by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress
During the holiday season, I saw a post on social media asking the question ‘What moisturizes your soul’? I really loved the idea of an exfoliation followed by an intensive moisture mask for the soul. So I want to pose that question - what moisturizes your soul? What activities bring you back to yourself and reignite that spark in you - that make you remember what you are passionate about?
On reflection, for me, it is largely a balance between solitude doing things that connect me back to myself - journaling, meditation and reading. And that’s the things I want to read, not what I think I should read. Journaling is about getting my thoughts down on the page so I can get out of my own way and not get caught up in spiralling thoughts. It allows me to name what’s bothering me. Even I don’t have the solution - identifying it allows me to focus on what’s important for the day. It is also about quality time with friends and family that just get you. That encourage, nurture, support and treasure you. You leave feeling energized, appreciated and lifted.
It’s really important to make sure we take the time this year to do those things for ourselves. January is a time for a ‘clean slate’ mentality; we are reenergised to tackle our goals, set new challenges and start fresh. While we are positively charged, don’t forget to schedule yourself into the calendar and treat it with equal priority to any other ‘client’ meeting. We don’t want to get to April, in disbelief it’s Easter already and feeling flat like our battery is in the red on 6%.
If we consistently build it little pockets of time for ourselves and protect that time, then we can maintain a steady flow of energy for the things that matter.
After a beautiful holiday read, Wabi Sabi by Beth Kempton, I was given permission to let go - of perfection of how the year should be and that life needs to flow according to our natural rhythms. This passage below is what I needed at that moment -
"The seasons are a regular reminder that we don’t need to push all the time. Every push needs a pull. Every expansion needs a contraction. Every effort needs a rest. There are times for creating and times for seeking inspiration. Times for noise and times for silence. Times to focus and times to dream. Ebb and flow. Wax and wane. There are those contrasts again. Wabi Sabi invites you to tune into your natural rhythm, in this season of your life, in this season of the year, in this moment of your day."
I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, rather I decided on a word that will guide me in my decision making to make sure I stay on track. My word for 2019 is ‘nurture’ and that means what I choose to do and more importantly not do has to fit in with that. It works on all fronts - nurture my network, nurture my growth, nurture my family and nurture the important relationships. It also ensures I plan in ‘soul spa’ activities and protect that time for myself - guilt free!
I invite you to choose your word that resonates with you for this year and make sure it leaves space for your soul spa.
Here’s to your fresh start.
Warm wishes,
Lori
LORI MILNER is the engaging facilitator, thought leader and mentor known for her insightful approach to being a modern corporate woman. Her brainchild, the successful initiative Beyond the Dress, is the embodiment of her passion to empower women. Beyond the Dress has worked with South Africa’s leading corporates and empowered hundreds of women with valuable insight on how to bridge the gap between work and personal life. Clients include Siemens, Massmart, Alexander Forbes, Life Healthcare Group, RMB Private Bank and Unilever to name a few. Lori has co-authored Own Your Space: The Toolkit for the Working Woman in conjunction with Nadia Bilchik, CNN Editorial Producer. Own Your Space provides practical tools and insights gleaned from workshops held around the world and from interviews with some of South Africa’s most accomplished women to provide you with tried-and-tested techniques, tips and advice to help you boost your career, enhance your confidence and truly own your space on every level. Own Your Space is the ultimate ‘toolkit’ to unleash your true power. It’s for the woman who wants to take her career to new heights and who is ready to fulfil her true potential.
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