I changed and I updated my daily practice over time
How we evolve and with it, we reframe our relationship with our own practices
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Portrait from Laura Wencker
My daily practice (or weekly practice) it’s not what it used to be.
And I have to say I’m so happy about it.
I remember in the past how rigid I was. How demanding of myself.
I was asking myself to practice yoga 7 days per week and that the practice looked a certain way. Also meditation. I asked myself to do it every single day with no exceptions or permission to skip it.
Since I’ve been working internally on myself all this time and years, one of the things that for sure has helped me to reframe that space of care and love, it’s being actually, more loving and caring with myself.
As I always say, what’s the point of being so rigid with something which it’s for our well-being? Does being rigid help you? Not in my case.
I honestly did not understand what rituals and well-being practices meant.
Because it can’t be excessive, not permissive, not flexible, or adaptable. If we are talking about taking care and well-being, we need to include ways to work on ourselves which are respectful, free, flexible, and caring. A space for listening and letting your intuition guide you in whatever you are needing.
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Before moving on, find here a playlist that can accompany you while reading.
Flexibility, discipline, compromise, and play
Every day you’re not exactly as the day before so how can you demand yourself, and practice every day certain things in certain ways? Maybe you need to rest. Where is that space for it? Maybe you need some more sleep or instead of yoga, you need to go for a walk outside in nature or sit and read a book. We can’t expect to know what’s good for us in advance because we don’t know how we will be feeling. That’s why, learning to listen to yourself and let you be guided by your intuition, is a must.
Of course, we need certain discipline and compromise, for sure.
But not being rigid.
Also, I deeply feel that we need space and time for exploration.
To practice this or that so we can feel that practice in our body and see how it feels, if we resonate, how it helps us… And that exploration needs a certain time. Give it the chance to show you the benefits it has for you.
And play. Give yourself the permission to explore, try, and play. Play with the practice itself over time and space. Be curious and find the tools that really can support you.
Let the rituals meet the real person you are today
Also, rituals need to be updated keeping in mind who you are at this moment.
Who you are authentically, your values, needs, desires…
Because you evolve. Every day.
So adapt whatever you are using for your purpose having in mind who you truly are.
I’m not the same person as I was when I first started yoga 10 or more years ago.
I remember back then, I couldn’t meditate and it took me 3 years to be able to sit and just be there listening and connecting with myself. 3 years!
Many times I was expressing: I would never be able to meditate!
Then, during one month, I deeply compromised with myself and I did it every day, morning and night for 5 minutes each time.
Now I’ve been meditating for years every morning for about 20 minutes but I’m quite flexible and some days I just move it during the day or if I don’t feel it, I let myself decide to skip it.
Since last summer, I've been meditating twice a day, morning and night, and depending on what I need, the focus of the meditation is one or another and I stick to what I need for at least 30-40 days so I see the results and benefits. But again, some days I just don’t do it.
An access to yourself
I always talk about how rituals are a direct access to ourselves and with that access, we can connect and know the person we truly are. With time and practice, we go deeper and deeper, accessing layers and when we peel, we see our true nature. Who we are.
What matters to us, our values, our most authentic self. It’s a way to see us fully naked, fully true. With no layers or conditioning.
And it’s from that exact place where we can build a proper real and aligned life.
When you see yourself, you reconnect with the person you're destined to be and it’s important to see you as you truly are and accept that human being. That’s part of the inner work. Acceptance is something that can be worked and built over time with therapy, coaching, and absolutely with the help of the rituals.
When I started seeing myself as I truly am, I decided firmly to find ways to respect and preserve myself and my values, no matter what. Here I started to be more caring with my authenticity so I was caring for my words and communication, my compromises, and putting boundaries….
More about what the rituals can do for you in that recent post on Instagram.
We learn over time, and practice. Every day a little bit more.
And that’s why I keep transforming my daily practice.
Because we need different things at different moments.
Maybe I need to strengthen the love I feel for myself or strengthen my trust muscle. Or I might need to feel calmer on the inside so my life feels calmer.
Because what’s inside, it’s reflected on the outside.
Don’t you agree?
We go deeper into that at DENTRO STUDIO, in March working through THE BASICS module but every month revisiting one or another topic so you can go deeper and find tools for yourself and your life.
In March we are focusing on the basics to start from the foundation but then, we will keep working with all the other areas and aspects.
April will be Self-Love
May - Authenticity
June - Vision
Also, this is something we will explore deeply at the upcoming RETREAT IN MAY (info in English and info in Spanish) I’m hosting in Portugal, from 10-12th of May. How can we support ourselves, how can we introduce powerful practices that make us feel better and change our lives? We will also work on the topic of Authenticity. I will share many of my learnings all along the way. I didn't know how to be better, how to feel empowered, aligned, and well in my body, or how to create a life according to my true desires. Because I was not feeling worthy, not enough, not capable of creating anything bigger. That’s also a mindset work, something you will find on the retreat as well. I’m so looking forward to seeing you there.
SOME JOURNALING
Look, where are you right now in your life in general? Are you where you would like to be, feeling the way you would like to feel?
How are you supporting yourself right now? What practices are you doing with yourself and why are you choosing these? Do you feel you need to make some adjustments? Which ones can it be?
Let the answers guide you and begin to be subtle signals that show you where to go next, where to focus, where to take action and in what ways.
Rituals are a perfect tool for this.
We are not talking about rituals to follow the current fashion of doing this or that. We are talking about supporting you and your life. Doing what really brings value, meaning and expansion.
Thanks for reading, thanks for supporting, and please, leave a comment if you have something to say and share. I would love to hear from you.
Have a beautiful day,
With love,
Anna
Other articles that can help you with your rituals and practices.
(Remember, I would love to hear from you, you can always leave here a comment and share that space with others. Thanks a lot!)
WORK WITH ME
You can see my coaching and therapy proposals in English here
In Spanish, all in here:
Feel Good Retreat, 10-12th May in Portugal. A nourishing weekend to experience what it is to feel good. Slowing down, rituals and daily practices to take care of you, coaching sessions in group to work deeper in yourself towards your authenticity. All details here, Spanish or English.
my online membership Dentro Studio - a private space in community for your growth and expansion. Proposals and tools to work on you (workshops, journaling exercises, yoga, meditation, breathwork, etc).