Retreating

 Today, many of us are overbooked, overscheduled and overstressed.  With that kind of activity level, it’s hard to hear yourself think, clear your mind, or make thoughtful decisions.  A personal retreat is a wonderful way to reconnect with yourself, nature, creative pursuits, or your spirituality.

I recently took a 24-hour retreat alone at a friend’s empty farmhouse – it was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time to gain peace and clarity in my wonderFULL life of running a business, raising a family, and following my own personal passions. I had been there before and knew it was a wonderful, soulful place to curl up. I packed a few comfortable clothes, candles, music and a journal. On the way, I bought some beautiful purple hydreangeas, easy-to-prepare healthy foods and a bottle of my favorite wine.

As I drove out into the country, I began letting go of what I left behind (family, work, and to-do lists) and thought about my intention for the overnight trip. As I often do, I had inflated expectations to walk away with all of the answers to my life and business questions. Then, I recognized the old over-achiever pattern and realized I was setting myself up for disappointment. I simply asked for clarity and direction in one specific area of my life I was contemplating. And, yes, through quiet, journaling, hiking, praying and caring for myself exquisitely, I received the answer I was seeking.

Stepping away from the everyday routine to pray, meditate, ponder, walk in nature or play with our creative muse is a wonderful way to connect with our intuition or inner voice and inspire ourselves. If you’re worried about taking the time to make this happen, I assure you these are some of my most “productive” moments – I often receive my greatest ideas on the nature trail.

Whether taking an hour, a day, a weekend or a month-long retreat, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Intention

What is your purpose for the retreat?  It can be as simple as rest and rejuvinate or as complex as making a major life or business decision. Ensure you ask yourself the most important questions to get what you need, such as “what do I need most right now?”

Environment

The environment in which you retreat should be warm and inviting and free of distractions (clutter, TV, phones, etc). A natural surrounding where you can walk or hike, or visit a nearby spring or lake, is especially nice.

Comforts

Bring along some creature comforts to make your stay extra luxurious, such as your favorite flowers, beautiful music, candles, aromatherapy and bath treats. Ensure you have some delicious and easy to prepare foods and beverages and a cozy throw or quilt.

Support

Ask others to give you this space and time, without the need to check-in regularly. My family recognizes this time as me being “off the clock”. I believe it sets a healthy example for our children (and spouses/partners) to see us taking time to be with care for ourselves. I highly suggest a solo retreat, but if you’re not comfortable alone, go with a friend and make sure you schedule significant sacred silent/alone time within the trip to get quiet and go within. 

Unplugging

We are so wired to technology - computers, phones, televisions, etc. in our daily lives. These tools can be useful, but unplugging is essential for getting in touch with our intuition, our inner wisdom. I invite you to leave these behind as you begin your journey (except a phone for emergencies only).

Journaling

Journaling is a critical part of the process to get out of your head and connect with your thoughts, feelings and inner wisdom. In journaling, you are encouraged to write from the heart, unedited and completely without judgement.

Resources:

If you’d like more structure to guide you through the process, take along a book (and your journal) on the topic/area you’d like to explore. Here are a few favorites:

Take Time for Your Life, Cheryl Richardson

Callings, Finding and Following an Authentic Life, Greg Levoy

Creating a Life Worth Living, Carol Lloyd

Finding Your Own Narth Star, Martha Beck

Soul Coaching Oracle Cards, Denise Linn  

The Woman’s Retreat Book, Jennifer Louden