• love stories
  • movement
  • portraits
  • brands
  • family
  • about
  • journal
  • say hello
  • Menu

jenna dailey photography

Minneapolis based portrait, lifestyle, wedding & elopement photographer.
  • love stories
  • movement
  • portraits
  • brands
  • family
  • about
  • journal
  • say hello

grounding with soul values

May 19, 2017

Lately, I have been ungrounded and lacking clarity in almost every area of my life. Maybe it was the latest full moon or because we’re stuck in the awkward limbo between seasons. It also might be that I’m turning 25 this summer and I’m due for my quarter-life crisis, or that I haven’t had my vision and goals top-of-mind these past few months. Most likely, it’s a mix of all the above.

Some days, I know exactly what I want—others, not so much. For me, it’s all too easy to go with the “out of sight, out of mind” adage when I’m not holding myself accountable to the vision I have so lovingly crafted – and continue to grow and nurture – for my life. In this space, I say yes to things I’d truly like to say no to. I procrastinate. I take short cuts and the easy route whenever possible. I complain and I compare. I take a passive stance on my life when I should be in the driver’s seat.

Through years of vision and goals work at lululemon and coaching sessions with Jacki Carr and Mary Beth LaRue (co-founders of Rock Your Bliss), I’ve picked up a clarity ritual to help me when I’m feeling lost, confused, un-grounded, unsure…you get the point.

I flip to a brand-spankin’-new page in my journal, grab my go-to purple PaperMate FLAIR pen, and I write down my soul values at the top: passion, creativity, curiosity, connection, and nature. These values are my compass, if you will, that will keep me heading toward my true north—always.

Then, I draw a big circle in the middle of the page. On the outside of the circle, I write all the things I don’t want in my life at that exact moment—i.e. hustling, busyness, saying yes to things I should say no to, etc.

Next, it’s time for the fun stuff. On the inside of the circle, I cultivate a thoughtful, loving list of things that I want to fill my life with—the HELL yes’s, like spending time unplugged outdoors, keeping up a daily yoga practice, and exploring way more.

Once I’m finished, I take a few minutes to reread my sparkly, fresh roadmap and let it all marinate. And just like that, BAM, clarity and grounding. It’s really that simple.

And the best apart about this ritual is that it is as fluid as I allow it to be. As I evolve, it will evolve with me as I, my circumstances, and my wants and needs change. Every time I feel like there’s a shift happening in my life, I carve out time for this exercise. Heck, when I want to create change I do it. Rather than letting it feel rigid and like I have to stick to whatever I’ve jotted down on paper, I look at is an exciting opportunity to create and live in possibility. Knowing exactly what I want and what I don’t want in my life allows me to stay focused, be creative, passionate, and authentic in all areas of my life, and to live my life on purpose.

I’d love to know – what are your soul values? And if you’ve taken the time to do this exercise, what the things you don’t want in your life right now and the things that you want to say hell yes to?

Original post found the Tiny Devotions blog.

