The Mindful Migraine

I try to read as many blogs as I can. Some weeks are a bit of a wash out (I’m too sick, or too busy, or too busy because I’ve been too sick for too long). Other weeks, however, I can cover a lot of distance, and I love every minute of being in blog-land.

Today I want to do a shout-out for a blog I just came across: The Oake Raven. It was set up late last year and is authored by Diana (from what I can read, she grew up in a cult, has a background in metaphysical sciences, writes novels and most importantly, she gives people advice on how to rediscover the magic in their lives).

It’s only new, but Diana has already generously set up a page of digital resources (free, follow OR donate if you can). They include instructions on how to do a body scan, and a worksheet for “Shadow Work” which is on my agenda for this weekend.

Even without downloading anything, the titles alone got me re-focused. They acted as a prompt to take a moment to turn inwards. I tend to be an action-person. As noted at the start of this post, I seem to be always busy… or sick… or busy because I’ve been sick… or sick because I’m too busy…

And as I’ve written before:

I really want to be a human BEING not a human DOER.

As this is a new year, it seems like a good time to up the efforts on paying attention to what’s going on inside me… and not just to pain. Focusing on pain is easy. Focusing on some of the stressors behind that pain is a bit harder. Focusing on the behavioral or personality glitches that dance along with these stressors is harder still.

But I’m here to try.

Try to pay attention.

Try to be more aware.

Try to be more honest.

Again, it’s easy to say “I’m always so busy” – but what does that really say about me? Am I inefficient? [Not really – although I do tend to put off tasks that don’t interest me, which then pile up]. Or does it mean that I’m overly accommodating and have to improve how I manage my personal boundaries and say “no” more often? [This seems to ring true.]

But it could also be a more complicated combination of things. I listen to my body more than ever and rest when I feel like I’m pushing too hard. That means that there is a lot of down-time in my day – a reduction in my productivity, which means I have to get more done in the time that I have. Whilst I might be efficient at “time chunking“, and I’m A-OK with the idea of “breakfast for dinner“, my ability to prioritize my needs over others is still not great…

As a prime people-pleaser, other people’s pleas for assistance tend to go to the top of the line, and my to do list gets a bit longer every day. I then (mostly subconsciously) select the things that will be easiest to do on the list… so the harder things get left there longer until they seem to take on a negative life of their own… they become giant task-ogres covered in cobwebs, rising out of the slime of some dreadful bad-task-swamp.

And that’s just a self-assessment of how I handle day to day tasks – imagine if I started to think about how I approach major relationships, past events, or future ambitions… so much to think about!

The trick is to break it down, like everything, into bite-sized actions… your journey to self-discovery won’t be complete in a day! Just take a moment TODAY to reflect, to journal, to ponder… and wonder why you might be the you that you are today.

Face those cobwebby swamp-ogres one at a time. Say hi. I see you. I know that you’ve always been there, but now I’m acknowledging you. Let’s see what we can do to make you a little more friendly in my life moving forward!

Thanks Diana for getting my mind racing, and good luck on your blogging journey!

And for everyone else – good luck reflecting on what makes YOU you-nique!

Take care taking care lovelies, Linda x

PS – Out of curiosity I went to the drawer where I keep my Tarot cards (and yes – I still do them occasionally, even after my big-flop-fortune-telling-Christmas!) and looked for the runes instead. I drew a Rune to see what the Universe had to say about this blog post topic and here’s what I got (chipped nail polish and all!) – it is “Uruz” or strength, and suggests you have outgrown your old life and are ready to take on a new, greater, form – YAY! – but it also reminds you that change and renewal involve a sense of loss. In my mind’s eye I see a phoenix fading and crumbling, then rising from the ashes lighter and brighter than before:

PPS – in case you’re new here – I’m like Diana and also have a page of free downloadables on my RESOURCES page, which include trigger trackers and a mini-mindfulness course – enjoy!