Filling your cup

What do I mean by that, well here is how I think of my cup. If my cup is full I can give to others, teach my classes, do all the things I need to do in each and every day. A few weeks ago it was mentioned to me by my friend Diane that I needed to make sure that I didn't empty my cup all the way and then have to work so hard to fill it back up. A better balance. So filling that cup up are the things I need to do to care for myself to keep my cup full, my energy balanced and gives me the go power to keep doing all that I want to do.

In my classes I see mostly women, mid-life and many are working, caring for families and maybe even caring for parents as well. They ask a lot of themselves on a daily basis and don't always make the time to care for themselves and keep their cup filled up. My yoga classes can do that for many of them and nothing makes me feel more joy around teaching than seeing those faces walk out the door at the end of one of my classes with a big smile and a spring in their step that wasn't there when they walked through the door. I start every class the same way so that they know just what to expect and it becomes the trigger for them to let go of their day and draw their focus inside, surrendering everything else but what is there in that moment.

Keeping that cup full can take time and thought around just what it is that will do that for you and more than likely it will be a mixture of things. Asking yourself on a daily basis, what could I do that would bring me some joy, peace and relaxation is the start of learning just what it is in each moment that can fill up your cup. Start small, those small things add up to the bigger whole. This should be about what brings a smile to your face and releases your shoulders down your spine and gives you the room to sigh in a good way. It can be as simple as enjoying your breakfast in the quiet before everyone else gets up, reading a good book or magazine, taking a walk outside, getting a massage, spending the day in your jammie's reading or sleeping. The point is that you take the time to move outside the "shoulds" or the "responsibilities" of your day and listen to your deep heart. Listening to that deepest part of your heart will tell you everything you need to know and allow that light that resides down in the deepest part of your heart to slowly move outward. This is the true essence of who you are.

Have you taken the time to really sit with yourself and ask, "What do I need in this moment to fill my cup/bring a smile to my face/lighten my heart?". Does that question bring panic or unease? Are you not able to come up with more than one thing? When was the last time you truly spent time listening to your heart and acting without any guilt? I know how hard these simple questions can be but the answers can be so wonderful and staying in touch with those things that fill your cup can change your life in small ways every single day. I am giving you permission to throw out the word "SHOULD" and listen to your heart for the "GOOD". Fill up YOUR cup and if a little sloshes over the side, just remember to smile and that could help fill up someone else's cup.

Namaste,
Sherry