This is part one of a three part blog series I'm sharing over the next three days. All about slow living, with intention - as for me, this is the essence of feeling calm and ease, connected within myself, confident in how I choose to be and live my own unique life, with meaning and purpose. Not dependent on the fast paced, outside world, or feeling influenced by the stress or becoming involved within it, or any one else's way of being and living. Slow living with intention, I feel, is truly knowing our own values, making decisions and choices aligned with these, and choosing this, every day, in every way. Slow living is a term so often used. I don't think there's even one definition that's right for us all - perhaps just that it's a slower pace, a more relaxed way of being and living. Enjoying the simple things, knowing what's truly important in all the small things, and for me -it's always returning to the present moment. Intentional living is about being and living in alignment with our beliefs and values - and I know that by embracing all of this, so much has shifted and changed for me - how I am within this life, all the choices I make, and it's made a profound difference for my whole wellbeing.
I would love to encourage you, in these words here - and this 3-part blog series - and working together (with coaching support from me), to explore this more - to find your own unique way, for you. There are too many thoughts to share in just one blog piece, so I've decided to share over three days. I will be doing a podcast episode to share on this too, as an audio version, to listen to later this week on 'A Well Being'. To live slowly and intentionally and feel the difference in every part of yourself and your life. Many talk about 'habits' to try. I don't really love these words - try, or habit! I prefer to talk about 'practices' or 'ways of being' (in my own "Katie" language) that support us in slowing down and living intentionally. As I think it is a practice - choosing to lean into ways that feel aligned and true for you, knowing your values, and making these conscious and intentional choices, in every part of your life. We can talk about things, but it does take practice, to really take action, and intentionally live in this way. And over time, things become more familiar, they flow, they naturally become ways of being that are part of us, and we start to embody these, live and breathe these - but it does take practice to choose this slow way of living, intentionally. Let me share just a few ways, here, in this piece today. Know your values - have clarity and intention around these for yourself, as these truly carve the way we can live more slowly and intentionally in every part of our lives. I did a wonderful course last year, and love to bring this work into my sessions with clients - it was all around holistic decision making, and making choices aligned with values, and really carrying through and feeling the impact of this. It allowed me to deeply refine so many of my own values, and to also connect my life and my business in a more aligned way too. Self care a way of being - this is my "Katie way" of always speaking to 'self care', as it's been such an intentional shift in my own life, in every way. It's not just ticking things off as lovely things to do each day - it can be - but more so, it's asking myself in every moment - is this self care in a way that supports me (and others - if my energy feel right, it's only more supportive for others too). I ask myself, is this choice self care/ supportive, is this conversation self care/ supportive, is this action self care/supportive, is this interaction self care/ supportive - I this bring to every moment of my every day, I intentionally check in, and if it's not, I shift things, I change things, I make a different choice or decision, and I'm very honest within myself, about doing so. Even when it's very hard to do. Everything in my life, and within myself, slows down to a more gentle and simple pace, with self care as my way of being, that I intentionally embrace and live. It's taken practice to do this, but the benefits are so great. Question your thoughts and why you do things - in many ways, this is aligned with knowing your values, but this is so supportive in slowing down, and finding your own pace and rythmn with things. Rather than always living on 'autopilot', often so switched on, or doing things just for the sake of it, or just not making any changes, even if things don't feel so great. Taking time to self reflect - I love to call these, times of contemplation - to consider your thoughts, why you do things, and this helps to slow down, and to become more intentional with everything. Know ways to bring ease and calm to yourself and your whole being - this is the essence of my work - for myself and for my clients - as this profoundly shifts so much. We can't thrive in a fast paced life that is amongst and within stress. When we feel anxious, we carry this in our bodies and it can manifest in such unhealthy ways. There are so many practices and ways we can choose to embrace, and feel calm and ease, in ways that we can return to, and have within ourselves. Calm and ease supports us in every way to slow down, to simply things, to be here in this present moment. To lessen stress and anxiety and enhance our mental and emotional wellbeing, and to press the gentle reset button for our nervous systems, to feel in more balance and flow, and know ways to carry this through all parts of our beings and our lives. Notice and pay attention to feelings and sensations in your body, heart, spirit, mind - become attuned to your own truth within, your own way of reacting or responding perhaps, and ways your body can be speaking to you, the messages it gives us. Ways we can carry others views and opinions, stress and emotions, as our own - and ways we can change and shift this, honestly, intentionally within. Presence with everything and everyone - a deep value of mine, which I think can feel quite rare in this fast paced, digital life, where we are all engaging and communicating constantly through technology and screens. It's impossible for me to talk about wellbeing, without my passion for digital wellbeing, and ways to flourish and thrive with technology, rather than feel empty, depleted and drained. I talk to so many people who feel so exhausted by so much screen time, that they find they've lost real connection and presence in their relationships and friendships. Balance and harmony is vital for our wellbeing, and embodying presence, bringing this to everything we do, support us in every way, and others. When we are present, we listen. We deeply listen, and this in itself, changes so much. Become present in taking in each thing, person, conversation, task, project, view - all that we are within and engaged with, and just what's in front of us. Bring your full energy and presence to just one thing, not rushing from one to another, or needing to multitask, or glorify any feelings of being busy or doing so much. Presence supports us to slow down, to become naturally intentional and more engaged within the simplicity and fullness of life, and all the small things in each present moment, in work and life. As I wrote at the beginning of this piece, this is part one of a three part blog series I'm sharing over the next three days. So, follow along for part 2 and 3 over the next two days. I've mentioned a few ways you can practice slow and intentional living, that you can start and begin today, or even right now. I'd love to hear how these ways of being feel for you, what they would mean for you, and how they might shift and change the choices and decisions you make, in living your own slow and intentional life. I can promise that you'll feel the benefits for your whole being, when you begin to practice and embrace these ways to slow down, to live more intentionally, and the joy you'll find in creating and designing your own truly aligned life, from within. I look forward to sharing part 2 of this series tomorrow. And if you'd like to work with me and to have my support to feel more calm, connected and confident, and to carry these ways of being through all parts of your life, then I'd love to support you - https://www.katiejanewellness.com/coachingsessions.html With love x Katie ps. have you signed up to receive regular Letter of Support? You do so through this link and receive a free ebook to download as a gift too - - http://eepurl.com/gpmXun
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AuthorKatie Jane is a Holistic Therapist, Life Coach, Health Coach, Nutritionist, Naturopath, Meditation teacher, writer and author. Katie has been working in the wellness industry for over 15 years, in private practice and online, and brings all of these qualifications and skills, along with her own lived experiences through challenges, changes and transitions. Her approach to life and wellbeing is truly holistic and unique for each individual. She supports and coaches clients to make powerful changes, to feel calm through uncertainty and change, to embrace self care as a way of being, and to thrive through life transitions. |