Creating Safety

The other day I was walking the boys and was reminded of a story one of my teachers tells. It’s the Story of Shiva and Parvati and the Tilli forest.

The forest represents complacency. My teacher once compared the Tilli forest to a cul-de-sac in CT – ouch! Is my neighborhood a symbol of complacency? I think not….

Walking with the boys we have beautiful trees and safe sidewalks. I know many of my neighbors and all the children know my boys (and usually want to pet them!). To me, my neighborhood represents safety. 

Safety to walk around, safety to be who I am, safety that, even if the boys don’t behave perfectly, they will be forgiven. We’ve built up a lot of goodwill in the neighborhood, so, if they misbehave occasionally, it’s OK. 

Safety. How important is safety to you? What are you doing for yourself to create safety?

I walk a lot, try to sleep a lot and rest when I need to so my brain feels taken care of. I tell my family I love them and my friends I appreciate them, so I feel connected. I meditate and do yoga to give my body and mind a chance to release the “to-do” list and connect. I eat well to give my brain the building blocks it needs to function.

Have you thought about creating safety for yourself BEFORE you get to the “to-do” list?

In our lives, we are constantly bombarded with information and: “shoulds” “needs” and “musts” – your brain can feel like, “I’m not enough” or “I’m not doing it right”  – leaving you feeling unsafe and vulnerable. 

But you can combat this – yes with thoughts, but also with actions. Actions that support a healthy brain and healthy body. How are you keeping yourself safe? I’d love to hear your thoughts and practices and add a few suggestions. Book a call if you are interested.