If this week doesn’t call for some Self-Care, I don’t know what does.
It’s the beginning of September (but 3 days in), the beginning of a wonky week (holiday weeks are always confusing), in the middle of waiting to see how Hurricane Dorian is going to impact the East Coast (it’s changed so many times and is soooo slow).
Yep, all this uncertainty and wonkiness (is that a word? Yes! I hereby declare “wonkiness” is a proper word!)* , it’s a very good idea to pull out your favorite Self-Care Tools and stay ahead of any anxiety that may be trying to pop up. Or perhaps you’d like to try our new Self-Care Tool…
Visualization.
“Daydreaming”.
You know how reading a book or watching an engaging movie or even playing a game, takes your mind off the bad stuff swirling around in it?
Visualization can do the same thing.
And it’s not just an escape, taking your mind off the uncertainty, it’s really at the heart of any change you want to make. It can be a catalyst in making your dream a reality. Unless we can “see” a different outcome, we will stay stuck in whatever rut we’re in. We need a vision to be able to change the old and walk into the new (and walking involves just one step after another). We need to realize we do have control over our thoughts and to some extent, over our environment. Seeing yourself where you dream to be or achieving what you want to do, enables you to move toward that vision.
What is the deepest desire of your heart? What causes your heart to ache with longing and hunger? Can you find the “why” behind that desire? Perhaps it’s to right a wrong. You cannot fix the wrong done to you, but you can perhaps help others avoid being wronged in the same way. You may not be able to achieve exactly what you long for because you don’t see the whole picture yet. But often the makings of something you can do is already there; maybe something you already have can be your beginning. I think gratitude has a lot to do with achieving the dream. Being grateful for what we already have, however small, is like sowing a seed toward the big vision. Dreaming with God, meditating on the dream, will often reveal the first small step you can take to begin the journey toward fulfillment of the dream.
The Bible is full of dreams and visions. God is not opposed to dreams, or even “seeing” what is “not there”. In 2 Kings 6, Elisha prayed that the Lord would open the eyes of his servant to see the vast army of heavenly hosts that protected them. I wonder if sometimes dreams are God’s way of giving us a peek into the unseen spiritual world around us, where our dream is just waiting to be released. Joan Hunter says, “Your dreams are God’s plan.” In other words, those dreams you have are really the things God wants to achieve in and through your life. Yikes! That puts an entirely different perspective on dreams. They are not “just my dreams” and therefore not important (because that would be “selfish” of me). They are God’s plans and therefore they ARE important!
This may not be a Tool everyone embraces quickly or easily, but consider it. Maybe give it a few practice runs before you dismiss it, or relegate it to the bottom of the toolbox. And even if it does end up neglected at the bottom of the toolbox, don’t forget it completely. It may be just the right thing sometime in the near future!
What are YOUR feelings regarding “Visualization”? Is this something you already engage in? Is it something you’re looking forward to trying out? Does it feel “wrong” or “frivolous”? I’d like to know what you think. Please comment below. And thanks for reading today.
God bless you with some concrete baby steps toward your dreams this week!
*If “additionally” can be considered proper, “wonkiness” is surely proper. I have an issue with “additionally”. Personally, I don’t think it’s a proper word.
OK. End of “additionally” rant.
Pathways and Portals 
Here’s a cool chart to give you a place to start if you’re new to candles: