Slowdown Series: January 2018 Edition

Ladies and gents, I am so excited to introduce my new “Slowdown Series” here on the ol’ Susan Turvey blog. This series just feels like such a natural evolution of what I want to share with you. It’s aligned with my goal to help you feel supported, inspired, and connected.

I’m sure you guys have figured out by now that my brain is a big, beautiful, convoluted mess. I think most women’s brains have a zillion thoughts and ideas poppin’ off at any given time. So take that brain, multiply it by 1,000, and that’s my headspace at any given time. I have so many thoughts and ideas that I want to share, ALL AT ONCE. I’m passionate about so many things, how can I possibly focus?!

Intro: What Is This Slowdown Thing?

Although I feel like most people dig blog posts that follow some sort of logical thought pattern, I wanted to give myself the freedom to break away from that for one post per month. Enter the “Slowdown Series.” Because I can only keep my sporadic thoughts contained for so long. Logic and sticking to one topic just ain’t my jam. Sorry folks. If you want cut and dry “how to” posts, I am not your lady. I gotta do me.

So that being said, I’m not gonna put this Slowdown thang into any type of box. I’m just gonna share ideas, products, photos, or whatever feels inspiring to me that month. I am overflowing with beautiful flowy, ethereal feminine energy, and it doesn’t feel right to try to package it into the same container every month.

Right now, I’m envisioning publishing a Slowdown Series post on the last week of each month. A reflection on the month past, and a guidebook for the month to come. Taking stock of what worked that month, and what needs attention moving forward. This series will evolve as we do. So please hit me up with any ideas you want to explore here! This will be a fluid space to let our juicy creativity flow.

Slow Living Wins

Fostering Community

I’ve said it, and I’ll say it again: community is everything. One huge lesson I’ve learned came via Free and Native‘s thoughts on manifestation. In the Love, Alexi podcast, she shared how in order to effectively manifest what we want in life, we must surround ourselves with “expanders.” These are people who already possess the traits or things that we want. When you bring expanders into your life, they help to change the subconscious blocks that are holding you back. Because if you didn’t have blocks about a certain desire, you would already have it, right?

So for me, I’ve been surrounding myself with inspiring, entrepreneurial women who make a living doing what they love. Women who have pursued passions just like I’m pursuing this blog. Women who have been where I am and are rocking it out. They help to show me that creativity is a virtue and should be celebrated. That happiness and stability can come from pursuing what you love. That it’s ok to try things and fail. That I’m never alone, and my journey will always be supported. That women can have beautiful families, careers, and a nourishing self care practice.

Grace Over Perfection

One huge area of opportunity for me is learning to practice grace and compassion with myself. For example, with publishing this blog post. I was really pushing myself to get this published earlier in the week, but it just wasn’t in the cards. The blue-super-blood-full moon really rocked me and depleted my energy. Work was crazy with planning and running a massive legal community event. I had an emotional visit with the foster kiddos I volunteer with. Because, life.

Rather than looking at it as a series of excuses, I chose to practice grace and compassion. I’m trying the best that I can, and sometimes that means “sleeping in” until 6:30 a.m. after working until 10:00 p.m. the night before. Sometimes that means taking a slow morning and practicing reiki and snuggling with Roscoe instead of cranking out a blog post. And now that I did take the time to heal myself, creativity and ideas are flowing through me. Rather than forcing things, I’m trying to honor my natural rhythms. Your intuition knows what you need, and it’s up to you to listen.

Constant Learning

I’m very proud of my commitment to learning and growing. It’s something that comes very naturally to me, so it’s hard for me to even see it as a “win” or an asset. But I am and always have been obsessed with growing and expanding my knowledge. I thrive on taking in large amounts of knowledge and whittling it down to what’s important. I listen to podcasts every single second that I’m driving, I google like it’s my job, and I make it my mission to follow my curiosities. It feeds my soul and of course keeps my big ol’ brain challenged.

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