This month, my attention is on stillness. As I wrap up travel with one more west coast trip on the calendar, my desire in closing out the year is focusing on getting back to basics. As fundamental as it sounds, I am intentional in taking deep, life-giving breaths in, releasing my lungs of the energy that no longer serves me and filling it with soulful planning for the year to come. Reflection remains at the forefront of my mind; it is so important to know where you have been to understand where you want to go next on your journey. Foregoing the busyness of the season, I am focusing my attention on connectedness, gratitude, intention—words that capture the month of December. I am walking to my own beat, prioritizing my clients and staying grounded within my own internal compass and connection to those I love and cherish in life.
December…a time of stillness and presence. Thirty-one days devoted to remembrance, a month for us to return to our core, centering ourselves with what life is about: connectedness and love. I leave you with a selection of some of my favorite items to bring a little stillness and solace to my life, and I deeply hope they serve you in a similar way.
Connectedness is a daily practice. Grounding us to know ourselves and to "see" one another, connectedness fills life with joy and love. Happy Holidays sweet friends, I am sending each of you love and light to conclude the year. Xx
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Feed Your Soul: Podcast
For daily inspiration through the holidays, my go-to podcast is Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations. Showcasing leaders from every facet of life, Oprah’s series of thought-provoking interviews will leave you lifted up while bringing you one step closer to yourself and the world around you.
Salts + Scents
If someone knows what’s more relaxing than a good bath, please tell me!! When I have time, this is how I like to conclude the day. Consider the products above my "Bath 101” crash course, along with some uplifting, calming, and grounding scents, all to help take the holiday edge off.
Feed Your Mind
Gabrielle Bernstein’s The Universe Has Your Back is a must-read (or a must-listen if you opt for the audiobook—my medium of choice while I edit). She is a true inspiration, and each time I hear her words, I become closer to transforming into one of her spirit followers…her words turn fear into faith, continuing to spread light into the world. She has helped confirm my own belief that there is light and love within us all, and I continue to encourage you to recognize not only the light within yourself, but the love and light within others. We are all one. Stop living from your mind and start living from your heart.
Journal
Free flow may be one of my favorite ways to start creating in the morning. For me, there is no difference between art and prayer. Putting pen to paper, I spend my morning writing my intentions, waking up in a way that hones in on my voice, clears the clutter, and sets the tone for a creative day. I give myself the freedom to jot down whatever comes to mind. The more vulnerable I am, the more open I become. As a result, the more creative I can allow myself to be. Pick up that pencil and try it out…what do you have to lose? Start with The Five Minute Journal—a great tool to set daily intentions, practice gratitude, and celebrate self-love.
Daily Practice of Gratitude + Intentions
Like anything in life, we have to practice and be intentional in developing a thorough skill set. Authenticity is a daily practice. Gratitude is a daily practice. Setting my intentions is a daily practice. For five minutes a day, setting aside time to take a personal inventory of all the things you are grateful can be life-changing. In turn, this trains your mind to focus on small, beautiful moments throughout the day, replacing mundane with magic. Just a little time spent practicing setting your intentions will have a tremendous effect on your mood and positivity; imagine drawing a map of where you want to go—that is exactly what you will be doing daily. Helping to create clarity and fueling your dreams and visions, intention setting is positive, uplifting, achievable, and present. I can confidently say it has been what has propelled me to this point in my life. EvenFlow is a new mindfulness app to help you ease into the new year.
Robes + Throws
While we all love a little bit of Bravo Andy, I like to shut it all down and take a little tech break with a cozy moment. The ingredients for this involves: a cozy couch, a good book, my favorite robe, and a soft throw. Give this gift to yourself soon, you won't regret a little stillness and self-love.
Play Music
Another love and form of connection for me is music. Especially living in Music City, it sparks emotion and community. Valerie June and the incredibly talented Kelleigh Bannen are my current favorite loves, and I encourage you to listen to their sounds. Slow down your holiday with these two gems.
Get Moving
Take a walk with loved ones for some quality time (hello, Meyer Lemon) or hit the yoga studio for a solid power flow. A local favorite, Inner Light Yoga is a setting for me to find energy amongst others as well as free my mind. Good for the body, good for the soul.
Fuel The Holidays!
Staying fueled is important when you are in the midst of the holiday rush. I orient my fuel around easy, grab-and-go snacks like Rx bars, nuts, kale chips, and smoothies. For healthy and energizing ideas, follow three of my favorite ladies to discover their current musings and nutritional inspirations. I love all three of these women, as each has such a beautiful soul. Follow them here: Be Well By Kelly, Nutrition Stripped, and Laura Lea Balanced.
The Gift of Giving
As warm and welcoming as the holidays are, they can also create stress and sadness around your life circumstance. A soulful way to get though the holidays is by helping someone else or donating your time to a good cause. Our top organizations to do that are: