This is the time that I normally find my word to guide me through the coming year.
A few weeks ago I was certain that it is going to be intent.
I often find myself beginning things or committing myself to projects without gifting myself the time and space to pause and consider, to find out the ramifications and to make sure that I am aligned with everything I need to know before committing to whatever it is. This can take me to places outside of my comfort zone, and not in a good way. I often have a lot of different things going on simultaneously. I do manage to do them all well, but it’s exhausting sometimes!
I felt that the word intent or intention would give me a platform to rest on and to gather all of the information before saying ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ or ‘Not yet’. Then I can proceed with purpose and determination, as well as an awareness of all of my other commitments and ongoing projects.
But intent doesn’t feel quite right.
As I ease my way into this new year of 2023 I find myself wanting to dial back and begin from the place before I even consider setting any intentions and goals. Talking about comfort zones, it is super uncomfortable for me to let myself simply be and to sit where I am. I have an overwhelming urge to prove myself and to get busy doing so.
This year, I am looking for that middle ground between doing nothing and doing too much. What shape will my life take and what is that word?
The slow stitch collage piece that I began in my monthly Slow Stitch and Cake workshop last Saturday gave me a place to begin to put this idea into practice.
This stitching practice is a process of stitch meditation where my desire to plan and compose is satisfied through an intuitive process of choosing colors and shapes of fabric and arranging them on a small square of base fabric. Then I choose a thread color and begin stitching concentric circles from the center outwards. I can change thread colors when it feels right. Of course, I can do any stitch in any direction, but I love circles and the soothingness of radiating outwards from the center.
When I can relax into this process, these are the words that come.
Slow
Trust
Intuitive
Process
Spaciousness
Once again my creativity gently leads me in the direction that I need to be going. Not necessarily where I think I need to be going. I can simply be with this practice and it places me in that sweet spot between ‘not doing’ and ‘doing too much’.
I am holding a workshop this Saturday 28th January, 2023 on Dartmoor, UK called Find your Word for 2023. We will begin with a short reflective exercise to find our word for the year. It may be a focussed goal or a sweet intention or simply an affirming word to carry us through the year.
There are still a couple of spaces left, so do come and join us if you are able!
In the meantime, warmest wishes for the still new year. Stay creative and above all trust the process!