Day 79 - A Year to Clear - Weather Maps

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Lesson 79: Weather Maps

Today is about noticing the different spaces within your home and workplace. How do they feel? What do you notice about yourself in the different spaces and does certain areas cause you discomfort and are there places that make you feel quite relaxed. Do you notice the weather of these spaces?

My work space is good when the sun shines. I chose a seat next to the window I could see the outside world but also get a lift from the sun. It’s really quite refreshing as I’ve never really had a window seat until now. It’s also good to close my eyes and meditate at my desk sometimes. My work environment is quite varied. If there is tension in the air, you can feel it. I try to avoid those moments where I feel uncomfortable from the emotions or feelings of others.

Inside my home I still need some work. I have yet to create a space I fully feel comfortable in. that’s not to say that I can’t relax but I am still trying to make it fit to me. I’m like halfway there. Lots of stuff that needs to be released and I want to bring in plants to bring some extra peace to my home. I can’t wait to have a week off to just really switch off from the world and work on the look of my home more. This is coming up soon and I’ll be so relaxed and relieved to do this. Got to get some inspiration going within my home so it’s something I look forward to as well.

Day 40 - A Year to Clear - Weather Watch

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Lesson 40: Weather Watch

“Emotional weather is not who you are. And it does pass when you choose not to identify with it.”

— Stephanie Bennett Vogt

Although this is Friday’s lesson, I did actually do the lesson but didn’t have a chance to write it down.

There were times of overwhelming energy at work in which I didn’t want to have around me on Friday. I kept repeating the mantra taught from one of the previous lessons “it’s just weather” and took long inhales in and long exhales out. I think every time something may have started to feel anxiety, I just repeated this and it helped  to just settle it down.

Later on when I was at my mates’ house watching some TED talks and enjoying a nice meal, I took the time to notice that I was relaxed. When you’re taking the time to notice the changes in weather pattern, for me, it was nice to be aware of the calm weather, but that you have the power to control the feelings in the bad weather. I found that the breath work is really helpful in dealing with overwhelm and when you can recognise those little things that tick you off, repeating that mantra allow it not to get to you. It’s very much allowing it to come, recognising/acknowledging it’s there, and then releasing it.

Day 39 - A Year to Clear - It's Only Weather

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Lesson 39: It's Only Weather

Today was about repeating a mantra if we had feelings of discomfort such as sadness, fear, worry, attachment etc. The mantra is “It’s only weather”. From there I am to observe what happens.

I had anxiety leaving my house today. I wanted to go out and get dinner and sometimes I have this irrational anxiety about leaving the house. Sometimes I just can’t seem to leave out of some fear or social anxiety. And it’s not that I’m lazy to leave the house, it’s more that I just can’t seem to do it. I decided to do this mantra. I closed my eyes and repeated it out loud. It really felt uplifting. It was like a weight was lifted from just a simple sentence.

Although I didn’t get to adopt this very often today, I will use it for every future day and slowly release those types of feelings. Sometimes simplicity is the key.

Day 38 - A Year to Clear - Passing Clouds

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Lesson 38: Passing Clouds

“If you consider that every thought pattern that doesn’t align with your highest purpose and deepest knowing is like a passing cloud or squall that blocks the sunlight of your being, it becomes easier to let it go.

What are you ready to let go of today?”

— Stephanie Bennett Vogt

Clouds that I would like to pass are the continuous self-doubt and questioning of my skills and ability. I tend to question my actions and I guess it’s that fear we tend to have. Fear of not doing it right and failing. I need to re-route my thinking into a more positive “yes I can do it” type of attitude. I know the only person limiting myself is me. It’s like a battle in my head. Sometimes it’s “I can’t do this” and then I counter it with a “yes Liana you can do this”. If those self-deprecating thoughts can go away and I can be forever pushed in a “you can do it” attitude, that’d be great.

I think because I am a bit of perfectionist when it comes to any skills, I can be a bit hard on myself also. It’s silly because I am learning, and I hold myself in high regard, so I don’t like to fail. As I type this, I’m thinking gosh I’m a wonder. One minute there is fear and disbelief mixed with a hint of not ever wanting to fail. It just seems so unrealistic in hindsight.

I want this all released – failure is good to grow from so I would like to release that idealistic pressure I place on myself. I also would like to release all the thoughts that put me down when I’m developing into my own person. My journey will have bumps but it’s just part of the ride. Replace everything with a slowly but surely progressive attitude for my path. I send this out to the universe!