BRINGING MORE EASE INTO YOUR WEEK EVERY THURSDAY
Making room for inspiration, instead of chasing it.
I know it doesn’t seem like much but it brought a little smile to my face. 😊 Right there in a dry part of grass, I noticed these cutie little lavender wild asters, a Texas wildflower. Sometimes joy comes in the little moments we might not notice unless we take the time to pause.
Hi Friend,
Sometimes my inspiration and creativity feel completely zapped. I can’t seem to pull a thought from anywhere. And usually it’s not that I have nothing to say, it’s that there’s actually too much to say (and do) and my brain doesn’t know which way to focus. That’s when I know I need more stillness and space. It’s a signal that I’ve been going, going, going at a pace that’s not natural to my own rhythm.
My first reaction is to go scrolling or listening — to go searching for inspiration. But what I’ve also found is that when you go searching and you put all this mental energy into the act of needing to find something, it leaves little room to notice what’s already around you.
This could look different for you, where you sit down to do something you usually enjoy, but nothing comes to you. Or you finally get a quiet moment, but your mind is still racing through everything you need to get done in the day.
Instead of frustration (or annoyance), what if we got curious about what’s taking up all the room?
Before you go looking for inspiration, notice whether you’ve made space to receive it.
A couple of ways I’ve tried to create my own breathing room and space:
Leaving my phone behind on evening walks
Staying in bed 5 minutes longer in the morning and doing a heart-centered breathing practice
Making a hot cup of either morning coffee or matcha latte at home
With even just a few moments, it allows my brain to slow down, bring in presence, and reduce this need for inspiration and allow it to come in its own time.
xo,
Rachel
KNOW
A little mental breathing room can help ideas come through
In one study, people who stepped away from a creative task to do something simple that allowed their minds to wander came back with more creative ideas than those who did a demanding task, rested, or took no break. The benefit showed up on problems they’d already started—not new ones. This suggests that when you feel stuck, keeping your attention fixed on finding an answer isn’t always the most helpful approach. Sometimes, doing something ordinary and undemanding can give an idea room to develop.
BEGIN
Leave one small moment unfilled
Today, choose one ordinary task: making your coffee, folding laundry, or watering a plant and do it without a podcast, scrolling, or anything playing in the background. For just a few moments, let your mind wander without asking it to come up with anything.
You don’t need to end with an idea. Just give yourself a little room to be.
MY PICK
My go-to athleisure brand
When I have matching workout gear or clothes that feel breathable and allow me room to move, I feel more confident. I recently cleaned out my closet and donated a ton of older clothes that I just don’t fit into anymore. The amount of relief I felt once I did that! Here’s to bringing in new energy in life, even by way of a new wardrobe. 😜
I may earn a small commission when you shop through my links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
CURRENTLY
A few little finds on my radar
Watching
Taking it back to an older episode of You Are Here, especially with the change in seasons, here’s a reminder why cold smoothies (and salads) aren’t the best when it comes to a Traditional Chinese Medicine approach to living well.
Reading
It’s ok to not overgive in every area of your life. Here’s how you can stop.
Coloring
I’ve been leaning into ways I can channel my ‘inner child’ and one way has been to color. There’s a cute “Cozy Girl” series of coloring books that I have that just help me remember that I’m just a big kid. 🥰
REFLECT
“Yet it is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the submerged truth sometimes comes to the top.”
— Virginia Woolf
What have you been trying to figure out that you could give a little breathing room instead?
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