I engaged in fasting quite a bit while I was at the peak of my "stay in the closet at all costs" time. What I didn't realize at the time was that "all costs" included my heart. I was denying myself so I could be the person other people wanted me to be, instead of the person I was made to be.
I've done Lent a few times since. In years past, I've given up things like social media, coffee, and at the suggestion of my friend Marc, my Instant Pot! I was surprised by each time how I enjoyed it all.
But I'll admit: That first coffee on Easter... *mindblown*
This year, Lent is not for me. But I may pick it up again some year in the future!
It's so good to know when the right time for things is! I felt surprisingly ambivalent about Lent this year, but said I was open if the Universe made something clear, and boy did it! haha.
And yes, the first coffee after that cleanse I talked about in the post is something I will never forget. It was a religious experience all on it's own!
"It showed up as a belief that I only deserved the struggle, the fight, the challenge."
I just had a conversation yesterday regarding Enneagram Eights and how we can be distracted or pulled off-focus by challenges, and the person I was chatting with said, "If it's not hard, is it even worth having?" She was sort of joking, but she was also acknowledging that this feels like something common in Eights, even though we're all typically seen as people who have an overabundance of confidence.
As for Lenten practices, I'm currently almost a month into a yoga practice that I started thanks to two readings of your "The Conscious Enneagram" and my growing understanding that my body is so full of unreleased tension that yoga could probably help with. So for Lent I'm going to make that practice even more deliberate, and you've been instrumental in that! Thank you!
The, "if it's not hard, it's not worth having" has definitely ruled so much of my life, almost as far back as I can remember. I'm grateful to be choosing the easy, gentle way more often these days. My body, heart, and mind all need it.
I'm so thrilled to hear that my book has been valuable to you! Yogic practices are so instrumental in helping us process our experiences from a three-centered perspective. Our bodies so often get left out of the mix! I can't wait to hear how your Lenten practice goes! :D
Loved this post Abi!
I engaged in fasting quite a bit while I was at the peak of my "stay in the closet at all costs" time. What I didn't realize at the time was that "all costs" included my heart. I was denying myself so I could be the person other people wanted me to be, instead of the person I was made to be.
I've done Lent a few times since. In years past, I've given up things like social media, coffee, and at the suggestion of my friend Marc, my Instant Pot! I was surprised by each time how I enjoyed it all.
But I'll admit: That first coffee on Easter... *mindblown*
This year, Lent is not for me. But I may pick it up again some year in the future!
It's so good to know when the right time for things is! I felt surprisingly ambivalent about Lent this year, but said I was open if the Universe made something clear, and boy did it! haha.
And yes, the first coffee after that cleanse I talked about in the post is something I will never forget. It was a religious experience all on it's own!
Thanks for being a part of this community! :D
This resonated with me:
"It showed up as a belief that I only deserved the struggle, the fight, the challenge."
I just had a conversation yesterday regarding Enneagram Eights and how we can be distracted or pulled off-focus by challenges, and the person I was chatting with said, "If it's not hard, is it even worth having?" She was sort of joking, but she was also acknowledging that this feels like something common in Eights, even though we're all typically seen as people who have an overabundance of confidence.
As for Lenten practices, I'm currently almost a month into a yoga practice that I started thanks to two readings of your "The Conscious Enneagram" and my growing understanding that my body is so full of unreleased tension that yoga could probably help with. So for Lent I'm going to make that practice even more deliberate, and you've been instrumental in that! Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing, Stephanie!
The, "if it's not hard, it's not worth having" has definitely ruled so much of my life, almost as far back as I can remember. I'm grateful to be choosing the easy, gentle way more often these days. My body, heart, and mind all need it.
I'm so thrilled to hear that my book has been valuable to you! Yogic practices are so instrumental in helping us process our experiences from a three-centered perspective. Our bodies so often get left out of the mix! I can't wait to hear how your Lenten practice goes! :D