It’s been a while since I’ve written my blog and I’ve missed it! I hope you have too and I’m sending you a warm welcome back. As we know the word wellbeing embraces many aspects of our human experience, and can be subjective, as it can also depend on what is important to you. One aspect of my life that is really important to me is my spiritual life and my faith in God. It’s at the centre of who I am and it’s there that I find my true identity in this often confusing world that we now live in. I decided that the beginning of Lent was a good time to revisit my wellbeing blog, and for us to share our journey on the weeks leading up to Easter.

Of course I know that some folk who may read this may not have a faith in God and spirituality is expressed through other ways. Regardless of your personal beliefs, I respect you as a precious one and still feel that 6 weeks to reflect and possibly reset can bring us all some deeper meaning.

I made a decision to become a Christian when I was 23yrs of age ( 35yrs ago) and believe me my life has not been a bed of roses but despite my challenges my faith in God and my love for Him has only deepened. I can’t say in that time that I have personally adhered to an annual observance of lent in such a way that it has caused me too much discomfort. It is an incredibly meaningful time however for Christians and it can often depend on which expression of God’s church that you attend to how Lent is practised. Orthodox Christians such as Anglican’s and Catholics view this as a solemn time and often fast or abstain from something. They may replace meals with more prayer and Bible reading as they seek to prepare themselves for remembering the death and then resurrected life of Jesus during Easter. Often individuals will choose to give something up for lent (chocolate, alcohol, an addictive TV programme etc). They are aware that they may have a somewhat unhealthy relationship with it and it’s not particularly good for them. They can often feel quite disappointed with themselves that they have such a seeming lack of discipline. Can we agree to leave shame, guilt & disappointment in ourselves at the door?

Lent is a meaningful period of time and like most things in life, things often only have the meaning that we as individuals choose to give them. So, I would like to ask you to choose to be open to the possibility that this next 6 weeks can have some deeper meaning for you. Regardless of your personal beliefs or faith. I’m not asking you to become a Christian. I’m simply asking you to have open ears, open eyes and an open heart to what might rise up for you when you intentionally pause!! Remain curious! Try to resist the

“I already know this” or “I’ve heard this before”

type of internal narrative. As soon as you let that in you close the possibility of growth and the discovery of what your heart could be saying and needing in this moment. So, how are we going to do this? We’re going to look at the word L.E.N.T and I’ve developed this acronym:

• L isten
• E nter
• N otice
• T rust

We’ll talk more about this as the weeks go by. But to start you off consider taking some time each day for solitude & silence. Look at each day and decide on a time when you can choose to pause and listen. Listen to what your heart is telling you. Listen to your thoughts and try not to attach any intense emotions to the thoughts, just notice what you’re thinking. Your thoughts are NOT you!!

Consider investing in a new journal or art pad and have that by your side ready, so when you listen & notice you can reflectively journal what is rising up for you or express it through art. Honour it! Be interested in what you are thinking and feeling and honour that. Do not judge yourself. Be kind to yourself!

Decide to enter into that space of self reflection with a view to grow and find deeper meaning. Imagine your inner life as a garden. This next 6 weeks is your opportunity to tend to that garden and help it to flourish. To dig out the weeds that strangle your inner beauty and entangle your deeper purpose & dreams with irrelevant, superficial and toxic garbage. Your inner garden is suffocating and the flowers that want to flourish simply can’t unless you choose to have the courage to enter silence & solitude, listen to what your heart has to say, notice how you think and feel and then trust. Trust in yourself ~ trust in those who love and care for you ~ trust that maybe there is a God and He knows and loves YOU! I’d love to hear from you and what you’re discovering. See you next Wednesday,

love & blessings, Samantha