The Magic of a Personal Retreat

"We hear voices in solitude we never hear in the hurry and turmoil of life; we receive counsels and comforts we get under no other condition." --Amelia Barr

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/pixhook

My goal for today is to inspire you to take a personal retreat!  Your first objection might be that you can't take the time for a retreat.  When I go for 4 nights, I come back with ideas that actually save me time in the long run. Really!

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There's no one right way to do this, but I'll show you how I conduct my own personal retreats.  As you read, notice the things that would work best for you...and the parts of my retreats that don't appeal to you.

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Imagine this as a virtual tour of what a personal retreat can be.  Then jot down  what you'd love to include in your retreat plans, and imagine a virtual tour of your ideal retreat experience!

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I've been very fortunate to find a retreat center in Reading, PA, that has very reasonable rates and is just 30 minutes from my home.  If you live in the Mid-Atlantic States here in the US, you're welcome to email me for more details about this particular center at scleaver@dejazzd.com.

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I began a ritual of going on retreats regularly back in September, 2011, when one of my health care professionals warned me that I was headed for burn-out if something didn't change soon.

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I had been under prolonged stress due to a family crisis, and it was wearing down my physical and emotional health.  (You don't have to wait for a crisis...regular retreats now will help you deal with obstacles and ups and downs that may confront you later.)

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O.K., on to the juicy stuff!

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photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Tina Lorien

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My intuition waits patiently for me to reach a relaxed and quiet state, even if it takes days.  Then I find ideas and solutions raining down onto the pages of my journal! 

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photo (c) iStockphoto.com/4FR

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 When I go on a personal retreat, I don't take "input" materials with me, such as books for example.  Here's what I do take, along with my clothes, toothbrush, etc.:

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~my camera

~items to make a small altar in my room

~my sketch pad and pencils

~sea salt and a basin for relaxing foot soaks

~my journal and pens

~snacks

~three beautiful scarves to decorate my room

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And that is it!  I don't take anything else to read, listen to, or do.  It's very important that I make my environment different from home.

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I love my home, but if I brought along the things I usually get input from at home, my habits of thought would stay almost the same, and I'd lose much of the benefit of the retreat.  My mind would be too full and noisy to hear the nuggets of wisdom being revealed to me! 

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"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." --Martin Luther King, Jr.

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 The grounds around the retreat house are also very conducive to contemplation and relaxation.  Each room has a large window with a comfy chair strategically placed for enjoying the view.

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I get just enough socialization at mealtimes and from exchanging a few words with the others I may pass in the hall or outside.

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So, that sums up what works best for me during a personal retreat.

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photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Igor Demchenkov

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But everyone is different, of course.  Please click "Comments" below and let my other readers and me know what has worked for you. 


If you haven't tried a personal retreat yet, please comment on what you imagine would work for you.  That will help you to gain clarity and motivation, and it will inspire the rest of us!

"Awareness, in and of itself, is curative."  --Robert Marrone

Thanks, 

Susan

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are (c) Susan Cleaver.***

***Member of TriCounty Community Network at www.tcnetwork.org***

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/CGinspiration

LOCAL EVENTS

Healthy Lifestyles EXPO, April 20, 2012, 9:30 to 1:30, in Pottstown, PA

Call 610-326-9563 to learn more!

  

 World Labyrinth Day: Walk as One, at 1:00 ~ May 5, 2012

  Sally Martin, Facilitator ~ Pottstown, PA 

 email Susan at scleaver@dejazzd.com for details.

SPECIAL OFFERS ~ GLOBAL

I'm currently offering special pricing of 25% off all my services, including coaching by phone.  This pricing is subject to change after June 30, 2012.

Also, I'm currently waiving the fee on all initial exploratory sessions!  This gives both of us the opportunity to test-drive a possible coaching partnership with no further obligation.  This complementary session offer is subject to change after September 21, 2012.  To set up an appointment, email me at  scleaver@dejazzd.com.

A WORD TO THE WISE

"Dr. Amen's ANT's" has been on my top-ten most popular post list for quite a while.  Check it out by going to November 17, 2008, in the archives. 

You may be familiar with some of Dr. Amen's work. He has about four books published.  He's been on a few PBS special programs in his role as an expert on the relationship between the brain and behavior.

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