It’s me again and it hasn’t even been 8 months this time!

There are times when it seems as if nothing much is happening and there is nothing much to say. Things feel a bit stuck or stagnate, or the pace of life pulls in ways that are hard to explain much less talk about. Sometimes those times are hard, sometimes flat, sometimes frustratingly busy with nothing of much consequence. Sometimes they are so full of big life things that trying to wrap words around them takes more energy than you have.

And when I say “you” I totally mean “me”!

Then there are times when things are falling into place and you, I mean I, do have the words and the space. I am in one of these places now and there are some things to tell you about. The details and such are down below if you want to skip ahead and have look now.

First though I have some words about navigating those times when nothing and everything are happening at the same time. When life feels stalled and so much is happening it is hard to find yourself in the mix, much less know what to do about any of it.

After this build up this is the place where I should have something very sage like and insightful to share. Some grand piece of wisdom you can tuck in your pocket for when you are in swirly, stuck, wonky, stagnate times.

While I do have something, it is not flashy, not glittery, and most likely wont solve all the swirly and push/pulling of life as fast as you want. But I find it is as profound and helpful as it is tiny and unassuming.

Name the emotion(s) you are feeling.

That’s it. This one seemingly trivial thing will help you find yourself on the map of your life and through the circumstances you are facing. It has been shown that just by increasing our emotional vocabulary we are better able we are to meet what life throws our way. Even if you don’t know exactly what you are feeling, acknowledging you are feeling something is helpful. This isn’t about perfectly nailing down the right answer, but allowing the nuances of your experience to be identified and honored.

Are you angry? Or more precisely are you annoyed, incensed, offended, livid, or appalled? These are all expressions of shades and variations of anger, yet each has its own resonance.

Are you sad? Or are you disappointed, wistful, down, or heartbroken?

Are you afraid? Or are you uneasy, anxious, jumpy, or panicked?

Are you happy? Or are you hopeful, upbeat, glad, delighted, or blissful?

Or some combination?

Here is a little handout that can help you with your own emotional vocabulary. This is but one way of finding ways of naming emotions.

Other really good resources are poetry and stories. The poets and storytellers are masters at naming what can so often feel like the impossible nuances of human emotions. They teach us how to better recognize and understand our own. When I am emotionally lost I often seek out a good story or pick up a book of poetry. I can find myself in the thoughtful words of another’s wisdom and observations of life.

So there you have it. My simple yet profound thing that is essential for finding my though the messy, mixed up times of life. And into the richness of the smooth, tranquil times too. There is of course more to handling the complexities of life, but once I know what I am feeling I can hear the emotions themselves speak, and then I can find my next steps.

If you give it a try let me know how it goes.

Now for the things I want to tell you about!!

It has been a very long time since I've had this many offerings bubbling at the same time. In my last letter to you I told you about my course Empathy and Self-Care which started last week with a lovely group of empathic voyagers. I also have two other wonderful things in the works. If either, or maybe both strike your fancy I do hope you will join in. 

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I am creating a comforting space to touch into as the days get shorter, the nights longer, and the pace of life speeds up.

An advent of sorts for the gentle and tender during a time that is too often frazzled and hectic.

The invitation is to join me on Patreon at any tier of support and simply enjoy. Receive the comfort of little bits of soul whispering. Allow yourself to touch in and maybe feel a bit of seasonal magic.

Each day starting December 1st until December 21st I will post a little something. A moment of refection, a story, a video, I am musing and gathering bits that speak to my tender heretic heart to give to yours.