Embracing Lessons from My Sabbatical: Aligning Body, Mind, Spirit, and Emotions
I’ve long been fascinated by the four “classical elements,” Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. These elements represent aspects of human experiences: The Body, Mind, Spirit, and Emotions.
My love of symbolism was ignited as soon as I started to learn about poetry, archetypes, literary writing, and color theory. I remember doing a presentation in 4th grade on Japan and how different colors had very different meanings from the ones I was raised on. Red, for example, means passion, strength, authority, prosperity, and happiness in Japan, while in my culture growing up, it meant anger, promiscuity, and things associated with the Devil. As it turns out, red is my power color, and I prefer Japanese symbolism.
All this to say, I have been unpacking symbolism in various ways for as long as I can consciously remember. I consider patterns and symbols my lifeblood, an important aspect of who I am and what I came here to do.
I love teaching people about these concepts, so it’s been fun to explore the body, mind, spirit, and emotions in a new way over these past few blogs.
In this post, I’m going to bring it all together to synthesize, summarize, and reflect on the emotional symbolism and significance of my sabbatical.
Tying It All Together with the Emotions: Feelings as My Guidepost
Our emotions are the thread that weaves the body, mind, and spirit together, helping us really make sense of things in our human experience. Feelings could be compared to an internal GPS, guiding us through the landscape of life and trying to give directions—”Don’t go that way!” “You’re on the right path!” “Keep going!”
When we tune into our body's sensations, we're really listening to the physical manifestation of our emotions. Our thoughts, both conscious and subconscious, are colored by our emotional state. And our spiritual practices? They often lead us to profound emotional insights and healing.
During my sabbatical, I noticed and journaled on the following feelings:
Anxiety, fear, and nervousness
Joy, excitement, and hope
Confusion and frustration
Sorrow, sadness, grief
Pleasure, bliss, contentment, satiation
I paid great attention to why and how these feelings surfaced. I noticed how they moved through my body and where they felt stuck, stagnant, or even painful. I was curious about my thoughts, and I used each day to get to know my typical thoughts and feelings about all the circumstances around me. I did so much nourishing ritual, journaling, dancing, and processing hidden feelings and surfacing memories through shaking and light language.
By acknowledging and honoring my feelings - whether it's the frustration I felt from overworking, the peace I experienced during my sabbatical or the excitement I'm feeling now in my personal growth journey - I'm gaining a more holistic understanding of myself day by day. I've been participating in self-development, therapy, coaching, and spiritual ceremonies to various degrees since I was 15. Over the years, I've realized that emotions aren't just reactions but valuable messengers, helping us navigate the complex interplay between the physical, mental, and spiritual self.
Emotions are my internal compass, guiding me toward what truly matters in my life and showing me where I need to focus my energy for healing and growth.
I’m celebrating that I am going with the flow of how my body, mind, and spirit feel. It is sometimes just about acceptance and perspective, releasing societal judgment and norms to find what is right for us underneath. We can choose to just do what is right for us rather than conforming to other standards.
Analyzing What I Learned During My Sabbatical
The Challenge of Overworking: I realized I have a deeply ingrained habit of overworking and over-giving. This pattern is not just about productivity but also stems from a desire to please others and prove my worth.
The Power of Soul-Aligned Action: During my break, I only engaged in activities that felt truly aligned with my soul's purpose. This approach showed me how much more fulfilling and energizing it is to act from this place of authenticity.
The Need for Slowness: I gained clarity about the importance of slowing down. Our culture's obsession with speed and constant productivity doesn't align with my natural rhythms and leads me to burnout.
Recognizing My Capacity: I reflected on publishing two books in less than a year while juggling other responsibilities. This made me realize I'm capable of significant output, but it's crucial to balance this with adequate rest and self-care.
The Importance of Planning: I discovered I need to make more long-term plans. Creating a plan for my team before the sabbatical proved incredibly helpful, highlighting the value of strategic thinking and organization. I created a few more plans during my sabbatical while daydreaming about the future.
