Find Your Flow Challenge – Week Four

 

At the centre of your being you have the answer;

you know who you are and you know what you want.

~ Lao Tzu

Hello, Lovelies!

Welcome to the final week of my free Find Your Flow Challenge. If you missed the beginning of our challenge you can start that here.

Last week we worked to free up our life force, giving ourselves more available energy.

This week our focus is on connecting to our inner Wise Self. Are you ready? Let’s go!

And remember, you don’t have to do all of these activities. Pick what works for you.

WEEK FOUR – CONNECTING TO YOUR WISE SELF

Let’s start by recapping what flow is all about.

Flow is a natural state that we are all capable of achieving. When we are in flow:

• we can deeply engage with tasks
• we are aligned with our authentic self and we use our talents and gifts
• we experience a sense of calm and satisfaction
• we have a natural sense of our next steps.

One of the things that facilitates flow is being able to connect into and be guided by the wisdom of our own inner Wise Self.

Your Inner Wise Self:

• has access to your accumulated wisdom and experience of this lifetime
• has access to your gut feelings and intuition
• can help you to make sound decisions based on who you are, your wants and desires, and your talents and gifts
• is the voice within that often shows itself during moments of reflection or quiet contemplation
• is a source of clarity when things seem chaotic or confusing
• reminds you to treat yourself with love, kindness, and compassion
• is patient, understanding, and knows you better than anyone else

Let’s do some activities to increase our awareness of our inner wisdom, and enhance our connection to this part of ourselves.

Activities For Week Four

1. Ways To Connect To Your Inner Wise Self

Connecting to your inner Wise Self is made easier by doing any of the following practices. Choose at least one to incorporate into the week ahead. If possible choose a couple that you can do on a regular basis.

1. Meditation: Regular meditation practice will quiet the mind, increase self-awareness, and help you access inner guidance. Check out the many free guided meditations and meditation resources here on my blog, or use your favourite app or technique.
2. Journalling: Keep a spiritual journal to record your thoughts, feelings, dreams, and insights. This can help identify patterns so you gain deeper self-understanding. I highly recommend my yearly Journeymaker’s Planner for this!
3. Nature Walks: Spend time in nature to create and strengthen a sense of connection with the world and your inner self. Pay attention to the sights, sounds, and sensations around you.
4. Breathwork: Practice mindful breathing exercises to reduce your stress, calm the mind, and become more present in the moment.
5. Visualisation: Use guided visualisations or creative imagination exercises to explore inner landscapes, meet inner guides, and seek answers to questions.
6. Exercise: Exercise is a form of moving meditation. It’s also wonderful for managing stress. If you’re an overthinker, and find it hard to meditate, try exercise. Repetitive things like swimming, rowing, running, walking or cycling can be great for this. I also include dancing in this category!
7. Gratitude Practice: Cultivate gratitude by regularly listing things you are thankful for. This can foster a sense of abundance and connection, and appreciation is a powerful way to unlock the wisdom within.
8. Yoga, Tai Chi and Qigong: Incorporate these age-old systems into your daily routine, focusing on postures, breath control, and meditation to align mind, body, and spirit.
9. Prayer: Engage in prayer or spiritual contemplation, seeking guidance, clarity, and a deeper connection with your inner self or a higher power.
10. Soulful Reading: Read spiritual books, poetry, self-help books or literature that resonates with your beliefs and encourages self-reflection.
11. Mindful Eating: Approach meals with mindfulness, savoring each bite, and connecting with the nourishing energy of your food.
12. Candle Gazing: Practice Trataka, a meditation technique involving steady gazing at a candle flame, to improve concentration and inner focus.
13. Singing or Chanting: Singing or chanting mantras, hymns, or sacred songs can elevate your spiritual awareness and promote a sense of peace.
14. Spend Time Alone: Schedule alone time for self-reflection and contemplation. This can be in nature, a quiet room, or any peaceful environment.
15. Acts of Kindness: Engage in acts of kindness and service to others to cultivate compassion and a sense of interconnectedness. It is also important to extend that kindness to yourself.
16. Dream Work: Pay attention to your dreams and keep a dream journal. Analysing dreams can provide insights into your inner world. Look for the post about dream interpretation here on my blog.
17. Labyrinth Walking: Visit a labyrinth and walk its winding path as a moving meditation, reflecting on your journey in life.
18. Artistic Expression: Express yourself through creative outlets like painting, writing, or music, allowing your inner wisdom to flow through craftwork, building, or cooking.
19. Mindful Silence: Dedicate time to simply be in silence, allowing thoughts and emotions to arise without judgment.
20. Group or Spiritual Retreats: Attend group retreats or workshops focused on spirituality and self-discovery to deepen your practice with like-minded individuals.

Remember that connecting to your inner Wise Self is a personal journey, and different practices may resonate differently with each person. It’s essential to choose activities that align with your beliefs and values and to be patient with yourself as you explore and develop your spiritual connection.

