Blooming Out of the Muck and Mire – Mind, Body and Spirit
Earlier in the month, we learned from the lotus flower about transformation, strength, and inner beauty.
Lotus flowers or water lilies grow and thrive in the “muck.”
- Water lilies are celebrated in many cultures as symbols of transformation, strength, and inner beauty.
- Their seeds take root and gather strength in even the most seemingly unpleasant environments, such as mud and murky water.
- This amazing plant slowly reaches for the sunlight available to it and, when it is time, finally opens to bloom.
Our transformation message is that the seeds of our authentic selves can take root and gather strength even in muck and mire.
Blooming from the Muck – Starting with our Minds
Our minds keep the specifics of those muck-laden experiences.
- These thoughts can become deeply ingrained in us until we see them with a new set of eyes.
- We must find the strength and courage to look with a new perspective.
- As we shine sunlight on these thoughts, they can transform from muck into nourishment for our growing selves.
Step One
Brainstorm all those thoughts that keep you stuck. Aim to identify ten mindsets or experiences from the past that hold you back from the growth you want.
Step Two
Pick five of these limiting “mucky” thoughts to shine light upon.
- Ask yourself, is the limiting thought true today? (Some things may have happened in the past, but have no bearing now)
- If it is not true, visualize that muck floating away, never clinging to you again.
- If it is true, reframe it into something positive. How could you turn the muck into fertile soil to grow your seeds of authentic self? How can it grow into a better understanding of yourself or the experience?
Blooming from the Muck – Moving to our Body
Visualization is a great way to better connect with your body. I will take you through a short one.
Sit comfortably in a chair and take a deep breath to settle yourself in this space.
- “Scan” your body starting at your head and flowing down through your shoulders, torso, legs, and feet, noticing any tension, tightness, or stress.
- Sit with that noticing. Consider whether there is new awareness.
Visualize what your “muck” looks like.
- You just finished identifying the mucky experiences and thoughts that contribute to them.
- Now, consider what this muck looks like.
- How thick is it?
- What is the color?
- Can you feel the weight on you or around you?
- How does this inform what you need to do to grow into your authentic self?
Blooming with the Muck – Releasing Heaviness from our Spirit and Embracing Nourishment
Breath is often a way to tap into our spirit.
- Take a deep, cleansing breath and hold it for three seconds before slowly releasing it.
- Move into another deep cleansing breath. As you breathe out slowly, seek to release the heaviness of the muck.
- Maybe see the color of the muck reflected in the air of your exhale.
- Can you sense a difference in the quality of your breath as you release any heaviness?
- Continue to visualize this release until you notice a shift.
Reframe the “muck”
- With your next breath, reframe the “muck” as positive and consider the fortification that can come from it.
- Can you think of the nourishing elements that can come from the muck?
- Maybe the fortification is the strength you have gained as you persevered.
- Perhaps it is insights you have gained about yourself or others.
- As you breathe in, is there a color for this sense of nourishing benefit?
- Notice when your body relaxes with quiet energy. This is the “sunlight” that will help your seeds grow.
This is a practice you can do anytime you notice “muckiness” in your body.
- Slow down to notice what is going on/what you are feeling,
- Be curious about what this sensation and awareness may be connected to,
- Settle your spirit with your breath. If you have a faith practice, this is when you can invite the Divine to be with you.
- Breathe in what you wish to claim (peace, strength, calm, etc.), and breathe out what you wish to release (judgment, resentment, shame, etc.).
- Spend five minutes breathing your words in and out.
Remember, at Survivors to Thrivers, we are committed to journeying with you on your path to healing and growth.
- We would love to hear from you to hear what you are learning on your healing journey.
- Meanwhile, know that we are cheering you along the way!
If you would like to learn more about the mind, body, spirit connections, here is a link to an interesting article:
https://chopra.com/articles/mind-body-connection-understanding-the-psycho-emotional-roots-of-disease
Talk To Tambry
I am glad you have taken the time to engage with this blog. Sometimes it is helpful to process new insights that emerge. If you would appreciate brief time with a someone who understands, our Talk to Tambry offering is for you. For 30 minutes, you can receive support from Tambry who is a certified life coach, spiritual director and a survivor who has been on the journey as well. This is offered at a reduced rate of $50.
