A Chill Pill
A Chill Pill
a meditation on collectively ‘going through it’.
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve noticed a collective experiencing of hardship—we’re all just kinda going through it. Even those doing well are worried or caring for people who aren’t, or the state of the world at large. It’s the last few days of true winter, there’s abnormally high amounts of violence, hatred, war, and uncertainty…but there’s also the guarantee of warmth, the heat of beginning, and so much sweetness on the horizon. There’s proof of beauty and goodness anywhere you look, if you’re looking for it. Understanding that will lead to curiosity and excitement, and protect your heart enough to grow through adversity, like we’re meant to. And by you, I mean me…and by me, I mean everyone.
It was Valentine’s Day and my car was loaded down with flower + baked good deliveries for the day. I found a nail in my tire, and wound up spending 4 unexpected hours at the tire shop as they discovered it was unpatchable and I’d need a whole new tire. I had one choice if I wanted to get them delivered at all, so I waited. In the waiting area, I was flipping through a National Geographic magazine when my attention landed on an article about the mallow plant…yes, the kind used to make marshmallows. Those delectable clouds of sugar are made possible by an extremely hardy plant that thrives in times of scarcity. I read about reports of mallow being foraged and eaten by modern day refugees in Syria—a humbling reminder that sweetness always exists, even amongst unimaginable circumstances.
Weathering adversity can require brute strength, but it’s often more productive and peaceful to lean on support and take on challenges one step at a time. The mallow plant quietly exists, efficiently storing energy as liquid in its roots and leaves, the fuel to grow through the ashes when it’s time. By using it’s resources and nurturing itself, the mallow plant confidently carries itself and others through the hard stuff. To do our best we have to be at our best…with enough self-care, rest, and faith, we can rest easy and trust that simply existing makes us capable and worthy of rising through the worst of it, too.
Words of affirmation, meditation, praise, truth, spells…whatever you wanna call them, bring me peace. Reading or writing them lovingly restores my motivation to embrace the 24 hours ahead of me. The following are some of my own, an offering for you to read once or as often as needed—a theoretical chill pill if you could use a dose of truth to lift your spirit, or are just going through it.
*Take a biiiiggggg deep breath, put two hands on your heart, put your feet on the ground. Relax your shoulders, relax your jaw…take one more deep breath, sigh as you exhale.*
Soft focus…
My heart is meant to be opened up, strengthened, and expanded by the living of my days. There’s nothing more important that to dance with the day ahead of me.
Simplify. When I begin to feel closed off or stagnant, the solution is to subtract, not add.
My dreams and what is important to me will change. It is natural to honor my feelings and choose differently as I move forward.
Achievement and validation will never complete me, experiencing and being present for my life will. Remaining true to my core values leads to a life of alignment.
It’s easier to lean into the twists and turns of life, my own unique joys and challenges, than to resist and take the bumpy back roads of fear.
I live in a friendly, ever-expanding universe—my only job is to flow with the life in my veins. I am surrounded by a net of love that will never let a good thing slip through.
Because I’m alive, I am unconditionally loved, worthy, and abundant. I deserve a life that feels rich in love, authenticity, connection, contentment, respect, and happiness.
It is safe to be me. It is safe to be courageous and follow the pull of my truth, instead of being dragged down by insecurity or fear.
My life is like clay; when I work and play with it, any shape is possible…once set aside and hardened, the only way to change is to break.
I’m meant to have fun and create with every present moment. Lean in, let go, lighten up.
To remain in the warmth of beginning, and keep my heart open.
I will peacefully greet every moment ahead of me, as best as only I can.
Alright, go get ‘em tiger!
