Hello Creative Love Bug,

I hope this message finds you well.

I’ve been leaning into cultivating self-compassion for myself for weeks on end, and it’s not always easy. When the compassion pours out of my heart, onto others, and especially while mothering a child and home educating full-time, there’s often not enough of that energy left, unless I intentionally make space for it. The last two years has rattled my core into fleeting moments of chaos, then surrender, then to “Oh my gosh, where did all of my brain cells (and self-compassion) go??”

Every ounce of my energy is focused on keeping my daughter healthy and happy, all the while holding the emotional space that comes with parenting a young, inquisitive, energetic, growing child. And, as homeschoolers (yes, we socialize plenty), I’m extremely grateful for the support of the mothers and families that I have connected over the past two years in our homeschooling community.

The biggest lesson, and the reason why I’m sharing all of this: If you feel like your drowning, lost, or feeling emotionally drained, you’re not alone.

Aside from parenting and finding pockets of self-care time, I’ve had to step away from social media for my own well-being. On my 20th Anniversary, I intentionally took all social media apps off of my phone and practiced the art of being present…for my husband, for my daughter, and especially for myself.

Because I’d spent the past two years hastily scrolling through social media for updates and watching the polarization of the world unfold before my eyes, my nervous system had been shot, and I’ve been dealing with an assortment of health issues, going to treatment after treatment, because of anxiety and stress. (Have you seen the documentary The Social Dilemma?) Eye-opening.

I had decided enough is enough.

I’m at the 60-day mark of a digital cleanse, and it’s been a breath of fresh air. There are some aspects of social that I miss, and I’ll most likely go back at some point. But WOW. I’ve got my own mind back again. It’s truly liberating and grounding, and the neurological pathways in my brain are getting an upgrade of sorts.

I’m sharing this because if you have been struggling emotionally these past two years (who isn’t?), I want to let you know you’re not alone. The biggest issue I’ve witnessed and experienced (online), is the division that these last two years have brought between people, family, friends, loved-ones, co-workers, strangers, every single human being in the digital world.

Interestingly, I’ve notice a different set of behaviors amongst the humans in-person: I’ve witnessed and experienced people behaving respectfully and lovingly toward one another, despite what is being witnessed on social media.

I keep asking myself, “Where can I find the wisdom in all of this?”

And so for the last two months, I’ve retreated from social media. Took a few trips with the family. I’ve been painting, surfing, and dancing, and journaling (check out this soul-soothing journal, Ignite Your Magic by my dear business colleague and self-care queen, Elena Lipson).

I’ve been simply taking care of my well-being.

My hope in sharing this is that it inspires you to continue to smile and nod and send loving, healing energy to those you see in person. And of course, squeezing in some hugs where you can find them.

More than ever, it’s important to remember that we are always in relationship with one another. We are all connected through energy/source, no matter what views we hold in our eyes or beliefs that we hold in our hearts. If you’re wondering what I was scribbling on the canvas, you’ll find some of the intentions I had infused in my canvas below:

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The Four Immeasurables:

May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.

May all beings be free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow.

May all beings never be separated from the sacred happiness, which is sorrowless.

May all beings live in equanimity, without attachment for those we hold close or aversion for those we hold at a distance, and live believing in the equality of all that lives.

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I hope you enjoy the time lapse video. In this video, I joined Whitney Freya and our team of Creatively Fit Coaches and the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) in a scientific study of how transformative practices influence interconnectedness, well-being, and intuition.

Tara is known as the Goddess of Compassion and Protection and we studied the transformational aspects of Tara at the canvas. Participants in this special 22 Day Tara Painting Meditation Challenge helped IONS Discovery Lab change how we understand human potential, how we understand the nature of reality, and who we are as humans in this interconnected reality.

Although this study has ended, you could still CLICK HERE to participate in the 22 Day TARA Painting Meditation Challenge at your own pace. Be sure to tell Whitney that I sent you! She’ll be thrilled to have you. And if you have any questions for me about this painting experience, please feel free to ask.

Sending lots of love (and compassion) to you! xoxo

-Desi

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