Day 13: Self Reflection on Appreciation

Live in the Orange Zone - Day 13

30 Days of Self Study, Meditation and Reflection

We are on day 13 of living in the orange zone. 

We have been pruning, cutting back, moving the furniture and shifting out of patterns. Not that all of our patterns are bad, but just shifting out of patterns so that we can create growth, possibility, and transformation in our lives. 

I would like to add to that today, some self reflection. Oftentimes, one of the things we're breaking out of with breaking out of patterns is this idea of being an autopilot. I automatically do and think and say the same things, where I walk around my furniture the same, or the way I see things the same. Shaking it up a bit, now is a perfect time for me to introduce this idea of self reflection. Giving us something today for that self reflection is one word, which is appreciation. 

This is a time where we have given ourselves some silence and some listening. In that silence and listening, it allows us to let some things come up and emerge that are already there, but they get neglected or forgotten because we're so busy in the external world. I'm doing, I'm creating. I'm being. I'm always on the go. This pull back and pause, pressing the shift in our normal patterns, has created an opportunity for us to see what we truly value. 

I just love to play with words sometimes. When I started, I looked up what appreciation is in the dictionary and it said, “Appreciation: recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something. Valuing, respecting, prizing, cherishing, treasuring, admiration.” 

It's a perfect time for us to quiet ourselves, go inward and reflect on what we truly value, what we truly cherish and appreciate. Slowing things down, going inward, mixing up our old patterns, we start to, it's like a sifter and we sift through all the things we realized weren't as important, didn't matter as much that we put so much time and energy into.

What's left when we shift all, sift and shifted all out, are the nuggets of what we cherish and what is important. 

I really want to invite all of you to take a little bit of time in your journal today, in your meditation the next few days. Sit with this idea of ``what do I truly appreciate?” It could be things that you've been missing right now. You appreciate time with friends. Going to your favorite restaurant and sharing a meal with someone. It could even be the opposite. I know a lot of people are saying that they used to have to drive to work and now that they're home and have more hours, they're just spending more quality time with their family. You appreciate something that's maybe new to you right now. 

There's so much possibility in us, sitting with the things that we oftentimes are on autopilot and take for granted, to quiet ourselves and truly say, this is important to me.

This is something that is so meaningful to me. It can change the way again, that we move forward into the next chapter of our life. Letting go of those things we sifted out that weren't as appreciated, to value and bring up and spend more time with the things we do appreciate. 

Join me for this very simple self-reflection on appreciation. Allow this to make your life more rich. It grows your gratitude and it also extends out in a way that could possibly change the way we do and spend our precious time. 

As always, I welcome you to join me in another opportunity for growth.

Day 13 Inspiration
Today's inspiration comes from Anais Nin
 What are you ready to blossom and open into?

And the day came when the risk to remain in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

Click the links below to find out more:
The Orange Zone - A 30 Day Practice - YouTube Playlist

​Daily Inspirational Quotes for 30 Day Meditation

Blog Post: What is the Orange Zone?