Abstain From Fear

The Art of Doing Nothing

March 15th, 2022

Resting isn’t easy for some.

It can take alot of mental space to practice doing nothing.

Especially when you feel you could be doing something “more productive”. It is important to remember that taking a rest day(s) is OKAY!

You are allowed to take time to do absolutely nothing.

Occasionally when I sit to rest, I find myself thinking about what I could be doing, or what I should do next. Most of the time the task I’m thinking of isn’t in the “resting” category.

And so the battle begins.

Should I get up and do the thing so then I can rest? Or should I attempt to ignore said thing and continue nothing. Now I’ve thought of the thing so it’s obsessive material.

Most of the time the first wins. Only now I’m stuck in a cycle, because while doing the thing I found another thing that needs to be done. Exhausting.

I get stuck in other cycles too. Cleaning up one mess and another is being made. Over and over again. Until I say to myself why even bother.

This is why doing nothing is an art. It takes practice, time to perfect, and strangely enough, discipline.

Take time for yourself today!

-Kylie
Dream Interpretation

March 10th, 2022

According to google, dream interpretation is the process of assigning meaning to one’s dreams.

My husband and I normally discuss our dreams. Especially if the dream is having lingering effects. I absolutely loathe when dreams feel so real. Waking up with strong emotions from dreams is so frustrating. Like “hello brain, calm down!” None of that was real!

There are many different scientific studies on what dreams are and when they occur. Most dreams happen in REM sleep. During this time your muscles are paralyzed so that you don’t play out your dreams. Very interesting.

When I was pregnant with my daughter I would always have a dream that involved a large, white snake. Spiritualists say dreaming of snakes is meant to be about fertility. So who knows if dreams really do mean something.

I’ve had several people in my life who had dreams that came true. That itself is also very cool.

Every time I have a vivid dream that sticks with me through the day, I always end up “googling” what it could mean. I try to be careful tho not to give myself any extra anxiety. There are many spiritual explanations on the internet too. So really a dream could mean anything or nothing! I try not to obsess over it.

Another interesting thing about dreams is that lots of people have reported having the same dreams. Common dreams that I’m familiar with are, loosing teeth, receiving or losing money, being pregnant, falling from a high place, and most annoyingly, infidelity.

There is a whole rabbit hole of dream interpretations out there!

Comment your most interesting reoccurring or common dream!

-Kylie
Meditation

March 8th, 2022

Photo Credit: Jason Randolph

A “sort-of” guide for getting the most out of your mediation while raising tiny humans.

As parents, we don’t exactly get much quiet time. Especially with active toddlers around. That can make sticking to mediation routines difficult.

Meditation, in my experience, is not a one size fits all. It can be easy to get caught up with what you think should be happening during meditation, instead of accepting your position in your journey as it is.

Here are 3 big things that help me try to stay on track with my mental status while staying at home with an active 4 year old. 🤪

1. Find small times to stay in the moment.

• Alot of meditation is becoming completely aware of what is happening inside yourself and outside of your body.

• Staying aware in a moment can be very healing. Take advantage of some of the more mundane tasks such as, washing your hands. Think to yourself, how does the water feel, how does the soap smell, wonder how any tiny bubbles are in the suds.

Small moments like this matter! Getting your brain to focus on one thing is healthy. If your mind still wanders, that’s OK too! Remember there is no “right” way to meditate or stay in the moment. It’s customizable!

2. Accept thoughts you have, and let them go!

• Try not to beat yourself up about any thoughts you have. Because they are just that, thoughts. Think about it. Who is listening to those thoughts? 🤔

• It is okay to let thoughts come in and then politely let them leave. Thinking to yourself, “Thank you for that, you can go now”.

3. If you don’t do anything else, focus on your breath!

• Breathwork is incredibly healing. Controlling your breath, listening to the sound of air entering and leaving your body can have profound effects on your mood.

• There are tons of free guided meditations all over the internet! Pick a voice you like and set a timer. There aren’t any rules about how long you should meditate.

It seems these days, in our busy lives, the small moments are something we have to take advantage of!

I hope your next meditation is what ever you felt it should be!

Disclaimer: I am not meditation coach. These are just some of the practices that have worked for me.

-Kylie

The Art of Doing Nothing

Dream Interpretation

Meditation