Things Are Going To Get Better

My healing resolutions for 2019

This is my response to the Natural Medicine New Year Healing Resolution challenge.

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I’ve been thinking about this for a week or so, especially as I considered the Year of the Earth Pig information as it would apply to my own life.

In my previous post reflecting on last year I shared how the previous year was all around making changes in my life by pulling back from the hustle I’d found myself in ever since beginning my practice as a professional TCM practitioner and teacher of Tai Chi & Qigong.

While right now I’m feeling like I’ve recovered a lot of the lost energy from near-burnout, I know I’m still not quite back to my normal levels. So for the most part I know I need to consolidate my recovery and continue to keep conserving my Qì and Jīng (Vitality).

This is consistent with the theme of Earth-Pig. The question is, how will I do this?

Take it easy

The key thing for me to watch out will be getting over-excited and getting involved in too many things, filling up my schedule with activities, and being too yàng. This was a mistake I made for many years.

I need lots of ‘me time’ — that is, time to spend with myself. Once I make time for my work, and time with my family, there’s not much more time to fill up with workshops, courses, etc. I need to allow time for rest and quiet time.

This also includes not taking up too much time ‘in contemplation’. This is still a ‘doing’ activity... and what I need is more time ‘being’.

Eat at home

Last year, I deliberately threw out the window all rules and guidelines I normally followed for my diet.

I ate pizza, hamburgers, and all manner of junk food. Due to my odd work hours, I was buying food from Service Stations and eating late at night.

While I wouldn’t (and won’t) bam myself from eating these types of foods, I certainly need to get back into a usual pattern of eating everything in moderation. The big healing shift for me will be getting back into home-cooked meals.

Luckily, my new work schedule means that will be a reality. This means also more simple meals like steamed vegetables — something I genuinely love. Sprinkle some extra virgin olive oil and a bit of balsamic vinegar with some salt and pepper... YUM!

I also recently brought a wok home, which means more stir-fry veg, another favourite of mine!!

By focusing on what I put into my digestive system, I’ll be helping my body produce more Qì and Blood.

You gotta move

Last year I also intentionally stopped all my embodiment practices. Prior to that I was doing some intense alchemical Qigong practices, as well as a traditional tantric yoga form.

These practices are about moving and transforming energy, and are relatively yàng in nature.

What I need now is something that will actually cultivate Qì and give me the movement and stretching of my limbs and the opening of my channels. Tai Chi is perfect for this, and was always something I prescribed to my CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) patients.

In keeping with my low-activity resolution, attending classes for movement is just not going to be practical, and will bring about more stress and anxiety which I need to avoid. So it’s a case of working with the tools I already have at hand. I’ve had a practice of Tai Chi for 19 years... seems perfect!

More fun

I was a hermit last year (well, a mountain wolf at least). While this year is about embodying the monastic pig (see the Year of the Earth Pig article), it means being supported by my community.

Laughter is a great medicine, so this year is about hanging out with my favourite people in gentle, nurturing environments.

Certainly seeing some live music is part of that, but then so is staying at home playing board games, or hosting friends for dinner. What I need is quality time, not quantity time.

I’m also going to ensure that I’m spending quality time with quality people.

A Japanese dream

Most importantly, and what I’m very excited about, is our family trip to Japan in April.

My partner practices Kyudo (Japanese Zen Archery), and she’s heading over for grading; so we’re all going and gonna see a part of the world I’ve not seen before.

I haven’t been overseas since 2002, so I’m really excited!!!! Expect lots of posts from me when I’m there... 😉

So that’s my plan for 2019.

I’m looking forward to reading more about what other people are planning for their own healing over the year.

Take care, y’all!
😊🙏🏽☯️

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