Sunday is my favourite day of the week, particularly now that I’ve dubbed it my day of self-centredness! Emails, to-do’s and ‘shoulds’ get crowded out by slow moving mindfulness and self-care practices. Gratitude, appreciation and random uprisings of joy seem to be at all time high on Sundays. It’s as though the stiller life becomes, the more I see and hear and feel.
I love using one whole day as a reminder to slow down and connect back in; with my body, my energy, the ocean, a good book, and beautiful conversations!
It also serves as a perfect way for me to celebrate the week past, and prepare for the upcoming one…
Looking Back. The Highlight Reel.
Tuning In
I can feel my dedication to my spiritual practice begin to pay off. And by that, I mean that more than ever, I can feel my body now as she whispers to me, and I find myself consciously responding to her, rather than stuffing her aside with more; more food, more action, more striving, more stuff.
At about 4pm on Tuesday afternoon, I jumped out of the bath, and found myself falling into bed in an exhausted heap. Okay, I hear you. Let’s have a nap. When I opened my eyes, it was 4:30am, and I leapt out of bed with ping!-like enthusiasm. A brand new day! I feel so alive! Sunrise on the beach! Oftentimes, the best thing we can do is to stop doing. Self-care peeps. It’s freaking revolutionising my life. Do try it.
Actually, speaking of tuning in, as I type this my eyes have become itchy and red, and lately I’ve been translating that as ‘Get off the computer, please Tara’. The fact that I only opened my laptop five minutes ago is beyond the point.This vehicle of mine wants some serious retreat time (which can feel a little inconvenient when there’s blog posts and eBooks to write!), so as soon as I press publish on this sucker, I’m making me a cup of tea and watering the herbs!
Self Love + Sisterhood
I wrote all about my experience at this event in this post, but I’m still swooning over it! Highlights for me included hugging some of my readers and Party Girls, catching up with new friends, sitting alongside three women who I admire the pants off of, leading a group prayer to close the night, and of course, taking all of those big ideas that I think, talk, write and coach about, and putting them into a microphone. It felt electric.
These gorgeous photos were taken by Bayleigh Vedelago.
*** See below for your chance to win two tickets to either the Sydney or Melbourne event!
Sunrise over the Ocean. Be Still My Heart.
I’ve come to notice that when something’s blowing my mind, either I don’t have my phone with me to capture it on photo, or I’m so enveloped and glued in that becoming snap-happy isn’t even an option. Which is why I’ve taken few photos of beautiful Burleigh, why I have virtually NO photos of Rach and I (regardless of the fact we see each other nearly every day), and it’s certainly the reason why there is no photographic evidence of the most beautiful sunrise I’ve ever seen.
Watching the sun creep up over the ocean as I sit on the sand has become a daily ritual for me. It reminds me of who I am. It is what abundance feels like. And sometimes, it even makes me cry (keep reading for that story)…
The Vision Wall
Alas, no mere board can contain my dreams anymore! It’s time to expand and let those visions run rampant. I encourage you to do the same. You’ll sense a feeling of growth and limitlessness, like I have.
Mandala Organic Arts Cafe
I frequent this organic cafe multiple times, weekly. Vegan satay pizza, young coconuts, new friends, a wonderful mixture of silly and intelligent conversations, and mini Oracle Card readings. What more could a girl ask for in a lunch date?!
Again, no photos. D’oh!
The Key To Yourself, by Venice Bloodworth
I’m back in the book vortex! After months of truly struggling to finish a book, I devoured this one in a couple of days, and I have to say, it’s one of the best I’ve ever read. Loosely based on the Law of Attraction, but without the BS, Venice’s voice in this book is sensational. Her language is potent, her message transparent, and I instantly resonated with almost each and every word. The last 50 pages of the book didn’t exactly light my fire (I felt as though it got a little too Law-of-Attraction-y, and a little greed-rather-than-generosity based), but apart from that, pure gold! Make your way to the Book Depository and run yourself a Rose bath. Enjoy.
How I Celebrated Self-Centred Sundays This Week.
Sunrise Chakra Medi
After 45 minutes perched in silence upon my little red cushion at the lookout that separates North Burleigh from Miami, I took a deep breath and smiled as I closed out my meditation with a silent prayer.
The second I stood to begin my ten minute walk home, I felt drops of rain on my shoulders, and within minutes, the heavens had opened, and my little red cushion and I were saturated. But rather than hurrying home, I slowed down. I looked up at the sky and laughed, which was quickly followed by a few tears.