Tags: tiny devotions, values, grounding, clarity
Prev / Next

musings


  • March 2018
    • Mar 26, 2018 permission to slow the fuck down Mar 26, 2018
  • January 2018
    • Jan 22, 2018 retreat yoself Jan 22, 2018
  • December 2017
    • Dec 28, 2017 see ya later 2017 Dec 28, 2017
  • July 2017
    • Jul 20, 2017 tattoos, timing, & trust Jul 20, 2017
    • Jul 19, 2017 quarter-centuries, gratitude switches, & clarity Jul 19, 2017
  • May 2017
    • May 19, 2017 real May 19, 2017
    • May 19, 2017 grounding with soul values May 19, 2017
    • May 9, 2017 building blocks & self-love May 9, 2017
  • April 2017
    • Apr 25, 2017 trust the process Apr 25, 2017
    • Apr 25, 2017 busy part I Apr 25, 2017
  • March 2017
    • Mar 6, 2017 oh, my raging ego Mar 6, 2017
  • February 2017
    • Feb 4, 2017 the art of non-attachment Feb 4, 2017
  • December 2016
    • Dec 22, 2016 new year, same me Dec 22, 2016
  • November 2016
    • Nov 22, 2016 permission to be messy Nov 22, 2016
  • October 2016
    • Oct 4, 2016 the sweet spot Oct 4, 2016
  • September 2016
    • Sep 18, 2016 there's no place like home Sep 18, 2016
  • July 2016
    • Jul 24, 2016 100 things Jul 24, 2016
  • March 2016
    • Mar 24, 2016 why i do what i do Mar 24, 2016
    • Mar 2, 2016 february reflection, march intentions Mar 2, 2016
  • February 2016
    • Feb 27, 2016 lean in and learn to love whatever rises Feb 27, 2016
    • Feb 9, 2016 why i really wanderlust Feb 9, 2016
  • December 2015
    • Dec 1, 2015 the power of saying no Dec 1, 2015
  • November 2015
    • Nov 26, 2015 why i choose to live in possibility Nov 26, 2015
    • Nov 24, 2015 be kind, always. (please) Nov 24, 2015
    • Nov 13, 2015 ego part II Nov 13, 2015
    • Nov 9, 2015 the yoga hustle Nov 9, 2015
    • Nov 4, 2015 real Nov 4, 2015
  • October 2015
    • Oct 30, 2015 aparigraha, among other things Oct 30, 2015
    • Oct 20, 2015 learning to take my yoga off the mat Oct 20, 2015
    • Oct 16, 2015 what is yoga to me, and why do I practice? Oct 16, 2015
    • Oct 7, 2015 courage, my dear heart Oct 7, 2015
  • September 2015
    • Sep 29, 2015 the inbetween, and beyond Sep 29, 2015
  • August 2015
    • Aug 23, 2015 oh, the people you'll meet Aug 23, 2015
    • Aug 15, 2015 why living in a mountain town was my best life choice yet Aug 15, 2015
    • Aug 7, 2015 ego Aug 7, 2015
    • Aug 5, 2015 about that comfort zone Aug 5, 2015
  • July 2015
    • Jul 24, 2015 twenty three Jul 24, 2015
    • Jul 22, 2015 feeling all the feels Jul 22, 2015
    • Jul 22, 2015 the unplug drug Jul 22, 2015
  • June 2015
    • Jun 6, 2015 what aspen has taught me about loving my life Jun 6, 2015
    • Jun 6, 2015 always coming back home to you Jun 6, 2015
  • February 2015
    • Feb 27, 2015 practice Feb 27, 2015
    • Feb 23, 2015 intent Feb 23, 2015
    • Feb 4, 2015 fearless Feb 4, 2015
    • Feb 4, 2015 love love Feb 4, 2015
  • January 2015
    • Jan 17, 2015 just let go Jan 17, 2015
    • Jan 16, 2015 new perspective Jan 16, 2015
    • Jan 11, 2015 come alive Jan 11, 2015
    • Jan 6, 2015 humility Jan 6, 2015
    • Jan 2, 2015 a year in reflection: 2014 Jan 2, 2015
  • November 2014
    • Nov 9, 2014 that full moon though Nov 9, 2014
  • October 2014
    • Oct 19, 2014 anywhere but here Oct 19, 2014
    • Oct 6, 2014 self love Oct 6, 2014
  • September 2014
    • Sep 26, 2014 get lost Sep 26, 2014
    • Sep 24, 2014 choose to see the good stuff Sep 24, 2014
    • Sep 17, 2014 week 1 Sep 17, 2014
    • Sep 3, 2014 c u l8r Sep 3, 2014
  • August 2014
    • Aug 11, 2014 #goalcrush Aug 11, 2014
    • Aug 3, 2014 take a f*cking chance Aug 3, 2014
  • July 2014
    • Jul 31, 2014 no regrets Jul 31, 2014
    • Jul 20, 2014 cheers to 22 years Jul 20, 2014