A few years ago I reached a point of total exhaustion. I was burnt out on every level imaginable. And slowly, slowly I began the journey of healing myself on every level. I later came to discover that I had pushed myself so hard through so many stressful situations that my adrenals had becomed so fatigued they were at the point of exhaustion.
The resultant effect was that many systems of my body were affected, and I literally had nothing left in the tank, and I mean nothing. I couldn’t go for more than a couple of hours before needing a rest.
It was non-negotiable for me to make dramatic changes to my life. There were many steps to this process, but one of the healing tools which I shall focus on in this blog, was the incredible healing I gained through being out in nature. For me, being by the water was essential and I was blessed to live close to a beautiful beach in my home town of Sydney, Australia. The sand and waters became a vital part of rebuilding my life force.
Initially, I was unable to even walk on the beach and I literally just sat there, sometimes on the grassy hill looking over at the beautiful water and sometimes sitting or lying on the sand. I was scared, fear would wash over me in waves but every time I took myself to these waters something within me would shift in a more positive direction.
It was like every cell in my body was rebuilding and rejuvenating and I was being handed from the ocean the ability to trust in what was going on. I would sometimes meditate, sometimes lie down and contemplate the clouds, sometimes just be content with watching the kids running around in glee (not my own 🙂 and other times I would even sing to the water (ok only if no-one was in earshot!!).
These regular trips to the beach helped me feel a sense of grounding when everything else in my life seemed so uncertain and so unsteady. Everything as I had known it had gone, the relationship I was in, the business I had been in, my health and fitness as I had known it……….. It was all gone…………
I had to begin again and I had find something that felt stable to help me regain my footing.
And so I urge you to find that place in nature that calls to you. It doesn’t have to be the beach, it can be the mountains, it can be a lake, and quite honestly it can be sitting by the tree in your back yard. And if none of that is possible, it can be the place in nature that you take yourself in your own mind. As you connect with this place, the stress that has been lodged wihin you will begin to melt away and you will emerge with a feeling of more contentment and wellness within your being.
And while healing from burnout (in my case adrenal fatigue) is not something that necessarily happens overnight (it is definitely a process and a journey), it is so important to develop new behaviours and habits that support your healing. To heal from burnout, it really takes looking at every detail of how you live your life and make the positive changes needed for your own self-care.
I would love to hear about your own favourite places in nature and how it makes you feel.
Be kind to yourself and tell yourself today how much you love and value yourself.
Love and ease,
Lisa
