It's almost February, I guess I should stop saying happy new year soon, but not just yet.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I'm saying it (again) because it feels like the year is just starting. Maybe it's because the days are finally getting perceptively longer, or maybe it's just that the pressure is off.
I told you I was going to take it slow, to see what the year would reveal to me, and I have.
I've been doing a lot of dreaming, desiring, writing and tea drinking with my special peeps. The picture isn't 100% clear yet, but it's getting clearer every day.
One of the things that I've done to clarify my intentions for 2013 involved, and this is going to sound weird, very sore armpits.
As in the muscles of my armpits hurt. Not in a bad way, but in a "I've been using my body to do stuff I don't normally do" way.
I think my Pilates instructor would be proud, apparently I really should be using my armpits more often.
Why sore armpits?
At 9:45pm last Thursday evening I was struck with the need (yes NEED) to paint my office/living room. I got to Home Depot at 9:55pm to get some starter supplies, hole filling goo, a spatula, an enviro painting kit (code for crappy low quality gear you'll have to replace the very next day) and ceiling paint.
Then I spent the whole weekend moving furniture, cleaning, painting, painting, painting, cleaning, taking apart furniture, moving furniture, curbing furniture, moving books, etc...
It feels like I'm living in a new home and it feels GREAT!
Sometimes when you're not sure what to do, it's time to DO something.
In the doing, something becomes clear. For me, it became super clear that I need to stop pushing.
My first day of my painting was all about "GETTING IT DONE!" no matter how late, how tired or what the cost.
The second day started out in the same vein. I woke up early, didn't meditate, went to the paint store to get a new brush (because the first one was crappy, buy quality my friends, learn from the vitamix!) and rushed home to get to work. I was grumpy and feeling generally like a big fat poopy head.
When I got home, I thought I should at least try to meditate for a few minutes, but I shouldn't linger because there was WORK TO BE DONE!
But as soon as I sat down on my cushion, I knew that I wouldn't get up for an hour.
You see I've been working through Danielle LaPorte's Desire Map, reconnecting myself with what's really important, and one of the things that she says over and over again is that you have to enjoy the journey, you can't just do it for the end result.
Once I was reminded of this, the second day of painting became very different from the first.
It found me with a beautiful paint brush, taking my time, painting winged hearts on the walls, listening to The Desire Map, singing my heart out and generally having a lovely time.
I was painting my room in a way that reflected how I wanted to feel in that room. Easy, joyful, connected and beautiful.
Want to hear something curious?
Doing it the fun, easy, pleasurable way, took EXACTLY the same amount of time as the pushing, have to get it done way.
Another thing that was really interesting to notice was that when I was pushing, my mistakes were driving me C-R-A-Z-Y. When I was doing it from a place of pleasure, I was still making mistakes, but I didn't really care.
It was work, sore armpits work, but it didn't feel like work.
I have to say that since I painted my office life has looked and felt very different. Opportunities are pouring in and that they all feel very easy, joyful, connected and beautiful. Coincidence?
Painting is such a great teacher for me. Last time I did a lot of painting I learned about the importance of practice. This time, I learned the importance of savouring the journey. I wonder what I'll learn next time?
I'd love to hear your experiences with enjoying the journey rather than rushing for results.
Where are you pushing when you could be seeking pleasure?
Let me know in the comments below and if you enjoyed this I would be tickled cherry red if you shared it with your friends.
Take care,
Cecilia
p.s. If you're reading this and you're not on my list, you should really get yourself on it! I send out a fun and useful email just about every week on clearing clutter and living life. Just pop on over here to get on! All the cool kids are doing it!