I don’t know about you, but there’s a lot going on. As a human in our world today, there is always something vying for attention. It can feel difficult, and sometimes near impossible, to take a moment and consider how we actually want our lives to feel. Today, I offer this space for that purpose.
When is the last time you reflected on:
- How things are going?
- How you’re really doing?
- How your relationships are functioning?
If it’s been a while, you’re not alone. Many of us become entangled in our day-to-day lives, tasks, and expectations. But, today we get to take a moment and pause. Reflect. Reorient. Maybe even renew.
Being in the Northeast, I have always enjoyed the changing seasons and the opportunities this brings for pausing, reflecting, transitioning, and reorienting. The current season of Late Summer, according to the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a prime transitional time for us.
TCM views the body as a microcosm of the natural world, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human beings and the environment. The Late Summer season in TCM is a transitional period associated with the element of Earth, which governs the spleen and stomach, as well as the functions of digestion and nourishment.
This time of year invites us to pay attention to consumption and digestion, and how it serves or hinders us. Consider these guided reflections to check in with yourself. As you read them, think about and feel into body, mind, and spirit, moving beyond practicalities like food and hydration to what feeds your soul:
- What am I taking in from our world?
- How can I nourish and support myself?
- Beyond food, what am I feeding myself and my family?
- What am I taking in through other senses?
- What am I craving?
- What do I need to ingest to be well?
- How is my energy flowing?
- Who and what are my supports as I move about this Earth?
There is no right or wrong answer to these questions. They are just meant to prompt deeper thinking and feeling into the quality of your life. Conscious creation is possible when we attend to our current state and nurture our unique needs and desires. It is not only okay to feel joy–it is essential to our well-being.
I hope these reflections bring insights that move you forward on your wellness path. As always, I am here to support you in this work. Starting next week, I’ll begin the Late Summer Series of an innovative new program blending TCM and Nature-Informed Therapy in collaboration with Acupuncture & Wellness Center. If you are local to Baltimore County, we would love to see you there. I’ll be sure to share insights and other ways you can practice staying In Step with the Seasons if you’re joining from afar.
Be well and take good care!
