Planting seeds of faith

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
― Martin Luther King Jr

Today is the first “Super” full moon of 2020, named so due to its closeness to the earth causing the moon to appear larger in the sky. In truth, the size of the moon doesn’t change, its our perception of seeing something closer up that makes us feel that its within reach and draws in our attention.

This full moon is residing in Virgo and is centered around the need for health and well-being in our lives. Topics that most of us understand are of the upmost importance, but are also the first to fall to the sidelines as we continue to take care of everyone else and fall victim to being busy with just being busy. We live in such a fast paced society, where everything is in constant motion. Rushing from point A to point B, jumping from project to project, trying to multitask in order to fit everything in that we have convinced ourselves need to be completed.

But does everything need to be completed right now? Do you truly need to do everything by yourself?

I have been fiercely independent the majority of my life, some may even classify it as stubborn, as I insisted on handling everything myself, of tackling the responsibilities of a marriage, parenthood, a career, personal growth and education. I rarely paused to ask for help, or to even become aware of the frustration of those around me who could see my exhaustion along with that refusal to accept help.

For years, I allowed myself to drown in all the responsibilities that I had convinced myself were mine to bare and mine alone. I was conditioned to believe that as a women I needed to keep the house clean, dinner on the table, look after the children, their extracurricular activities, homework, and behaviour. I was living under the illusion that I had to prove myself as competent in the role of spouse and parent. That I had to earn love. In truth, I was living a life where I had very little faith in myself. I suffered from a very low self esteem, not knowing where I fit in, trying to prove my worth, trying to prove that I was lovable. I was living in a self created prison, drowning in a sea of emotions and not understanding that surrounding the sea was a beautiful support network and opportunities for me to rest and recharge.

In learning to plant seeds of faith, I started to understand the importance of asking for help and placing responsibility back into the hands of others. I learned to become the person that empowers and teaches, instead of being an enabler of bad behaviour. I understood that actions speak way louder than words, so if I wanted my children to look after their own needs, health and wellness, than I had better be reflecting that back to them.

When I learned to value myself and place self-care at the top of the priority list my whole demeanor changed. Taking time to attend yoga classes provided that perfect place to let go of stress, worry, anxiety, and space to just pause and breathe. Spending a few minutes at the start of everyday to make a list of what truly needed to get done and an action plan of how to achieve it, provided clarity and calm as I could clearly see how I was going to tackle each project, or even more importantly – where I was going to ask for help.

I started to make the time each week to plan out nutritious meals, keeping my schedule in mind so that the meal prep was realistic for my schedule. Knowing what I was going to eat, ensured that I would have items thawed, stocked in the cupboards and fridge, or prepped ahead of time.

Making the time to sit in gratitude each and every day, released the “need” to take everything so personally or to fall victim to the challenges that life will throw your way. I chose to find the positive in each and everyday, and sometimes it was focusing on the things we often take for granted, such as receiving our next breath.

Planting the seeds of faith within myself, and within others through trusting in their ability to assist me when I reached out for help, has truly changed my perspective. Faith helped me understand that its not all about me! I can’t do it all, nor should I. I have learnt the tremendous value in reaching out for help, of learning to receive, and the joy that others experience through being recognized for their contributions in my life.

In this beautiful full moon energy, a time for letting go, I invite you to start planting your seeds of faith within yourself, others, and a higher power to support you on your journey of self-care.  

If you have your own personal self-care story or tip that you would like to share – please leave a comment, and lets support each other in knowing we are all worthy of living the best life possible.
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Lots of Love,
Lisa Richard

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Guided Meditation