Even after three weeks of near non-stop rain, standing there in the cold, windy wet felt right. I am awake and alive, and I am feeling this right now.
I cry in moments like this because I feel an unwavering sense of gratitude and deep fulfilment for this life we all live. I can’t describe it, it’s impossible to put into words, but I can feel it in my body.
In those moments, I think of my clients. Each and every one of them. I think to them: This is what I’m talking about. This is what I want you to feel. If I can do it, so can you…
And I really mean that.
Organic Markets
Always. Sunday ritual. Never miss a week. Wouldn’t ever want to.
Hot + Sweaty Sunshine Walks with Rach (yep, the weather here is a little bi-polar right now!)
Which was enthusiastically followed by my first Acai Bowl experience. Will not be the last, I assure you. I sense an addiction. And as is always the case when Rach and I catch up, hours flew by in a twirl of laughter and deep contemplation. I love her.
Tub Time!
Clay bath, rose essential oil and candles. The perfect environment to finish reading Key to Yourself. Baths have become a bit of an unexpected hero in my weekly routine. Hellooooo soft glowing skin and that post- dip soft sleepiness.
Crystal Healing
Sunday Study: I learnt all about sensing energies. Fas-cin-at-ing. Truly. I’m so grateful that I’ve got the time (and inclination) these days to return to my Crystal Studies, and I’m really looking forward to bringing even more crystal juju into my coaching.
And as I do every Sunday night, I closed out my week with a private White Light Healing Session at 9:30pm. Sweet dreams for me!
Looking Forward.
This week beckons creativity and learning! For me, that means diving into Week One of B-School (more than pumped for Round Two), getting one week closer to my Crystal Healing Certification (I’m actually going to be qualified in something! Haha, HOLD THE PHONE!), and writing, writing, writing, as Rach and I piece together a joint project.
Community is also a big theme this week: On Sunday, Queensland B-Schoolers unite (!), and the very same night, Susana and I host our next Night of Stillness! Join us!
I want to feel: Enlivened and Grounded. That means: lots of sleep, stillness and yoga. Lots of tea, water and greens. It means honouring my body, continually; knowing when to harness creativity and when to pull back take a breather.
I’m going to say no to: Procrastination. No more time-sucks. It’s either creativity, visioning and active dreaming, or rest and stillness.
And yes to: Opportunities to learn and grow. New clients. New books (I’ve started reading The Happiness Trap, by Russ Harris). That means operating with a child’s mind; taking in the wonder of everything as if it’s for the first time, and trust me, that isn’t difficult when you watch the sun rise over the ocean every morning!
There’s really so much to celebrate in life, so I encourage you to create your own highlights reel below. Or, perhaps you’d rather share what you want to feel and experience this coming week? Either way, let’s rejoice in the comments below!
For those in Sydney in Melbourne, tell me in the comments what Self Love means to you, and you could win 2 tickets to Self Love and Sisterhood in April.
Tickets are selling like hotcakes peeps, so grab yours here: http://earthevents.eventbrite.ie/
Seriously beautiful post Tara. You’re zest and love of life is truly infectious!
I already have my ticket for Self Love and Sisterhood in Melbourne and I absolutely cannot wait!!
Have a happy week. xx
Make sure you come up and give me a cuddle!
Try and stop me! :)
Gorgeous post Tara. This week I want to feel achievement, in making a move with my business goals, love when I finally get some time to spend with my hubby, alive when I finish a gruelling crossfit session, and I want to indulge in my creative side which has been calling out to me for too long! Xx
Good lucking feeling all of those things babe (be gentle) . x
Such a lovely post, Tara. You totally rocked it on Wednesday night, it was such a joy to hear from all of you.
I am loving the sound of self-centred Sundays, I think I’m going to have to start implementing something similar. Maybe even just a half day to start. I’m feeling that ‘push’ to fit so much in to my life, but it’s starting to crowd out precious space I need to hold for my dreaming, connecting and creativity.
Looking forward to another ANOS on Sunday!
C xx
Please do it, I dare you!
