Flaking out or fluffing up??
There’s no doubt about it… curling up in couch potato mode for a good binge session of your favorite Netflex series can feel really yummy, especially this time of year.
But is that really the only or best way to wind down and de-stress?
As 2023 has started off with a gallop, I’ve been thinking alot about how I spend my time, especially about ways that I can balance my “veg-out” time with my high energy activities.
Then I read this terrific article in MindBodyGreen that talked about how, from a scientific point of view, rejuvenation—not rest—is the foundation of fighting burnout. The key is to create what are called “autotelic experiences” which are “moments or behaviors when we do something for its own sake rather than achieving an external goal. [T]hey are driven by our innate curiosity… are rooted in enjoyment and lead to a sense of rejuvenation.”
Wow. What a concept. And it felt particularly apropo since I just got back from a magical women’s retreat at Kripalu Yoga Center, led by my goddess-sister, Renee Trudeau (she’s got more comng up there this year and other places, so definitely check her out). Beautiful hikes through the snowy woods, lots of yummy yoga, and a TON of singing and dancing — that’s all 70 of us shaking our booties in the photo above!
I guess that’s why I’ve always said that singing is one of my “therapies”… whether it’s goddess chants while I meditate or in a women’s circle, or singing in my wonderful women’s chorus, the SoHarmoniums. Even just playing hide-n-seek with my granddaughters fits the bill!
Another aspect of autotelic experiences is that they can make you feel more “fulfilled, purposeful, and connected to something larger than ourselves“. Well, that would explain why I feel so galvanized when we’re planning another benefit production for 4thU Artivists (yes, there’s one coming up on April 27-29th — check it out!) According to the article, that’s called “effortful enjoyment”... yes, it’s definitely hard work, but so powerful knowing we’re supporting organizations who work to end gender violence and systemic oppression.
There are lots of small ways you can tap into that energy, too. Dance for 15 minutes before you sit down at your computer. Have colored pencils nearby so you can doodle throughout the day. Find a chant that you can sing for 5 minutes — check out my InnerGoddessTeam videos for some of those, or reach out and I’ll send you a ton of resources.
And if you do that, you’ll be fully embracing the vibe of the Leo/Aquarius Full Moon coming up on February 6th. Among other things, fire-y Leo energy is about embracing self-love, playing with our inner child, and tapping into your heart for compassion, vulnerability and strength. Integrate that with the open-minded, collective-minded and humanitarian Aquarius season we’re moving through from January 20th to February 18th and you’ve got the perfect combo for using the qualities you love most about yourself to make a difference in the world!
[And if you want to participate in a perfect autotelic experience, definitely tune into the recording of my virtual Aquarius New Moon SisterCircle I facilitated through the Wellness Universe on January 20th. Our theme was “Reclaiming our Inner WildWoman” and I guarantee you’ll come away feeling energized and nurtured at the same time!
My Deb’s Picks this month highlights a bunch of ways you can experience different kinds of “effortful enjoyment”, and I hope your mind and heart are already percolating about some of the things you do already.
Then, be sure to join us for my upcoming Leo/Aquarius Full Moon TeleMeditation this Monday, February 6th at Noon — click HERE for details on how to join us. OR reach out and I’ll send you the recording!
1. DO WHAT MOVES YOU w/ JESS GRIPPO
Im not sure how I met Jess, but she is a force of nature! She’s performed in several of our 4thU Artivists benefit productions and has such a joyous, playful energy. During the pandemic, she offered little dance parties online which were sooo healing and uplifting. Through her “Dance Again” classes and community, she gets everyone moving, from beginners to former dancers. And then there’s her “Dance with this Book” filled with creative dance prompts and stories about life, dance, and the creative process. Check her out and get dancing again!
2. NATURE MANDALA ART by MICHELLE WALLACE
I discoverd the Nature Mandala cards when I visited Kripalu last winter and have been using them every day since then. Mandala is the Sanskrit word for “circle” and mandalas have been used for centuries in many cultures to aid in meditation & contemplation. Michelle strolls the forest and fields near her Vermont home and collects flowers, seeds, leaves, stems and other plant materials to create these images. After she photographs them, they last a day or two before they’re blown away. She’s labeled each one with a quality or message — the one I pulled today was “Cleanse”, perfect for me since today is Imbolc, the ancient Celtic holy-day of purification in preparation for Spring. If you’re a nature-lover like me, you’ll love them, too.
3. DEEP PLAY by DIANE ACKERMAN
A friend introduced me to Diane Ackerman’s book, “Deep Play” many years ago and the notion has been dancing in my psyche ever since. “Deep play,” Ackerman says, “is the ecstatic form of play. In its thrall, all the play elements are visible, but they’re taken to intense and transcendent heights.” She suggests that risk, obsession, pleasure, distractedness, timelessness and a sense of the holy or sacred are all fundamental to deep play. Sounds like some autotelic experiences to me, doesn’t it? Even reading this book is an act of Deep Play — enjoy!
4. AUTHENTIC WOMAN PLAYBOOK by DEBORAH ROTH
OK, I know I’ve talked about my lovely Playbook here many times. Yes, I wrote it years ago with 2 dear coach-sisters, and yes, it’s chock-full of revelations and reflections for you to explore about 13 aspects of your divine feminine nature, But I’m highlighting it this month especially because it’s got fabulous MANDALAS you can color in to connect more deeply with all those aspects… what could be more powerfully rejuvenating and playful than that? There are now lots of mandala coloring books out there, but we were one of the first when we published ours in 2010. Click on the link to get your copy of the Winter edition, download the mandalas, and spend an afternoon playing with your divinely feminine self!
5. KAREN DRUCKER — MUSIC TO HEAL, INSPIRE AND EMPOWER
My dear friend Marsha Lehman introduced me to Karen when we were writing our Authentic Woman Playbooks and I’ve played her music in my circles and workshops for years. (In fact, they’re playing in my iTunes as I write this!) Like all chants, they are sweet and simple and anyone can sing them. I even sang live with her when she did a workshop in NYC a few years ago… she does them all over the country, so definitely check out her site to see if she’ll be near you. If not, she offers a free monthly “Sacred Sunday Sing at Six” that you can tune into online which is wonderful, too.
I hope you’ll check out some of these offerings and of course, I’d love to hear about ones you’ve found, too!