I’ve been looking for ways to invite more peace into my life. More balance. More yin energy. More restful energy. More “ahhhhhhh” energy.

Like many of us, I’ve been going, going, going for years. And all of this doing has become a habit. It’s become the known in my life. It’s become my comfort zone.

I love what I do. I really do. I get to write, inspire, connect, and collaborate. I get to witness shifts in others. I get to be a part of seeing someone embrace their life and realize how they, too, can communicate regularly with their soul. I get to see how their lives deepen and become fun again. I also get to sleep in, choose how to spend my days, and go where my muse takes me. And I’m definitely filled with so much gratitude for all of this. Truly I am.

I just want to shift my energy a little bit. I want to slow down and nurture my spiritual foundation. I want to listen to my body and give it what it needs: to rest, to recharge, to be still. 

I want to create routine where downtime is built in and peacefulness is the norm. I want to create space where I connect with my inner voice and the divine.

It’s time. And I think that if I’m feeling this yearning, chances are someone else is, too.

So I’m going to share what I’m doing to create this peaceful, easy feeling in my life. And I hope that you’ll get in touch with your soul and make space for peace in your life as well.

Here’s what I’m doing to create this space:

1. Setting boundaries. This is a big one for me. I tend to want to please everyone, which means I say yes to things that I don’t have time for, don’t always want to do, or do want to do but don’t need to do right this moment. So I’m learning to set boundaries. I create buffers in my day. I take the first week of each month off from calls/Skype sessions in order to center myself and have space to go within. I also have at least 3-4 days each week without calls for the same reason. And I’m learning to be extra mindful of not saying yes to something right away. I’m sitting with it first and seeing how it would feel if I said yes. Does it fit into my life right now? Does it create stress and constriction or openness and excitement? I am learning to listen to my heart and go where it leads – even if it means disappointing someone else (which isn’t ever a good feeling, but it’s all part of honoring my own needs).
2. Creating a sanctuary. I am creating a peaceful home, which feels amazing. I have LED candles that all go on at the same time each night and fill my home with a warm, soothing glow. I have artwork that invokes a calming energy. I have soft, comfortable couches with blankets to snuggle up with. I turn the lighting down. I turn the phone off and the music off and the TV off, which helps me go within and simply BE.
3. Making time. I am finding that if I wanted to, I could always come up with a reason (excuse) for why I simply don’t have time to slow down. There will always be so many things to do. There will always be a million reasons why I should keep going. There will always be the same number of hours in the day that I will want to fill with creative projects. But there comes a point (now) where it’s enough. There comes a point where I have to remember that a peaceful life is the foundation of everything – a peaceful life leads me to my core, my essence. And everything flows from that space of knowing. So when I try to come up with a reason why I don’t have time to slow down, I’ll remember this and do it anyway.
4. Giving myself permission. I’ve found that there have been times when I want to make time to slow down, but I felt a little strange doing it – almost like I was slacking on the job (even though I’m my own boss). I am so used to doing and going that simply being has become uncomfortable. So giving myself permission to relax has been huge. It allows me to lie on the floor and space out or take an afternoon nap and not feel guilty or sit outside while soaking up the sun and watching the birds without thinking about what I “should” be doing. Permission is huge for me, and I’ll keep reminding myself that I deserve this rest. We all do.
5. Taking peaceful action. It’s one thing to say that I’m going to invite more peace into my life. It’s another to actually make changes and do it. Because this is so important to me, I’m making sure that each day I do something to create a more peaceful life. Whether I sit outside for a little while and soak up the sun or I sit in my living room and stare at the candles, I have made the commitment to embrace the downtime and make it a habit in my life. 

I would love to hear some of the ways you are already making space for peace in your life (or how you plan to begin making space). 

We all deserve this. We really do.

And I can’t wait for all of us to make room for it. We’ll have so much more to give others if we’re settled in and at peace in our life.

Hugs,

Jodi

Jodi Chapman is a bestselling author, an award-winning blogger, and a soulful community builder. She lives her life with love and faith in the driver’s seat, and she hopes to leave a trail of inspiration wherever she goes. She believes that we each have the ability to hear our soul’s whisper and create our best lives. She would love to connect with you!

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