Flowing and Growing Into Big Dreams

“Set a goal so big that you can’t achieve it until you grow into the person who can” — Anonymous

My morning routine is to roll over, turn off my alarm (which is on my Smartphone), then roll back to my pillow for my prayers and thoughts with my Higher Power, whom I choose to call God. After my time with God, I’ll go to my laptop in my dining room to post my blog to Facebook if it’s a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday morning. The other days of the week I jump on my phone to peruse a recovery website called bluidkiti.com for quotes or sayings to post on my Facebook page. If I’m not running late after all of that, I’ll check out my newsfeed before officially getting up to get ready for work.

I came across that meme which I’d seen it quite a few times before today. I always liked and agreed with it in an abstract way. But this morning I felt the recognition inherent in the quote. It made me stop and seriously reflect (a feat almost unheard of without my morning coffee) on how far I’ve come from the days of dissatisfaction with my life, not having a clue how to change it for the better, to what my life is now. Even after I came up with a work and life Mission for myself I was still clueless on how to accomplish it. I wanted to help people, I wanted to live from my heart and use my gifts of insight, empathy, humor and my ability to connect with others. I went through times of confusion, turmoil, fear, and depression. But I didn’t give up on moving forward, even when it felt like I was stuck. I went to my therapy sessions, 12 step meetings, spent time with encouraging, supportive friends and I became willing. Slowly suggestions were made, paths opened up that I was willing to follow through on. Sometimes using baby steps but eventually my blog launched and I answered the question about whether I could consistently write/post meaningful blogs three times a week. I started going to yoga class and eventually discovered another life path open inward and outward for me.

Also, the A-Z Mindful Living series with Ellie Hodges gives a word a day for every letter of the alphabet with suggestions on how to incorporate a mindful practice for that word into daily life. We are up to G for Grounded, but the day before that was F for Flow. She wrote, “Flow is the rhythm that is within and surrounding us.” “When we are aware of our own flow and what puts us in it, we become mindful and more able to adjust to life changes and circumstances as they occur.” “Flow is our own form of ‘balance’ and looks different for each person.” The suggested practice was to reflect on flow in my life with a series of questions about awareness of how it felt, what was happening, etc. After trying that practice and another one, I wrote this to our closed Facebook group about it:

“I love that flow is also another form of balance. Balancing who I am and what I need to flow with the rhythms, growths and contractions of my life as it unfolds. Also sort of knowing that my choices help dictate or create my flow or static (I prefer stagnation). But my life today is no longer one of extremes, merely imbalances that can be adjusted with rest, relaxation, recharging or reconnecting. OR if it’s the opposite and I need initiate more movement, action, activity and reconnecting.
Huh, interesting that reconnecting can be used to either slow my flow when needed or activate it.”

I have set big goals for myself. The very act of setting those intentions has led to consistent choices and paths opening up that have me flowing and growing into the person who will accomplish them. There is a sense of recognition, relief, and inevitability to it.