plan for prevention and maintenance; it is the best form of self-love.
Make acupuncture a part of your wellness program, whether it is weekly, biweekly, monthly or seasonally, as encouraging the underlying energy, or Qi, is one of the most powerful things you can do to stay well.
I wish you joy, good health, and a life lived with appreciation. Call if I can help- 206 842-7706