Honoring Personal Seasons: I learned to recognize and respect my own cycles of productivity and rest, understanding that these natural ebbs and flows are essential for sustainable creativity and growth.
The Impact of Fear and Shame: I noticed how fear about finances and shame about not "showing up" influenced my thoughts and actions. Recognizing these patterns is the first step in addressing them.
The Value of Positive Emotions: Moments of peace and contentment during my time off led to more expansive, creative thinking about my future. This underscored the importance of cultivating positive emotional states and making space where I’m not always overdoing. .
The ultimate clarity I gained can be summed up in a simple statement: make plans, go with the flow, don't push, and honor my seasons. This balance of structure and flexibility, of action and acceptance, feels like the key to a more sustainable and fulfilling approach to work and life.
Moving Forward: Implementing My Sabbatical Insights
I feel very privileged that I was able to take a sabbatical. It wasn't comfortable either, because the truth of where we're standing right in this present moment is financial tightness, something like I haven't experienced since I was a little kid. Now I understand the picture and why things were happening the way they were. It's because I am breaking free from this old way of being to build something new. I don't have family support, money in savings, or anything like that to fall back on. It really is about trust - trusting my partner Ike to do what they enjoy, which is being a therapist, and supporting them and honoring that. I don't want to go back to opening my private practice unless a lot of things change.
I'm privileged enough that I could pull this off, and I'm very grateful for that. Now I'm really trying to come back in with a new mindset. I can live on almost nothing, and that doesn't feel bad, but I want to give back in bigger ways. I want to have a bigger impact and help more people. I want to get my message out there, but I can't do that when I'm drained, in pain, fatigued, and just falling apart. Really honoring my energy and my needs as a person who currently has fibromyalgia manifesting in my body is important.
But again, all of this is temporary. That's the vision I'm holding. All of this is temporary, and I am letting go and releasing the pain, the overwork, the suffering - all the stories that say I'm not enough, or all the stories that say I need to do more. I'm letting it all go.
As I step back into my work and life post-sabbatical, I'm committed to honoring the lessons I've learned:
Prioritizing Soul-Aligned Work: I'm focusing on projects and tasks that truly light me up, recognizing that this energy is contagious and impactful.
Embracing Natural Growth: I'm letting go of the need to rush and allowing my business and creative projects to unfold at their natural pace.
Balancing Structure and Flow: While I'm creating more intentional plans, I'm also leaving room for flexibility and organic development.
Honoring My Energy: I'm committed to listening to my body and respecting my needs as someone managing fibromyalgia.
Cultivating Trust: I'm leaning into trust, big time! Trust in myself, in my partners, and in the process of building something new.
Redefining Success: I'm shifting my focus from financial metrics to impact, authenticity, and personal fulfillment.
These commitments aren't just far off goals I’ll never reach—they're like a new operating system I’m presently installing and getting set up in my system. By sharing this journey, I hope to inspire others to listen to their inner wisdom, honor their needs, and create a life and work that truly aligns with their soul's purpose. That’s what I’m here for.
Remember, we're all works in progress. The key is to keep growing, learning, and moving forward with compassion for ourselves and others. Here's to embracing our whole selves—body, mind, spirit, and emotions—as we navigate this beautiful, complex journey of life.
You’re a Gift!
Loving You Fiercely,
Safrianna Lughna
The Queer-Spirit Guide
Are you looking to create a little more transformation and self-discovery in your life? I'm here to support you every step of the way!
Whether you're looking for free resources or more intensive guidance, I have something for everyone. Join me for free moon ceremonies livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, dive into my Butterfly Immersion Course for a structured transformation experience, book a ReAwakening Ritual for spiritual growth, or invest in getting to know yourself on a fundamental level with my comprehensive SOUL SUGAR Program. Whatever level of support you're ready for, I'm here as your Guide and Mentor to help you embrace your wholeness and live your most authentic life. I’m ready if you are!
This month, I’m participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge and share wisdom gleaned from my sabbatical, butterfly medicine, and more. Feel free to follow along if you want to learn more about my story! #UltimateBlogChallenge https://www.ultimateblogchallenge.com/
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