You can do this.

This week I did everything.

In spades.

I had a photo shoot of one of our best interior design projects ever. Veranda magazine, you are going to want to see this one. I gave a client presentation for a giant package of furniture, rugs and light fixtures. I hosted a special VIP in my studio and in my home for a full sanctuary immersion experience. I organized the upcoming retreat I’m co-hosting in September. I attending a marketing event for future project connections. I negotiated family issues, directed my team and re-planted my (literal) garden.

It felt like a LOT.

It was one of those weeks where I fell into bed bleary-eyed every night and woke up wondering if I had slept.

We’ve all been there.

But yet.

It was an oddly good week.

I set out fully aware that it was going to be wild. I knew I would have to push through. But I also knew that each of the things I was coordinating was important. Each one felt necessary. And so I gathered my energy and moved through the past five days like a boss. Like a girl boss, in fact.

It’s at times like this when I see the power of sanctuary in action.

I see the resilience inside me as I flow with the events around me. I see the resolve to make things happen — inspired action! I see the effect of putting my own oxygen mask on so that I can keep a level head and show up to help the people I care about cope with their own life situations. I see that by deciding I could accomplish all of it and nurturing myself as best I could each day with an eye to my physical and mental needs, I can move mountains and make miracles.

And you know what? So can you.

So can all of us when we invest the time and effort into creating (and maintaining) a daily sanctuary practice. It’s so important. What IS a daily sanctuary practice? It’s setting aside time each day to do something to feed your soul. It’s catching up with yourself and checking in to see how your body feels. It’s investing in yourself. It doesn’t have to be long, but it has to be consistent.

And what do you do during this daily sanctuary practice?

Anything you like that fills your vessel. Things like:

• Reading something that inspires you or broadens your mind
• Journaling
• Meditating
• Praying
• Exercising
• Staring out the window lost in thought for awhile
• Creating something
• Gardening
• Cooking
• Petting your dog or cat (or bunny!)
• Taking a walk outside
• Listening to music
• Lighting a candle
• Taking a bath
• Preparing and sipping a favorite cup of tea

These are just a few ideas. It can be any activity that is nurturing to you.

This week I was asked about what does NOT fit into a daily sanctuary practice. What a great question! There are more, but here is a short list:

• Watching television
• Listening to or reading the news
• Scrolling blindly through social media

I know, I know. You might think some of these things are relaxing. And perhaps on some level they are, but they are keeping you focused outward when we’re really trying to get to an inward focus. Settling back into the essence of who you really are. THAT is a sanctuary practice.

Why is this important?

Because it’s so easy to get lost in the doing. The living. The coping. The struggling.

When what we really want is the thriving. The flourishing. The joy.

We don’t need to move mountains every single day. But when we need to, isn’t it nice to know we can make it happen and hold on to our sense of equilibrium? Oh yes it is.

Do you have a daily sanctuary practice? I’d love to hear. Share with me in the comments below. You know I’m always looking for inspiration.

With gratitude,

Lisa