In order to find sanity in this hectic world we must carve out a space for a peaceful personal haven. I know. You have small rooms, in a small house on a small lot. But let’s not start from the standpoint of what seems impossible. With gratitude for what you do have, a positive attitude and a willingness to stretch your creative muscles, your small space can yield a relaxing and nurturing retreat.
So, before you baulk at the idea, take a moment to ensure that you understand these four pre-requisites which will help to make the retreat experience as beneficial as it can be.
You deserve it.
People can talk until they are blue in the face, but you have to believe that you deserve some time in a special place to nurture yourself before you can embark on setting up and committing to a personal retreat.
Day in and day out, year after year, whatever the weather, however miserable you feel with the flu or any number of life’s discomforts, you get up each morning and put your hand to the wheel of your responsibilities.
That alone is enough to warrant regular peaceful times to step away from the rush and give yourself over to the nurturing of your body, your mind and your spirit. It is in that place, your personal haven that you enrich yourself to give your best in other areas of your life, and you deserve that.
You need it.
Are you willing to dispel the “super woman” myth and own up to the fact that you a human being with limitations? That is a start.
You see, your mind, your body and your spirit have their own signals to let you know that your nearing or have reached your time and energy limits. Your mind may slip into overdrive, taking you on a wild ride with disjointed and lost thoughts and blank moments. Your motor skills lose their usual speed, your muscles grow weary, your joints hurt and stress headaches are a daily feature. Plus, when your spirit no longer responds to inspiration, your hand slips out of God’s hand and prayer vanishes from your days, you know you need to slow down or stop completely. You know that you are at the end of your mental, physical and spiritual rope and you need to flee to a quiet place, your personal retreat to give yourself some time and attention and ready yourself to resume the normal run of your daily life.
It is very common for people, especially women, to ignore these signals. Don’t be like one of them. Don’t ignore the signs that signal you need time in your personal space.
How you will use it.
To some people, a retreat represents time away from home and people, a spa experience, even if only for exterior pampering. To others it may mean a day at the beach with family and friends, a few hours at the mall, shopping and watching a movie. Then there those who would give just about anything for just half an hour, reading or writing in bed, in their favorite chair, on the porch, lounging in a hammock in the garage, puttering in their garden, and so on.
How you choose to use your retreat is entirely up to you. After all it is your space and your time. You have your own needs, your own dreams, your own preference.
However you use your personal retreat make sure that you expand your mind, relax and rejuvenate your body, resuscitate your spirit. Bask in the possibilities of your dreams, explore your creativity.
Make sure too, that when you leave your personal space, you are fully refreshed and re-energized and back on track with the things and people that are important to you.
When you will begin.
Even if you don’t have all the elements immediately available to set up your ideal personal retreat, you should schedule the first session as soon as possible. Don’t wait for the perfect time; it may never come on its own. You have to take responsibility for spending time there. Take the initiative; set aside the time and use it as you planned.
One of the similarities of our lives is that our days are hectic and full of responsibilities beyond our time and energy supplies. Yet, each of our lifestyles is different and that dictates the time we have or the time we can allot to the enjoyment of our personal retreats.
After surveying all the demands that clamor for your attention, find your ideal time. It may mean re-prioritizing your duties to give your retreat time a more prominent position on your To Do list. Or you might have to take more drastic action and remove some of the commitments that eat up every spare moment you have.
Identify a date, write it down and begin.
You make time for others. You fit them in even when you don’t have time. Give yourself the same attention. You don’t say “No” to people. Don’t continue to say “No” to yourself. Are you prepared for a personal retreat? If you know the four facts outlined above, you are indeed ready. Whatever it takes, make the sacrifices and the compromise, set aside the time and prepare to reap the benefits of your personal retreat.
