Sanctuary is Closer than You Think

Sanctuary. It brings to mind beauty, serenity, a perfect place of relaxation and calm.

It also feels like a luxury we just can’t afford on any given day. There is so much to be done – get ready for work, get others ready for work or school, feed the pets, attend the meetings, run the errands, pay the bills, attend more meetings, make dinner, find the lost keys or papers or something you can’t even remember you were searching for.

Finding sanctuary among all of the distractions and must dos and should dos just seems like an unachievable ask. So how do you find it? You don’t. It’s not a place.

In Soul Coaching(R), we learn “the soul loves the truth.” This is more than a mantra; it is a universal truth. Undeniable and transformative. It means that no matter what is going on in your world, at the center of it all your soul is yearning for you to remember that you are more – more than the thoughts, the emotions, the beliefs and the material things we crave.

We also learn the importance of asking questions, but not just any questions. For instance, “why” is a question laden with judgment. “How” questions, though, these create breakthroughs of understanding, awareness and action. A simple question of “how are you,” when answered honestly and without self-judgment, can lead to epiphanies.

So back to our question of finding sanctuary. We can create the most beautiful retreat in nature or in our homes, but if our state of being remains chaotic or distressed or ignored, we won’t find the sanctuary we seek.

Instead, ask yourself that simple question: “How am I?” Before you answer the typical “fine” or “good” or even “feeling like crap,” ground yourself. Take a breath, imagine your feet connecting with the earth, allow the sun to warm your skin, whatever you do to connect with your own inner guidance, gut, or soul. Then answer. The truth within that answer will define your sanctuary.

If your answer is “I’m angry,” first feel that anger throughout your whole body. Is there a place in your body that feels like it could be the source? Listen to that part of your body. Ask the question “how do I release the anger?”

If your answer is “I’m sad,” feel it, without judgment, and consider “where does this come from?” It may be seemingly tied to something unrelated to anything you were experiencing in the moment.

If your answer is “I’m content,” go into that feeling, accept where you are; even if it seems you shouldn’t feel that way because of all the things going on in your world. The soul loves the truth.

Once you accept where you are in the moment, you can create your path to sanctuary; your path to a place within that is peaceful, relaxing, even rejuvenating. It may be a release, an understanding or just recognition of what is. And like any skill, it will take practice, but that’s how you find your sanctuary.