How flow can you go?

I’ve been guided to share something I’ve been working on recently, a lifestyle change that has dramatically decreased my stress, particularly as a new mom: I’m learning to live in flow. 
 

First let me explain what this doesn’t mean.  Flowing freely doesn’t mean giving up your goals and dreams.  Though you may loosen your grip a bit, it doesn’t mean you aren’t still moving and working toward your aspirations.  It doesn’t mean throwing in the towel and ignoring your daily chores and duties.  And when it comes to dealing with kids, while remaining flexible makes things easier, it doesn’t mean giving in to their every whim and letting them completely dictate your day.  Even babies.  Because when you live in flow, you let Spirit guide your day.

 

Living in flow is all about using and strengthening your internal compass each moment of every day.  It is about surrendering your control and letting Spirit guide you.  It’s about recognizing that every step you take is moving you forward, even if you don’t understand how just yet.  It is about Being Present, not just during meditation, but for most, if not all, of your day. 

It can be a scary thing to let go of your to-do lists.  Conventional wisdom has taught us that accomplishments can only come to fruition through careful, sometimes painstaking planning.  Routine and structure can be comforting and, for some individuals, a necessity. 

 

But is it for you?  How much have you ever dared stray from it to find out?

 

When I started practicing living in flow, I stopped hyperventilating at night if I hadn’t gotten to vacuuming during the day.  Guess what?  The rug was still there the next day. So was the cat hair. On days when the baby was fussy, I found that if I let go of my worries about getting all my errands done and focused on calming him down, everything that needed to get done would.  A more efficient way of doing things would come to me in a stroke of inspiration or I’d find later on that I never really needed to do that chore at all!  Instead of having a schedule that tells me vacuuming gets done on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, laundry on Tuesday and the bathroom on Thursday, I vacuum when the cat hair has accumulated, do the laundry when the hamper is full, and delegate the cleaning of the bathroom to my husband.  It’s a much more grounded approach to housekeeping.

But that’s just the beginning.  I found another stressor was the plethora of ideas I had regarding writing, crafts, research, learning, exercise, decorating, music, creating, the list goes on.  I’d make lists everywhere: in journals, on the fridge, on my computer, on my cell phone.  Moreover, I felt overwhelmed when I tried to prioritize them.  So I wrote them down on little pieces of paper, crumpled them up, and put them in a jar.  Now each day, I take out a little piece of paper and go with it.  If I finish it, I choose another one.  If I feel moved to focus on something for longer until it’s done, I do.  For that too is living in flow.  I find that things come up exactly as they need to in perfect timing.

 

I’ll be honest.  There are still times I get overwhelmed and anxious.  I still have moments where I worry I’ve gone too far.  I have doubts.  Have I neglected something important?  I still have nights where I try and make a mental to-do list for the following day before drifting off to sleep.  But this is reasonable.  I have totally changed my way of life.  I’ve rebelled almost completely against the way I was told to go about my day and make use of my time. 

It is because of this that I take time everyday to consciously surrender myself and my day to Spirit.  To set the intention aloud.  I usually do this in the shower but that’s just where it feels right to me.  You could do this anywhere at any time: before you get out of bed in the morning, on your way to work, in traffic, at night before you go to sleep, whenever you remember it.  Begin by closing your eyes and focusing on your breath.  Let your hands rest on your heart or down out your sides, palms facing out. Take a moment to center yourself. 

 
I surrender this day
I surrender this day to the Divine
May I live in Spirit
May I flow freely
I let go of all yesterdays regrets
I release all tomorrows worries
May I be fully present today
In perfect love
And perfect trust
I surrender today

 

Just start with that affirmation daily.  Don’t worry about making a jar or letting go completely.  Just simply say “I surrender,” and then see what happens.  It’s all about following your truth.  Flow free.