These words stand out Paulette :: living in harmony with our inner landscape and outer cosmos.
That is my intention daily:: to live in alignment with my truth AND connected to and embodying the frequency of love that is my (all of our) essential nature.
When I am in this love and act from that place — I trust that my next action in the next best action for myself and all my relationships.
Thanks for reading and your thoughtful comment, Heather. In this hotbed climate we're living in, it's even more important to try to come from that place within us.
Ooh. This is helpful. I needed to insulate back in March, but I crossed over to isolation at some point over the six months. Slowly coming back from it. Like coming out of a very long savasana.
Kim! It's so wonderful to hear from you. I'm glad this post is helpful. I understand. Please know that you've been missed. Welcome back, and take care with your reentry. A return from a very long savasana, you're another person emerging from the depths.
Great post Paulette , we do need to insulate, not isolate, thanks for giving guidance on how.
I recognise my tendency to isolate , which increased after the scamdemic. Now I am making a conscious choice to get out more and get into my body more…one of my reason’s for why I love my yoga practice. 🙏🏻
Yes! I totally agree. I tend to leave my body and feel scattered and anxious, and my default is to isolate. Being more aware of that and shifting into insulation while still engaging with the world is much healthier.
Paulette, I love how we can apply these yoga concepts of muscle energy and opening to our lives as a whole. I enjoy a high degree of solitude, but there may be isolating woven into that due to my trauma history. For now, I'm satisfied, so I think I'm okay with the balance. Remembering impermanence helps me stay grounded and connected in these chaotic times, and lots of solitude.
I believe that if we're aware, like you are, Sandra, of our solitude and why and how we come to it, it can also bring comfort. At least self-understanding and self-compassion. I also think there are times when complete solitude is more than OK, it's necessary. Thank you always for your thoughtful comments and sharing.
I too find this distinction helpful. It was during the pandemic, living alone, that I learned that even the very introverted get lonely. I went outside and walked as much as I could. A local botanical garden stayed open for walkers too. I was still encountering people at a distance and it helped.
Right now I am feeling the same tugs you describe, but I think I am also feeling grief at the loss of traditions (like rule of law, public service, civil rights) that I thought were 'enshrined'. I'm not so much afraid as sad and unmoored. I'm trying to find new stability. Again it is outside in the garden(s) and natural spaces that I can feel anchored and grounded. I'm not a practitioner of yoga, but I find exercises of pointedly feeling the ground under my feet helps.
I'm making a point of observing what is going around me in my immediate space, being very present also grounds me. I have aa tendency to 'be in my head' rather than aware of my surroundings, so it is a good practice for me. I think that this grounding may be my insulation. I don't take on the world, just the one right here around me and the people too.
One reason I write is to help change how people see what yoga is. You might not get on a mat and do poses, Leslie, but practicing deep listening, becoming more aware of your surroundings, spending time in nature, and planting your feet firmly on the ground—these are all parts of my definition of yoga, which includes many aspects. In that way, you're an advanced yogi. Your thoughtful response even inspired a new essay!
And yes! That same grief definitely influences the overwhelm I feel and the desire to isolate.
I've started paying attention to James Talarico, a young Christian Democratic Texas State Representative. He's articulate and bold, speaking about the dangers of Christian Nationalism. He also mentions his grandfather, who didn't go to church, and whose idea of God is G.O.D. Great Out Doors. I love that.
I love the concept of insulating - thank you for introducing that! I am comfortable in isolation, but it is something I had to learn. Silences were intolerable for decades until I decided to make peace with it and embrace it. There was a point before I moved to NYC in which I questioned if I was too comfortable being alone - even for an introvert. (Not an issue. 😏) At the moment, it is a heat wave that is isolating me in the comfort of air conditioning. As soon as we have a respite, I’ll be out walking and interacting with people - and I greatly look forward to that!
This is such a wonderful post, Paulette - as always!
Thanks for your thoughtful response, Cathy. It feels to me as though you are not isolating, but rather discerning and comfortable in your own skin, mind, and heart. Learning to be comfortable in silence seems like a practice or a relationship with something beyond words and the vastness of more. What a powerful place to be inside yourself and in your life. Yeah!
These words stand out Paulette :: living in harmony with our inner landscape and outer cosmos.
That is my intention daily:: to live in alignment with my truth AND connected to and embodying the frequency of love that is my (all of our) essential nature.
When I am in this love and act from that place — I trust that my next action in the next best action for myself and all my relationships.
