Welcome to this week’s issue of Weekly Wellness Wisdom! 

What’s New from Centered Living

This fall I’m offering a complimentary wellness teleclass to introduce you to the concept of Authentic Wellness.  Have you participated in a teleclass?  If so, you know this is a fun and convenient way to connect to folks all over the globe!  If you haven’t tried a teleclass, this is the perfect introduction. 

Simply send a blank email to lori.boothroyd-273698@autocontactor.com (you don’t need to fill in any details) and your interest in this Teleclass will be registered!  There is no cost and absolutely no obligations.  This is a gift from me to my readers.  Stay tuned for more details.

If you find this newsletter helpful and supportive, please share it with your friends and colleagues. Simply forward this email and invite them to subscribe.  Thank you for passing it on!  I grow through your recommendation and I’m thankful for it.

Wellness Wisdom Feature Article

Renewal:  What Is It?  And Why Does It Matter?

What is Renewal?

Renewal is feeling more in harmony with our values, our spirit and a sense of authenticity.  Renewal comes in the form of calm energy, a greater sense of clarity and an awareness of the here-and-now.  There are limitless paths to reclaim a sense of renewal in our lives.  We may take only 5 minutes a day to be aware, to watch our breathing, to notice our feelings or connect with the present moment.  Sometimes an extended period of time or an activity (we commonly call this self care) cultivates renewal.  When possible, a sabbatical or retreat away from our daily routine heightens an awareness of ourselves, allows us to rest and explore what we most long for in our lives, with a sense of how we will re-prioritize and create shifts in how we live, inviting deep, sustainable change that supports authentic wellness.  It is not complicated, but is challenging to cultivate within our typically harried lifestyles. 

Why is time for renewal important?

Without a commitment to renewal, we can become increasingly disconnected from what is valued in our lives and we frequently lose sense of what is needed most to care for ourselves and charge our batteries. Over time, we may even feel a sense of loss; something is missing in our lives that can’t quite be put into words.  

Renewal before we reach burn-out helps us to regain awareness, establish priorities, jump-start a vision for our future, and share more readily with those who receive and reciprocate our gifts in relationship.  A greater sense of balance and harmony is the fundamental side-effect of renewal; it forms the core, the very center of how we live.  All other decisions and sense of wellness come from this way of Centered Living.  We slowly learn how to live in the world with deepened intention and awareness. 

Renewal is the first step toward conscious transformation in the way we care for our bodies and spirits and in how we relate to the world.  It is the gateway to your journey toward authentic wellness. 

Next week I’ll share a little about how self-responsibility and compassion is an essential component of renewal.  Until then, consider the role of renewal in your life.  How do you recharge?   What helps to keep you deeply connected to your center?  What would it take for you to prioritize renewal in your life?  What do you think would happen if you did?

Personal Reflections

If you read my newsletter last week (visit it here), you learned I was on personal retreat, something I’ve reprioritized in my life after feeling too much busy-ness within me.  I’ve taken retreats since I was a young adult and the pursuit of quiet stillness in solitude has intuitively been woven into the fabric of my life from childhood. 

The theme of my retreat was to explore the concept of renewal and specifically what role it plays in my life and work.  I made some valuable rediscoveries, wisdom I’d learned in the past but somehow lost touch with in my life travels.  The poet Rainer Maria Rilke once said “There is only one journey: Going inside yourself”.  I was reminded of that during my time in silence.  Minimizing distractions and stepping out of the everyday routine first feels uncomfortable, a little unsettling.  I made an effort to accept the discomfort and not place expectations on how I should be retreating, but to move into it gently.  Then, I fell asleep!  I was very tired, so I slept a little more than I would normally allow (which usually seems to be enough).  My mind wandered, I walked in the woods and wrote in my journal when it felt right to do so.  Nothing fancy. 

Awareness came along the way, fuzzy at first, then gaining clarity. I realized that I had some increased responsibility to take for the next turns in the path of my journey.  I know it is time I call upon my courage as I choose direction (Can you hear some good wolves howling in the background?).  

Do you know the origin of the word courage?  I just learned – It literally comes from the French word “corage”, which means heart.  Isn’t that lovely? We call upon our hearts when we are courageous in our lives and in how we express our authentic wellness.  This is the A-ha moment of my retreat…  “follow the path with heart, with courage”.  That awareness alone is deeply renewing. 

To the courageous hearts within each of you,
Lori

About Lori

Dr. Lori Boothroyd is known as the “Coaching Psychologist”. She has served her clients and students well over the years through integrating her knowledge from earninga Ph.D. in psychology, as well as her advanced training in coaching and wellness psychology. Appreciated for her warmth and down-to-earth style as much as her expertise, Lori is a dynamic speaker, author and coach. She lives in Traverse City, Michigan with her husband, Dr. Gregory Boothroyd.

For a complimentary coaching consult, to inquire about programs or to ask any questions, please email: lori@loriboothroyd.com