Life System Ideas For Staying Connected to Your True Self

There are some things in life that I don’t think we ever “get over.” And maybe we shouldn’t completely get over them.

Loss, grief, pain, heartache. Heavy stuff. I’m starting to think that maybe we will always carry that with us but that we have the choice to get stronger.

When we become stronger, it is less about putting the baggage down and more about building resilience and being able to carry it like it’s nothing.

For me, and what I have learned in my 20s through multiple health crises, is that building resilience and becoming stronger is directly linked to how much I am willing to do the work to put systems into my life.

People hear the word “systems,” and if you’re a creative, free-flowing person like me, you might initially balk. The word brings up rigidity and process in my head, which honestly, is not always fun or something that I lean into.

I don’t believe in rigid systems. But I do believe in having some non-negotiable things that you do for yourself. The key is that those non-negotiables get to change based on the season of life you are in.

Listen, life is messy. It’s also beautiful. And it is often both of those things at the same time. Building systems in your life that actually work for you (not the standard “write down 3 things you’re grateful for every night before bed”) is a huge part of feeling like you are flowing with life, instead of constantly swimming upstream.

And I believe that some of my systems help me stay positive in the face of craziness, uncertainty, fear and anxiety. They help me stay grounded in what I know to be true and in what I can control.

So I put together a list of some of my life systems in the hopes that they might inspire you to experiment with yours! I use the word experiment strongly. There is no one right way to do anything in life and you will have to explore what works best for you.

I think it is also important to note that I had absolutely zero systems in my life before I became chronically ill on my death bed at age 27 and was forced to reevaluate.

I say that because I don’t want you to become overwhelmed by this list. I started with one thing at a time. Once something becomes an integrated, non-negotiable part of your life that you don’t even think about anymore, it might be time to add another.

I also get that you might have a lot of responsibilities. Maybe you’re a mom or you are caring for aging parents or starting a business and have limited time (me too). So maybe you just commit to drinking enough water.

Whatever system makes sense for you right now, however small, I promise it matters. Small changes are just as valuable.

So use this list as a starting point. It is not meant to be comprehensive. Take it, leave it, add to it. This is where I am at this moment in time, but my systems have included other things at different times, such as meditation, visualization, meal prep, etc.

If I were you, I would start by asking yourself this question: What do I really need right now in my life?

Listen to the answer that your heart and your body gives you and then pick your first experiment accordingly.   

My daily non-negotiables:

• Journal in a.m. (morning pages)

• Lay on my PEMF mat

• Drink enough water (calculate how many ounces of water you need per day: Your weight in pounds/2 = water you need in ounces)

• Walk for minimum of 30 minutes

• Evening check in with myself (sometimes journaling, sometimes reading, sometimes tapping/EFT, sometimes pulling a spiritual card and praying)

My weekly non-negotiables:

• Exercise outside of walking at least 3 times

• Yoga at least 1 time

• Sunday morning check-in with my schedule the following week for both life and business

• Financial/banking audit

• Change my bed sheets

• Clean

• Laundry

• At least 1 hour of putzing time to do whatever I want to do

• Something social with friends (connection time)

My monthly non-negotiables:

• Check in with my yearly goals

• Acknowledge what went really well in the last month and what maybe did not

• Set goals for the month ahead that align with my annual goals

• Make a list of all the things I want to accomplish and how I want to feel that month (how I want to feel is the most important!).

• Some kind of personal growth (with a spiritual mentor, a therapist, a class, etc.)

• Banking reconciliation and accounting

I’m sure there are many other things I do each day, week and month that I have not written down. And to be honest, I am constantly changing things up and trying new techniques.

I should also note that I eat healthy on a daily basis. That’s a topic for a different blog, but it is something I do.

I write my systems down in my paper planner. There’s no way I would remember some of this without that thing. It’s like my Bible!

For me, the whole point of having systems like these are to feel my best physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. In other words, I desire to feel connected to my Highest Self and having some systems in place helps me stay in alignment. And of course, I can flex and change as it makes sense to do so. After all, I am the one in charge of my life and you are the one in charge of yours.

So try some ideas or think about what you most need right now that would help you stay in alignment and remain connected to yourself and to your understanding of a greater power. We are here to grow and to do so, we need to know the presence of Love.

My systems are all built to connect me to Love.

If one ever stops working for me, I won’t think twice about cutting it out. But don’t think something isn’t working just because you feel resistance to it.

Resistance might illuminate what you most need.

That’s the thing about systems: Be willing to adapt, but also keep yourself accountable. It’s not about suffering and it is also not about giving yourself an easy way out.

In other words, they do require discipline, but you should not be in misery. Get what I mean?

Find the balance of peace and growth.

What’s your first move?

Xoxo

Em