SSS is the BEST, and I promise, the more you prioritise self-care, the more life rewards you for it. Let me know how you go :)
See you on Sunday x
LOVE LOVE it all! Self love to me right now in my life means becoming aware of the negative thoughts that circle in my head, trying not to judge them, and instead acknowledge they are there, and replace them with a more positive thought. It also means resting before I’m at exhaustion, and making sure I take time to write and just be everyday – not just saying I will :) xx
Freaking love this babe. I think similarly to you. Self love is about awareness, acceptance and letting go, and self-care (to me) is the action we take to make that happen
You have a beautiful way with words :) And life xx
Oh YOU! :)
Beautiful, beautiful my darling- thank you. I love the ‘I want to feel/I’m going to say no to/yes to’ part at the end- think I might have to incorporate this into my gorgeous Sundays from now on!
Thanks Tara! x
Oh baby you are SO welcome! Anything I can do to encourage you gorgeous ladies to feel good in your Sunday skins!
Haha! I was thinking the same thing after returning home from a magical weekend. Gah, no photos! :D
Such a blessing to share presence with you my love.
Mwah!
And such a blessing to be present amongst that beautiful brain of yours babe!
Seriously, I LOVE it. I could listen to you for days!
Wow…this post is exactly what I needed right now! Work is sucking my energy and affecting my side projects!
Self love is paying attention to yourself, treating yourself with the same honour and respect as I treat others, and being calm and understanding.
Seriously, this post has made me reconsider EVERYTHING – Sundays in particular! Thank you.
Yay for RADICAL RE-CONSIDERATIONS!
:)
You’re welcome x
Love this post.
Self love to me ATM is being aware. Taking more time to rest. Caring for my body with beautiful food and living thoughts. Recognizing when I’m being to hard on myself.
I would love,love LOVE to hear you speak!! Bright blessings to you x
Bright blessings back at you babe!
Tara, this post made me tear up!! You are seriously gorgeous. xx
Oh, good! We can cry together! ;)
Love a good teary eye – God, I had so many of them today. I don’t know what the heck is happening to me, but every time I go down to the beach I have these crazy tears in my eyes. Can not even explain it.
It’s gratitude, I think. Or wonderment. Or something?
Meh. I’m just running with it.
Love you x
Self love is a hard one at the moment for me, between family, work, my new found passion in my little business I sometimes forget that for all this to work I need to really focus on my self love. I’m trying to find that and reading such beautiful blogs like yours inspires me to find it in different ways. Thank you.
You know Melissa, something I mentioned at the event of Wednesday night, is that (I believe), self love isn’t something you have to FIND. You don’t have to look for it…
What’s more important is actively and super-consciously be willing to release and let go thoughts, behaviours and patterns that aren’t in alignment with love.
That’s how I operate. When I focus on letting go, it’s NATURALLY easier for me to run myself a bath, meditate and take care of myself.
You really do come first Melissa. I know that goes against the grain of what we’ve been taught all this year, but you ARE the centre of your Universe, and if you’re humming along nicely, so’s the rest of the world (and your work, and your family).
xxx
I’m so excited for you, everything looks like it’s really working out! I LOVE your super long ‘nap’! Sometimes we just have to stop and listen to what our body is craving.
I’m 100% heartbroken that I can’t make it to your Melbourne event.. I’m on night shift that night. Just another example of my current life and current dreams being opposing forces. Seriously shattered. I know it’ll be amazing. xx
Tara,
I’m still learning about self love. I’m a work in progress and gosh it feels like it’s taking forever. But I’m learning to acknowledge the baby steps however small. A little bit of Yoga, trying to meditate (Ahhhh!) and reading inspirational blogs to teach me the good stuff and remind me I’m on the right track. Thank you for your blog. You make me smile especially when you call me sweet potato – I pretend you’re talking to me directly!!
I AM talking to you directly ! :)
So I’m convinced…I’m starting my own version – Self Centred, Social Media-free Sundays! Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it…but it is what I need my self love to be! All I do lately is work on building my business, working with clients, studying and cleaning and just doing so many things for others. Self love is finally taking a step back and saying…no. It’s about putting me first for a change. And giving me time to rejuvenate and nourish my body and soul…so I can be a better editor/student/fiance/worker/friend.
You inspire me so much Tara.
Also – super excited about the crystal certification! I am extremely interested in learning more about crystals and how to integrate them into daily life. Do you have any programs or books on this babe? x
Baby you roll out SSS and you let me and the rest of the world know how it goes!
No programs or books at the moment honey, but I definitely endeavour to blog more about them, and who knows, an eBook may be in order!
You being here inspires MEE TOO Belinda!
Thank you x
Hi there,
I love that you are watching the sunrise on the beach!!
