The Art of Reflection

I want to remember the sweetness of my everyday, to bask in presence and continue to enjoy the nectar of my days for years to come…

The year has just begun, and ambition sets the tone for the year ahead. So many little seeds planted in our mind, of things we want to experience or achieve. But you remember back to last year, and just like that, where did it go? All of the hopes and dreams we seeded at the beginning of last year, still there, maybe a few tended to but…

Where on earth did the year go?

It flew by so quick,

What did I even accomplish?

Well, the reality is, you probably achieved so much throughout the year ~ it’s slipped your mind ~ because life has a way of doing that. Of drawing your attention to the next thing, of leaving behind what once was. But along the way, as we get wound up in the todo’s of tomorrow, we forget about the experiences of today. Maybe it seemed too unimportant to document, I can assure you it probably wasn’t.

We are so wonderfully nostalgic in the way we capture our lives on camera, documenting the beauty of our days through images and videos. We often forget about the beauty of our mind. The inner-world where we bloom from, and where all of our experiences begin and end. The mind is a wonderful tool, and if we forget to use it, challenges will arise as we forget to remember the important things, the beautiful things, the things that pulled at our heart-strings and the things that brought so much joy.

How could we possibly remember it all.

At 80, I want to remember today in full, what I felt, what is saw, what I thought and what I dreamed. I don’t want to forget the way I snuggled my dog when I woke up this morning, she was all curled up in a sweet little ball on a throne of pillows she had created that lay beside my head. Her sleepy little face as she also began to wake, then her full blown excitement as she launched off the bed, ready for the day ahead.

I want to remember the way I felt so at peace, while making cinnamon scrolls. The presence I found in the process, while I listened to tunes that washed a feeling of calm over me. The smell of cinnamon scrolls in the oven, infusing my home with cinnamon-y warmth and deliciousness.

The feeling I felt when I returned to my favourite cafe, nestled in the valley surrounded by the flowing water of the creek, the rustling of the trees and a warmth that comes with a beautiful summers day. Sitting with my journal, a sparkly pen in hand, kindle near by and a warm chai to sip on. Honestly it was a little powdery, not my best choice. So replaced and re-ordered a very delicious heart-warming ceremonial cacao.

It’s all of these in between moments, the nectar, the honey ~ that I don’t want to miss.

The Art of Reflection

Have we lost the art of reflection? The ability to exercise the mind to remember, reflect and extract the wisdom of our learnings. It’s so simple, so beautiful to remember the inner workings of our mind. Whether our experiences are magnificent, mundane, challenging or filled with ease, there is so much beauty and wisdom to be found in every experience.

I am an avid journal enthusiast, I love putting pen to paper as a way of processing my thoughts and unravelling the mental chords of my mind. It allows me to see life through a clearer lens. When I word vomit onto paper, I never over intellectualise what it says, it may not make sense to another if they were to read it but there is always this beautiful moment of clarity ~ when this imperfect word vomit, clears the clouding from my mind. It’s almost like I can see from an outsiders perspective. From the outside looking in, but also from the inside looking out.

There are moments when I look back on journal entries made years ago, and immediately have an a-ha moment. Isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing, looking back from a new perspective having experienced the growth that comes with a few years of experience and knowing, ‘it all worked out so perfectly’

Even in my darkest moments, I was stepping into the light.

So where do we begin?

To honour the art of reflection…

A thought,

A memory,

A sound,

A taste,

A yearning,

A dream,

An experience.

The beautiful thing is, it is entirely up to you! No body has to see your reflections, but you. It is a vulnerable feeling to materialise the inner workings of your mind, the things that you don’t share aloud. Equally, it is so empowering to experience, reflect, remember and create space for yourself to build on this habit.

So begin with today,

What did you do?

How did you feel?

What was your inner monologue?

How did everything you experienced today engage your senses?

And what did you learn along the way, about yourself, the world, or about the lady that made your coffee at the cafe this morning?

What do you want to remember, and how?

When we continuously make an effort to reflect, it strengthens our ability to remember. Our mind becomes sharper, more focused and aligned.

It gives you space to organise your thoughts, to release what is unhelpful and keep the lessons, the pots of gold and the sweet memories. It really is like a little mental filing cabinet ~ Keep, Savour, Archive, Bin-it, We’ll come back to that one!

Keep Reflecting,

Keep learning about yourself, exploring the depths of your soul.

Experiencing the spectrum of human emotions.

And keep living life to your absolute fullest.

Isn’t it wonderful.

Nicole x