Be Aware Of Using Softness To Soothe
By Jane Macnaught
Water is not usually described as soft, but today was a gloomy early morning, wind and rain pummelled the coast last night and it was calm as I walked around the lagoon this morning – and that water so velvety smooth and soft. I love the texture of water, the way it changes, with the wind, tides, moon cycles, and seasons. Like me really, I change and you do too – we are affected by our environment and the people we share our lives with, or encounter on our daily ventures.
As I continued my walk I started to think about the effect of softness versus harshness in my life. How incredible is it when you are expecting a hard or abrasive response and you receive softness. Just as I write that, I feel the hairs on my arm smooth over, relax, I am calm… join with me, take a few minutes to think about how you feel when you experience softness in your life. Try these ideas.
Soft Touch
holding a small child’s hand,
soft fabric to wear, silky cool softness,
fluffy blanket, resting on feathery soft cushions
Soft Sounds
gentle tunes softly drift in the air creating calm.
a loving soft voice, sharing caring gentle words.
the wind breezing gently through palm fronds.
Soft Smell
fragrant flowers smiling in the sunshine,
essential oils drifting from my aromatherapy diffuser,
sweet spices and fruit simmering on the stove
Soft Light
allowing the eyes to rest,
hues and tones on the north and south horizons at sunrise and sunset,
candles, dimmers, lampshades
Soft Images
I am floating away on big soft fluffy white clouds,
I am sinking my feet into warm sand – it is running through my toes
bath oil and bubbles lap the tub – softening my skin as I soak
Oh now inside I am feeling like a marshmallow.
However I use these thoughts of softness to give me restful periods throughout my day so I don’t wallow under the challenges of life. I am feeling stronger now, energized, I am thinking about encouraging others to experience softness, I think we all deserve some softness every day: it sits close to our hearts.
“Part of the journey is knowing that our softness is not our weakness but rather the very core of where our strength resides” (Unknown)
“Have a strong mind and a soft heart” (Anthony J D’Angelo)
What do you think? Do you notice softness in your life, where do you find it?