Did you know there’s a spiritual practice called solar gazing, where you watch the sun rise and gain spiritual insights? Many ancient spiritual paths honored the sun, and it stimulates your pineal gland! How wonderful is the sun. And the beach. Mother ocean, father sky. The sun is a spiritual being of light that heals us!
Love, Ann
THAT’s what’s been going on with me lady! The sunrise pulls me in so hard. Favourite part of the day, without a doubt!
Thank you for this beautiful comment :)
Self love means being me, and no one else. It means showing up as the real, fully authentic Jia Ni – and by doing so, uplifting and raising the vibration of the whole world! It means being self-centered, as if the world revolves around me (at least mine any way). Hey, we are ALL the centre of our own Universes. That’s self-love! Huzzaahhh!!
Babe!! I’m coming to Sydney end of March to 1st week of April!!! WILL I SEE YOU? CAN WE MEET?
xxxx
YES! Oh my goodness! xx
Tara, you rock like always!
I still wonder how on earth you fit so many wonderful things in “A Day in the Life Of Tara bliss”, but god girl you inspire me so much..
Spirituality is flowing back in, and more and more without selfishness I am finding out who I am and what I am doing on this amazing planet.
Self Love to me is just that..finding the serenity to breath again.xx
Self-love … used to mean a somewhat unattainable dream and a lot of struggle. And now, so happy to say it means going within and appreciating who I am right in this moment of all my perfection and imperfection. It’s about not comparing to anyone else but celebrating, with my gorgeous posse of support and divine friends, the beauty of being just little ol’ me. Yay :-) Thanks for your gorgeous post and the gorgeous sisterhood photies x
Self Love for me is letting go of all the old stuff and being confident in finding a new identity. The ‘party girl’ in me worries about being boring or not very cool these days. My self love is about moving forward and embracing the new peaceful me!
I LOVE What you are about Tara, it’s so inspiring coming from a previous party girl much like you!
Self love means everything to me. I’ve learnt that you need to love yourself first, you need to be at peace with yourself and you need to look within to find happiness. My favourite quote is that we have one hand to help ourselves and one hand to help others. I believe that everyone should be their own best friend, treat their body with respect and love and be thankful everyday!
Dear Tara, first off I just wanted to say a big beautiful thankyou to you and your writing. I have only recently been guided to your blog but I feel as if it was just at the right time as every one of your blogs since has been enlightling and completely what a needed to hear every time. I feel so conected to your words! Thankyou! Yay! Self love to me at the moment means realising that the negative and limiting thoughts in my head are: Not True! Its so freeing! Finally! I’m also loving myself a bum load through spening an increasing amount of time in stillness (I have been feeling a greater pull towards it recently) and heading down to yoga class in the mornings while its still dark. Absolutely wonderful. I hope that I have the chance to meet you! Lots of love, Esther. :) x
Self-love to me means accepting me with all my flaws and imperfections as being splendidly me, no matter what others may think or say. I love me!
Self Love to me is taking the time to listen to and honor the inner whispering of my soul. Creating space in my life for all the awesome stuff to flow in, feeling good and walking along my path regardless of what others say/think.
Much Love xxxxxxxx
Such an amazing blog. You have made such a huge impact on my life in a short few months, and I am forever thankful. You are incredible. I am in love with and fully on board with self-centred sundays, babe. Best thing ever!
For me, self-love means learning to embrace and love who I am, being happy in my own company, never comparing myself to others, appreciating what I have and looking forward to all the amazing things to come. Forgiving myself for mistakes and learning from the lessons they gave me. Forgiving those who treated me badly, and letting go of the hurt. Taking time out for me,listening to my body and nurturing it accordingly! Living in the now and making me #1!
Woooooo… LOVE IT and love you!!! x
I love you too Jacky! And I LOVE your definition xx
Tara, once again, thankyou for such a beautiful reminder of all that you are and all I can be.
To me, self-love is being open, and vulnerable. Its speaking up. Speaking your truth. Reaching out and asking for help. Going to sleep. Saying no… Saying Yes! Based on me… Its stopping when you need to, and forgiving yourself if you never go back because it doesn’t need to be done any more.. and its starting when you’re a little scared but its the right thing to do. Its involving every cell of your person and showering her with light and gratitude. Praising the ebb and flow and knowing and trusting that its all there for good cause.
Love you so much! x x
Hayley that’s so beautiful babe x