2. Tuning In To Your Own Energy

You might remember this activity from Week One. Tune in to your body several times a day. Do this by stopping, putting your hands over your heart, closing your eyes and taking three slow breaths in and out. Then ask yourself how you feel, and pay attention to your body, your thoughts, and your emotions and your energy levels. Record any information in your journal or on your device. Be investigative. Don’t judge. Have compassion for yourself. Ideal times for this activity are on awakening, a few times during the day, and just before you go to sleep.

Trust that there is wisdom within you.

These are powerful questions to ask your heart and body this week:

• What do I most need to know right now?
• What do I most need to do right now?
• Who do I most need to be right now?

3. The Powerful Pause

We are seldom able to access our Wise Self when we are rushed, pushed, stretched, stressed.

This week, if you need to make a decision, provide an answer, find a direction, or create a solution, take a moment. Put everything on pause and just sit with it.

You might only need to sit with it for the space of one or two breaths. Or you might need to give yourself an hour. Or a day.

It’s in the pause that all the magic happens. So, give yourself the gift of the ‘pause’. *Bonus points if you can take yourself somewhere quiet to let that magic happen.

4. Inner Wise Self Card Spread

Take your favourite deck of oracle or tarot cards and shuffle them well, while holding the intention that you gain insights into a problem for which you need guidance from your own inner Wise Self. Then choose five cards and place them face down in front of you from left to right. Hold your crystal in your non-writing hand or place it close beside you.

1. Turn over the first card. This card shows you What insights do I most need to know about this problem or issue? This card really helps you to see the true nature of this issue, which is sometimes far from what you first thought. Spend some time journalling about what comes up around this situation. If it feels right you can draw up to three more cards for this question.
2. Turn over the second card. This card shows you  What are the obstacles around your issue? What’s this all about? What’s stopping you, blocking you, hindering you? It could be external to you, or maybe you are the problem! Journal what comes up for you.
3. Turn over the third card. This card shows you What are the opportunities around this issue? Even problems can open doors and bring you gifts. Write down your insights and intuition about this card. Trust what comes to you and know that your wise self really wants to help you with this.
4. Turn over the fourth card. This card shows you  What is your best course of action now? Let Card Four show you what needs to be done, and then write down your insights. Choose up to three more cards for clarity if you need them here.
5. Turn over the fifth card. This card shows you What is your outcome or your learning? This is where your inner Wise Self can shine, and show you the benefits or pitfalls of a particular course of action. Write down any ideas or insights.

When you are finished, take a photo of your cards to remind you of what you learned here today, and then hold your crystal, close your eyes, give thanks for these insights, and ask the Universe for help as you seek greater joy, connection and flow in your life. Be aware of any energies or colours that come to you as you hold your stone.

5. Get More Rest

I know. really, Nicole? THIS OLD THING AGAIN?????

We already did this in Week One, right?

Still, none of us are getting enough down-time. So, yes, let’s do this one again!

Start by finding one window of 20 to 60 minutes of quiet time for yourself that is not work and where you don’t have to take care of anyone else’s needs. If you can’t get alone time at home take yourself out for a walk or a swim, go to a park or a cafe or anywhere that feels right for you. Spend this time just resting, relaxing, looking at nature, walking, swimming, sipping coffee… Stay off your devices. Let your body and mind recharge. Do this once in the next 7 days. Feel free to do more than once if that works for you.

6. Journal To Connect To Your Wise Self

Journalling is a fantastic way to reflect and go deeper, so that you can find your own answers. The prompts below are designed to help you connect to the wisdom that is already within you. These answers can help you move into flow and transform your life.

Answer any or all of these journal questions:

• • If you could tell me one thing, Wise Self, what would it be?
  • Where am I going wrong right now?
  • Where am I going right?
  • What could I be doing more of?
  • What could I be doing less of?
  • What am I missing about myself that I really need to know?
  • What am I missing about my relationships that I really need to know?
  • What am I missing about my health that I really need to know?
  • What am I missing about my career or interests that I really need to know?
  • I always do better when I…
  • The kind of work or activities that suit me best include…
  • The living environment that will support me best is…
  • One thing my soul is longing to do is…
  • The best way for me to relax is to…
  • The thing I am avoiding that I need to face is…
  • The thing I need to do, that will bring me greater flow and alignment is…
  • The important and beautiful thing I have forgotten about myself is…

Thanks for joining me on this journey towards greater flow. Feel free to drop me a note in the comments or over on Facebook and let me know how you are going. I’m cheering you on!

If you’re looking for a tool to help you manage your year well in 2024 and to make the most of your intuition, talents, gifts and dreams, I highly recommend my Journeymaker’s Planner 2024.

It’s now available from Amazon USA and AMAZON Australia. And stay tuned, because it will also be available from my Etsy store and our new in-house store in mid October.
Here are the links for purchasing from Amazon:

Amazon Australia

Amazon USA

I’ll also be running a Masterclass Webinar to help you make the most of 2024 in November, so watch out for that. It’s the kind of thing I usually only teach on retreats or for my Inner Circle. Details on that soon.

Much love, Nicole xx