The Compass

Mary’s Rock Summit, Shenandoah National Park, VA, USA

To be in the throes of bliss is to feel alive

Charged with electricity

Grounded in comfort

Content in peace

How do we create moments to be captivated by such a state of being?

Our body is a compass that is ever due north, guiding us to that which holds real currency for ourselves. How something, how someone feels is our greatest indicator. Yet, not all of it feels good. Discomfort indicates expansion & growth whereas perpetuating pain can paralyze us.

The argument to not follow all that feels good is old, tired, & misguided. Many things feel good, but not all of them warm the seat of the soul. The feelings evoked by vices are superficial & fleeting at best. The outer layer of the self feels them, but never does it permeate below. Such things create a ripple of toxic shame & repentance and perpetuate the belief of not-enoughness . This is not soul food. This is poison.

Bliss has profound depth. It has the power & stamina to sustain. 

It’s rooted in intentionality. It exalts the soul & true self. 

It can be hard to find because we live in a world that leaves us instinct injured & anesthetized. Not only do we lose touch with our feelings, but also with knowing why we do the things we do. 

We gain back feelings from numbness with attention to intention. For whatever we do, we ask for what purpose it serves. If it’s based on ideals that are outside of us, we wither. If our intention is based outside of ourselves, we become insensible – unable to sense our feelings that inform us what is aligned and what is not aligned.

But when we reconnect with the bare bones of our intention & recognize the purpose of a thing, of an act is to feel good from the inside, out, we reclaim our sovereignty.

We decide how to rove through life in a way that corresponds to our own pace to our unique stride in our own distinctive landscape. 

Life is all about intention. Whether or not we eat food to indulge our senses or to numb discomfort  makes all the difference. Whether or not we chase love to fill a void or to enhance the life experience makes all the difference. 

We create our bliss when we intend to live in a way that feels like magic in every step and in every breath.