At the start of the year, inspired by Lisa Burgess, I thought I’d create a monthly theme for my word of the year. For February, I chose ‘Grow With The Flow’. But my circumstances and an inner sense were guiding me to put off this theme for another month, or abandon it altogether. What did appeal to was the word ‘slow’ and thus the theme ‘Flow Slow’.
Why Flow Slow?
From my January update on my Word of The Year, you would know that I was constantly exhausted. Also my shoulder was causing a lot of pain. So by creating a calendar of things I wanted to do, I was just putting pressure on myself. The pressure was compounded by guilt when I didn’t achieve what I wanted to.
Pulling Back From Things
I decided to review what was important, pull back on some things and take things slow. Only two or three blog posts a month, and a lot less active on Facebook and Instagram. I’m not following any schedule with social media as I had planned at the start of the year – just posting when I feel like it. I’ve also stopped signing up for blog tours and anything that requires me to commit a lot of time with not much reward. I also stopped trying to create content on Medium.
The one social media platform I’m struggling to be less active on is Twitter. This is not helped by my strong anti-establishment (the current fascist Government in India) views, crucial elections in our country and now the war situation in Ukraine. I’m trying to be more mindful here, but it’s taking a lot. Will keep you posted on progress.
What Am I Doing?
I spent a lot more time in reflection and decided that for the next few months my focus would be on learning and growing.
I’m learning to create a writing routine that works for me and including the three practices that give so much meaning to my days: Scripture reading and reflection. Morning Pages. Gratitude check in.
My reflection led me to realise that I mainly need to work on two are areas of my life – being more honest and authentic and ridding myself of comparison with others. Both inauthenticity and comparison flow from my insecurities and fears from past experiences that I must continue to work on and pray through.
I also stopped being apologetic for taking time to rest, relax and play. For me, play means taking more photographs, dabbling with paints and colours, reading and catching a movie/ documentary. While I thoroughly enjoyed reading books by Amanda Prowse and Catherine Ryan Hyde, I’ve also started reading Aundi Kolber‘s ‘Try Softer’. I can see how it helps me to align with the changes I’m already making and allows me to truly ‘flow‘.
The Thread That Flows Through
The thread that I see running through my days is me giving up on the ‘must-dos’ and the ‘should-dos’ and setting a pace that works for me. This takes courage and determination and I’m ever grateful for the encouragement from José and the inspiration from people like Brené Brown. In Brené’s words : “It takes courage to say ‘yes’ to rest and play, in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.”
Choosing to pull back is easier said than done. It also makes it more difficult not to compare myself to more productive and energetic people I know. But I’m getting there through prayer, reflection, reading and learning.
Linking in to Lisa Burgess’ One Word 2022 February Linkup
Love this and am inspired by it. I have been largely absent from blogging, except for occasional posts. Life just seems overwhelming and trying to be faithful to a committment to complete a larger writing project, and struggling with the reality that I really cannot do it all. I especially appreciate your saying you would do two to three posts a month. I am going to try something similar. But right now, this minute, getting ready to wrap up plans for tonight’s service, that combines a Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper with an Ash Wednesday service. This also means I have not been reading some of my favorite bloggers for a few months. You are in that list. Thank you for sharing your heart. Michele
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For a long, I am trying to pull out of social media. I have become less frequent on twitter and Instagram. However, facebook and whatsapp are still taking away a chunk of my time. I should learn from this post and devote more time to learning. Thanks for inspiring once again.
It’s been some time that I’ve found myself in a very similar situation as you are, Corinne and I now believe stepping back to find my own rhythm has been the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. It’s absolutely essential to go with what your heart says and now, that you’re taking things at your own pace and saying ‘no’ to what doesn’t really matter, I’m sure you are opening yourself up for some very beautiful and joyous experiences. Hope the exhaustion is now a matter of the past. I love your #WOTY, Corinne. It was mine in 2019 and it brought me new facets to experiencing life despite the challenges that came that year.
Wishing you joy and abundance in all that you seek to thrive in, dear Corinne!
Pulling back from things that don’t add value to my life, things that take away my time and energy and harm my health has been a conscious decision this year. I am off FB, and now almost off Instagram, am hardly on Twitter except to share my posts sometimes, and now focusing on my work, books, music, my pets, my health, and my little world. It does take time to get into this frame of mind, but once we decide to pull back and once we notice the peace it brings along, it becomes a habit, isn’t it?
Flow slow…such a necessary mindset in today’s world!
I have missed your presence in my blogiverse.
That being said, I respect the path you have taken. We all have to do what is best for our mental, physical & spiritual health!
I had left a comment for this lovely post. Not sure it went through?
This resonates and like how.
It helps to ease away from the pressures of technology and be one with our real lives.
The last two years have been hard on most people, and technology somewhere managed to over rule our lives.
It’s not easy to let go but when one does to become one with the simple things of life it is liberating.
Your posts always impart hope and Brene Brown imparts so much courage with her words.
Take care dear Cory. I hope you are well now.
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I’m working on this too, especially the first part: “being more honest and authentic and ridding myself of comparison with others.” I’ve had some lifelong friends that I’ve been so quiet around the past few years for fear of conflict, that I don’t think they even know who I really am anymore. I’ve recently decided it’s on me to change: I need to just be my full self around them again and see what happens. Hope your month is going well!