✨
Thanks for reading and your thoughtful comment, Heather. In this hotbed climate we're living in, it's even more important to try to come from that place within us.
Yes yes yes ✨✨💚✨✨
Ooh. This is helpful. I needed to insulate back in March, but I crossed over to isolation at some point over the six months. Slowly coming back from it. Like coming out of a very long savasana.
Kim! It's so wonderful to hear from you. I'm glad this post is helpful. I understand. Please know that you've been missed. Welcome back, and take care with your reentry. A return from a very long savasana, you're another person emerging from the depths.
Awww. Thanks Paulette. 🥰
This is such an important distinction for people to make. As always, thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Thank you, Sue. I appreciate you reading and your thoughtful comment.
Great post Paulette , we do need to insulate, not isolate, thanks for giving guidance on how.
I recognise my tendency to isolate , which increased after the scamdemic. Now I am making a conscious choice to get out more and get into my body more…one of my reason’s for why I love my yoga practice. 🙏🏻
Yes! I totally agree. I tend to leave my body and feel scattered and anxious, and my default is to isolate. Being more aware of that and shifting into insulation while still engaging with the world is much healthier.
Says our sage Paulete:
Insulate, not isolate.
Take refuge, reach out.
Paulette, I love how we can apply these yoga concepts of muscle energy and opening to our lives as a whole. I enjoy a high degree of solitude, but there may be isolating woven into that due to my trauma history. For now, I'm satisfied, so I think I'm okay with the balance. Remembering impermanence helps me stay grounded and connected in these chaotic times, and lots of solitude.
I believe that if we're aware, like you are, Sandra, of our solitude and why and how we come to it, it can also bring comfort. At least self-understanding and self-compassion. I also think there are times when complete solitude is more than OK, it's necessary. Thank you always for your thoughtful comments and sharing.
I too find this distinction helpful. It was during the pandemic, living alone, that I learned that even the very introverted get lonely. I went outside and walked as much as I could. A local botanical garden stayed open for walkers too. I was still encountering people at a distance and it helped.
Right now I am feeling the same tugs you describe, but I think I am also feeling grief at the loss of traditions (like rule of law, public service, civil rights) that I thought were 'enshrined'. I'm not so much afraid as sad and unmoored. I'm trying to find new stability. Again it is outside in the garden(s) and natural spaces that I can feel anchored and grounded. I'm not a practitioner of yoga, but I find exercises of pointedly feeling the ground under my feet helps.
I'm making a point of observing what is going around me in my immediate space, being very present also grounds me. I have aa tendency to 'be in my head' rather than aware of my surroundings, so it is a good practice for me. I think that this grounding may be my insulation. I don't take on the world, just the one right here around me and the people too.
One reason I write is to help change how people see what yoga is. You might not get on a mat and do poses, Leslie, but practicing deep listening, becoming more aware of your surroundings, spending time in nature, and planting your feet firmly on the ground—these are all parts of my definition of yoga, which includes many aspects. In that way, you're an advanced yogi. Your thoughtful response even inspired a new essay!
And yes! That same grief definitely influences the overwhelm I feel and the desire to isolate.
I've started paying attention to James Talarico, a young Christian Democratic Texas State Representative. He's articulate and bold, speaking about the dangers of Christian Nationalism. He also mentions his grandfather, who didn't go to church, and whose idea of God is G.O.D. Great Out Doors. I love that.
Thanks you Paulette, that will be an interesting essay! Wonderful perspective. I’ll check him out. “Great Out Doors”—that was my Dad too.
I'll be interested in what you think, Leslie.
I love the concept of insulating - thank you for introducing that! I am comfortable in isolation, but it is something I had to learn. Silences were intolerable for decades until I decided to make peace with it and embrace it. There was a point before I moved to NYC in which I questioned if I was too comfortable being alone - even for an introvert. (Not an issue. 😏) At the moment, it is a heat wave that is isolating me in the comfort of air conditioning. As soon as we have a respite, I’ll be out walking and interacting with people - and I greatly look forward to that!
This is such a wonderful post, Paulette - as always!
Thanks for your thoughtful response, Cathy. It feels to me as though you are not isolating, but rather discerning and comfortable in your own skin, mind, and heart. Learning to be comfortable in silence seems like a practice or a relationship with something beyond words and the vastness of more. What a powerful place to be inside yourself and in your life. Yeah!
I love your reframing of this, Paulette - thank you!