My Journey to Soul Care

"...Don’t worry—I will guide you there.”

Almost two and a half years ago, I bought a one-way ticket to Pasadena, a city I had never seen before and knew nothing about. Like Abram responding in faith when God called him to “go to the land I will show you,” I was moving to a completely unknown new start. Within the first month of being in what felt to me like a different country, my whole identity seemed to crumble. I thank God that it was my identity and not my purpose that was crushed, for I had already learned that purpose is unchanging. In all things, no matter what I do, my purpose is fixed; it is to give God glory. I had already experienced how my purpose is a matter of my being, yet I was about to start a journey of learning how to be without the tool which had helped me to be still in the first place: yoga. My plan for Pasadena was a minimum 3-week detour to long-term living in India. God’s plans were different. I stayed in Pasadena for 8 months.

Crumble to Crisis

Through the voice of His Spirit’s encouragement and perfect guidance, I was immediately enveloped into an incredible community of believers who shared the same desire as me to follow God "to the land I will show you", responding to the same invitation God gave to Abram. This invitation is for every one who desires to follow and thrive in Divine Adventure! At that time, I wasn't able to realize that the weight I was putting into the title I had earned as a "Master Instructor" was a false identity. That community, filled with grace, helped me to recognize that only after the practice of doing had been taken away from me. The beautiful thing about grace is that it’s unearned! No one can earn it. It is a free gift from God, pure and simple, received through faith. So while my identity was suffering, I was still living by faith. By that grace of God, I did make it to India-- a faith journey continued-- and back again to California. My return to California led me feeling quite depleted emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

Recovering and Soul Care

Looking back, I wonder if I experienced a mid-life (or quarter-life) crisis of some sort. At the end of 2016, I spent time doing a self-evaluation, which led me to set an intention for 2017 as a year of Soul Care. Every month herein, I’ve intentionally sought the Lord for a theme or monthly intention. My intention this October is New Life! I also decided that if I could do something every single day to feel as though I'm living well, it would be to sing and stretch. Movement and music are perhaps two of my greatest acts of creative expression, and I feel most alive when I do them. Beginning the tenth month of this year, I feel a lot happier, healthier, and holistically thriving than I did a year ago from today. I believe this is connected to paying attention to my thoughts, practicing mindfulness, and being intentional about living each month and each day.

I will be writing [and post] a poem every day this October. Check in as you feel inspired. Perhaps you’d like to write your own!

Please share in a comment with me: 

What makes you feel alive, thriving, like you’re living well? 

If you want to set an intention for this month of October, what will you choose? I'd love to hear from you!

A Benediction*

Remember:

Remember to go with the flow of your life-beat,

To move in tune with the rhythm of your soul,

To flow from where you came,

The roots that make you grow.

May you be nourished as you soak

In the roots of love.

May Love’s provision be ever abounding.

May your abundant growth

Be a source of strength

For you to flourish and fill up with joy!

Trust in the joy that leads you to fullness

And let the fullness of life overpower you;

For with power and love you’ll be equipped to hope

In the new life that’s to come.

*My monthly intentions from January-October are in bold.