Expanding Your Human Experience

What I’ve realized is that I am either expanding in my life or shrinking from it.

At times, I am engaging with people, creating new thoughts and actions, generating new ideas for projects and seeking new experiences.

At other times, I am in a resting or re-setting phase. That’s when I am regenerating from focused projects or recuperating from a big event that required my undivided attention and energy; I’m on hold.

What I know is that we are either in growth or repair. In the 1980s, one of my mentors said “If you’re green you grow, if you are ripe you rot.” That being said, I’m conscious as to how long I am on hold.

Lastly, there may be a retraction phase. This occurs when I am pulling back, disengaging, shrinking and removing myself from experiences. I have had times in this area, like when I had some serious injuries and life events. I wanted to stay at home and shrink, become invisible. This could also be called a contraction phase.

So, what phase or stage are you in? In what areas of your life are you in expansion, in a holding pattern or contracting? Since we have many facets to our lives, it is important to look at them and seek clarity one at a time.

Let’s take the next step and review your life now. Areas to review can include: personal growth, spirituality, nature, fitness, nutrition, relationships, intimacy, job, community involvement, etc. Look at each area today and give yourself a…

“+” for the areas you see and feel yourself growing, developing or connecting with, areas you are putting energy into.

“N” for neutral. You are not seeing any growth in this area yet it’s not really diminishing (yet), not actively putting energy into.

“-” for the areas you are shying away from, disengaging, have lost ground with…avoiding.

It might look something like this chart

personal growth          +
spirituality                    +
time in nature              N
strength                       –
stamina                       +
flexibility                      –
nutrition                       +
hydration                     N
sleep                            –
time for self                 +
meditation                   +
relationships                N
intimacy                      +

Next week we’ll look at how we can jump start forward momentum in those areas noted as on hold or are currently contracting.