Restoring hope and the soul’s well-being
Isn’t it interesting that hope comes to us often times out of our darkness not by a changed circumstance but something much more non-material? Like a whisper in our ear from someone close at hand saying take heart or feeling the wink of an unseen eye, something stirs in the memory dispelling the gloom and kindles again the good cheer of a merry heart.
Earlier this week I was writing back and forth with a friend and in course of our emails we made lists of the things that restore our souls to a sense of well being. I don’t think that I ever made the correlation between hope and a sense of well being quite so distinctly before. One of the things that came to me is that hope is so intricately tied to the contentment we choose to cultivate and that in turn is so often tied to self care and nurture. When hope is present despair, depression, and discouragement lose their hold and their impact. When we have taken time to take care of ourselves our emotional reserves are deeper, our patience, affections and tolerance for the short comings of others extended.
I was struck also when looking at our lists how few things on them involved other people (my friend and I are both introverts) or spending money. Nearly every one involves being present in a given moment and enjoying simple beauty or actively engaging in something that fosters awareness of beauty and goodness. This is an act of deliberately choosing to focus on what is good and true and beautiful rather than on what we have no power to control. It is not an effort to be blind and ignore the troubles of our world but to cultivate and emphasize the greater portion of our lives that are already good. As I write this I remember again that this is one of the ways I put Philippians 4:8 into practice. Though I typically read the Amplified version of Scripture for my meditations I find pleasure in reading this verse in The Message, which I share with you here.
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious”the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” Philippians 4:8
Here is my list of things that help me cultivate a sense of well-being:
“ Silence “ space without having interruptions or distractions
“ Quiet time that I do not have to share with others
“ Beautiful music that is strong and uplifting “ nearly always instrumental and feels old
“ A clean house with fresh flowers
“ Clean sheets on our bed
“ A clean car that smells good
“ A real night’s sleep
“ Getting a facial or massage
“ Eating organic food – literally nourishing and nurturing (I love eating apples and cheese when I am reading and Lundgren’s short grain brown rice with sunflower seeds)
“ A good shower, clean hair and fresh lotion on my skin
“ Spraying on my morning’s Chanel #5
“ Long, brisk walks by myself
“ Riding my bike
“ Anything related to the garden “ planning, organizing, reading garden books and catalogues, ordering seeds and plants, planting seedlings, weeding and especially watering the garden by hand. And of course photographing the garden!
“ Giving myself permission and space to read deeply and not feel that I have to get up to tend other tasks and obligations “ to be able to suspend myself thoroughly in another’s written train of thought and absorb the ideas
“ Reading the blogs of Malcolm Guite, Lanier’s Books, Recherché Photography and my daughter Pahtyana’s family blog “ all fabulous creators of beauty and delicious writing
“ Reading my favorite magazines: the British edition of Country Living, Victoria Magazine, Life is Beautiful, Artful Blogging and Somerset Life “ all with superb photography and lovely writing that soothes, inspires and empowers
“ Beautiful art work like that of John Waterhouse and the illustrations in beautifully done children’s books
“ Having my husband Peter read to me
“ Looking at images of England and Scotland
“ Looking at images of my granddaughter Ellyana
“ Writing
“ Working with images that support telling a story
“ Writing ˜Morning Pages’ before the day starts to clear my thoughts and heart
“ Designing things
“ Arranging flowers for the house
“ Looking at floor plans
“ Dinner with our house church “ always one of the sweetest events of my week
“ Listening to the sound of Peter walking in the house at night or to the sound of his breathing when we are sleeping “ feeling the strong, quiet presence of the Lord then
“ Reading Narnia, anything by C.S. Lewis, Lord of the Rings, George MacDonald, Madeleine L’Engle, Annie Dillard, children’s books
“ Reading Scripture, especially the Psalms and the Lord’s promises “ my bedrock & true sustenance
What is on your list of soul nurturing acts? How do you cultivate a sense of well-being and restore hope? Please share!
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Oh, I’m enjoying your blog dearest. THERE’S A BRITISH VERSION OF COUNTRY LIVING?????? Ahhggg.
Love Love Love,
Mary
I love your blog Lancia and this post strikes such a chord with me. This is a list I could have written myself, about me. Maybe slight changes eg I really love scalp massages and pedicures rather than facial. I do love a clean house and picking and arranging flowers but am ashamed to say I like a clean house best when someone else has flourished the duster and hoover. Other than cooking the only housework I actually enjoy doing, apart from cooking is washing my best porcelain tea or dinner services and cut crystal. One of my joys and comforts is placing cut crystal vases and ornaments on the window sill where they cast exquisite rainbows into the room as sunlight crosses their prisms. I call these my angels in the room made visible. In the garden I love the feel of the soil in my hands and to touch the leaves of plants and trees and bond with them…especially when a rainy day has raised those gorgeous wet earth and green scents. I love to be outside at night in summer when the garden exhales as the heat fades and the sweet due descends. Nature is very alive then, even more than in the day and I love to be out under the stars on a frosty night. I love cooking and I like to watch Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa cookery programme. I love music too, especially harp or Gregorian Chant (Dunstable’s Motets and Thos. Tallis) and those Irish girls with the haunting voices, Enya, Sinead O’Connor, Mhaire Brennan and Loreena McKennitt (Canadian/Irish).
But the thing which struck me most that you said was about needing and treasuring your own company and being alone in the Presence. I need that too and treasure my own company though I don’t get nearly enough opportunity for that with a big family who have many needs. But oh how blissful when I do – especially on a day when the sea mist whafts in and cocoons the house so that my little house and garden might be alone on a mountaintop! Bless you for sharing your beautiful and sweet thoughts Lancia.
oh and I DO love polishing my bits and pieces of old oak and elm furniture with proper old fashioned bees wax! The scent is heavenly and there is something meditative and in communion with the bees who made the honey scented wax and the warm heart of the wood. It is as though some spirit in the wood comes alive when it receives such loving care. Then to place a bowl or vase of lovely flowers in the centre of the gleaming table and some stately candles at each end, especially when family or friends are coming to dinner….well that feels so joyful and satisfying.
Gill, this is such a beautiful and eloquent response all I can offer in reply is that we are kindred kind indeed! Thank you for your lovely sharing here of your own magic way with words. Joy to you today as you cultivate beauty in your spot of the world.
You have completely enticed me! I am ready to come to your house now!!
Yes, Mary, and you will absolutely LOVE it. It puts the American one into shadows! Love you, too!