These words that are voiced so often in everything we read and hear. Words so many have said to me, "I can't stand this phrase", "I'm so tired of these words", and I know that feeling too.  I always think about changing the word 'navigating' to something more uplifting, or positive - but then, I think it's just a realistic and honest way to describe how so many of us are feeling, and how these times just are.  We are navigating these days, these times, still.  We are taking each day as it comes, and finding our way through. And in reality, so many of us know this feeling of 'navigating' uncertainty in other ways too. Navigating a new normal through other life circumstances and experiences, some deeply changing, and ways we've learnt to carry ourselves through.  I know this is true for me and it's not a phrase that's unfamiliar at all.  Perhaps this has felt true for you.  

Most of us know, and feel, that gratitude is a beautiful and supportive thing.  But I wonder how many of us truly practice gratitude in a way that more deeply benefits ourselves, and others - our whole energy and our collective vibration. In these times especially, I know that gratitude is a powerful thing, and especially what I love to practice, which is intentional gratitude.  Let me share a little about what this is and means, and I'd love to encourage you to practice this too and see how it feels for you, in every part of your life.  

We all have the ability to take control of our health and our wellbeing.  Whatever we live with - virus, illness, pain, disease - we can choose empowering ways to support ourselves to feel better, and well.  Before you read a few ways I've mentioned below, I'd love for you to just take a few moments to think and see yourself as a holistic being, all parts of you, connected - your mind, body, spirit, heart, soul - physical, emotional, spiritual, energetic parts are not separate, but all functioning and supporting each other together - as you are one whole being.  Seeing ourselves in this holistic way, is one of the most empowering things we can do, to choose to support ourselves through all health issues, illness, pain and disease.   

Many of us become familiar with seeing ourselves in the same way.  Seeing our lives in the same way.  We think it's hard to make changes.  We think it takes too much effort.  It can feel easier to stay where we are, doing the same things we're doing and seeing the same view and path forward.  I wonder though, as you start this new year, or even each new day - How do you  truly see yourself?  And how do you truly long to see yourself?  How do you desire to see yourself?  Take some time, now, to write down a few things that come to you, honestly and truthfully, when you ask yourself these powerful questions.  

My journal piece yesterday was about taking things one day at a time, and doing one thing at a time - you can read this here.  It felt apt today, to share some thoughts about beginnings, new starts, and taking just one step forward.  As one action is often all it takes to switch us from feeling stuck, procrastinating in some way, and to  build our own natural momentum to just get started. Not in a rushed, hurried or pressured way.  Just in a way that creates motivation, and instills confidence and self belief as we feel we are taking action, and making choices to move forward.  This is true for anything we set our minds and hearts to - health, life, career, business, relationships, making a big change or transition of some kind - one step forward, one action, is all it takes to begin.     

I set myself just one very certain and clear intention for this year, and that has been to slowly ease myself into things - in my own way, my own time, my own rythmn, at my own pace. I'm so very pleased to have truly honoured this, as it's allowed me to thrive during this time of transition, flowing from one year into new beginnings.  I haven't had a holiday like many have, I've still been working behind the scenes, but I've taken things more slowly during this time.  As the new year rolled in, it was a natural flow for me, from just one day to the next, and I was very conscious to not get caught up in any 'hype', feel pressured,  or place any new year expectations on myself. Instead, to just to stay focussed within, connected to my own vision and plans, and to gently ease myself forward, one day at a time.  As I continue to, and deeply encourage this for you, too.  

Listening to our intuition can support us to let go, and to move forward.  There are times we can hold onto things so tightly, even when we know it's not serving or supporting us.  We can find ourselves in places or spaces where we feel a little uneasy or something's just not right. Our intuition might be speaking to us so loudly, in many ways, and yet - we still hold on, we still cling tightly, and we stay - or we choose the way that's most comfortable for someone else, and neglect our own needs.  ​

It's a new year, and whilst many have been away for a break or a holiday, others of us haven't been, and it hasn't felt quite the restful period we hoped for! For all kinds of reasons, including the obvious ones of rushing home and ending holidays through border closures, and so many personal challenges in peoples lives right now too.  There's a feeling of continued uncertainty, wondering how things are unraveling, here and around the world, and the start of this year hasn't had the uplifting feel we hoped for, and for some, it's been and felt really sad.  Perhaps you've been feeling a little flat, worried or even anxious about things.  Finding it difficult to stay calm within so much that seems unknown and changing in your own life perhaps, and with everything around us.  

I'm writing this journal piece out in my courtyard, very early on a beautiful warm clear morning, and it almost seems as if it's just me and the birds who are awake, and the rest of the city is in a restful (or hungover, perhaps!) slumber.  It's new years day, 1st January 2021, after a very quiet and gentle close to the year.  No big celebration.  No big new year intentions.  I'm a non-drinker these days, so most celebrations are quieter, for me.  I chose to be very low-key and close the door on this year, and just gently open it to the next. Today. I've been finding so much more so, through not only this year, but other times of uncertainty and change over the past years in my life (or perhaps just as I'm getting older!) - how much I savour a quiet and gentle life.  I notice that I make far more conscious and intentional choices, just as a natural way of being now, every day.  Taking things as they come, allowing life to unfold and to evolve as it will, with an acceptance of just what is, and finding ease and calm within it all.  I was reflecting on some of the gentle practices that support me with this, and I thought I'd share some of these thoughts here, as a gentle way to begin your new year.