Personal Sanctuary
One of the most important aspects of any personal work, and probably the most important concept that I can offer is that of Personal Sanctuary. In our fast-paced lives it is easy to forget to take time for ourselves. If your life feels a bit empty unrewarding, or confusing, consider creating a Personal Sanctuary. This is a place that is calming and comfortable to you, where you feel safe and have a chance to regroup and nurture yourself. You may be "just getting through" your day and would prefer to truly live each day more joyfully. Remember, you have little to offer others or yourself unless you take the time to “water your own roots”.
Personal Sanctuary starts as a mental concept. As you create this inner sanctuary you can, as you are ready, incorporate elements of it into your life, creating a place to mentally and physically rest and recuperate. You might start with your favorite vacation spot or a place where you have always wanted to visit. Whether you have been there before or not, by understanding what feels good about this place you can to reshape things so that your Personal Sanctuary is even more perfect. Most important of all a Personal Sanctuary is safe, beautiful, calming and nurturing to you. It is a place where you can truly relax undisturbed.
Here are some steps that you can to take to create Personal Sanctuary:
- Be aware of what aspects make it nurturing for you.
- Allow your Personal Sanctuary to change and grow as you spend time with it.
- Recreate some of the aspects that you visualize in your physical world. For example, if water is part of your sanctuary find a peaceful body of water you can visit or place a fountain nearby.
- Spend some time creating your sanctuary. If you are so inclined draw, write, or paint what it might look and feel like. Take time to explore the most nurturing possibilities.
- Turn off the phone, pager or computer, and arrange things so that you will have some time quiet and alone in your Sanctuary. This last part can be challenging, but others in your life should understand that by giving you private time alone you will return refreshed and able to love and help them even more.
Create a Personal Sanctuary that is calming and comfortable, where you feel safe and can have a chance to rest, nurture yourself and regenerate. You will be able to regain your inner calm, find personal peace and from this rested state you will be able to truly live, offering others and yourself so much more.
For me a perfect sanctuary may be sitting on a comfortable beach, the warm sun on my face and the sound of the waves gently breaking on the shore. I am alone and no one will disturb me so I can sit safely, quietly and comfortably. This is where I go mentally. However if I like, I can integrate some of the physical aspects that help me feel so deeply nurtured even if I am not at the beach. First I turn off the phone, and arrange things in my life such that I will have undisturbed time. Secondly I have a wonderfully comfortable chair that I love to melt into and relax. This chair sits in a corner of a separate room and on a table by it I have a small white noise machine that has the sounds of calming waves rolling up ion the shore. Before my chair was by a sunny window or in the winter months, I have a lamp to help me feel the Sun warm on my face. This is how I have created my Personal Sanctuary both physically and mentally. Here I can rest, relax and retreat. The most important elements are present so that I am comfortable and safe. The addition of light or sound only adds to my comfort but may not be necessary.
Personal Sanctuary is also about taking time for ourselves. Whether in a special place or just taking the time out from our busy lives. Taking this time and finding ways to take better care of ourselves is the foundation and beginning of personal growth and self-nurturing.
Yes you do deserve a special time and place, a Personal Sanctuary!
You can begin by just taking time out of your schedule. Ask for alone time from those in your life, perhaps arranging for a baby sitter for those to young to understand the concept. Then begin to create your Personal Sanctuary, mentally first, and as you do assemble the nurturing aspects of that sanctuary physically into your life. By create Personal Sanctuary in your life mentally and physically you will rediscover all of the other joys that you may have forgotten and truly begin to live!
