Soulful Giving and Living

BREATHE + PAUSE + PONDER

As we approach the end of the year, before a fresh new-ish plan; we need a quiet audit of what we’re currently carrying. This meditative moment lets us discern what truly grounds us in the proper soil to cultivate grace + truth.

*Audit defined: an embodied examination free from shame, allowing compassion-tending through gratitude + grace + grief.

The Soul Cycle

The Slow Cycle: a gentle, three‑month pathway that builds on the spirit of this Year‑End Life Audit.

January – Regulation

Goal: Ground yourself in doing your life audit (in the below journaling benediction section), and being present so you have a stable foundation for the months ahead.

• Prioritize a breath‑pause: Throughout the day, I blow bubbles for my breathwork pauses between activities. (I keep bubbles everywhere around my home + in my car).
• Digital declutter: I turn off non‑essential push alerts; and I designate three times a day to be in my emails.
• Set an alarm to slow down for 1-2 body check‑in prompts: “Where does my body feel tight or relaxed right now?”

Think of this month as a winter hibernation, where you’re doing the minimum, less is the aim.

february – vision

Goal: Paint a vivid, soulful picture of where you’d like to be, then distill it into a single guiding sentence.

• Create a visual “vision board”: I create a board in Canva + print out (you can have a digital board).
• Scribble a one‑sentence vision: Example: “I’m living a rhythm that honors my creativity, health, and family connection.” Keep it visible—phone wallpaper, sticky note on your monitor.
• Share it: Tell a trusted friend, post a teaser on your blog, or send a short email to a supportive circle.

A single sentence acts like a compass: whenever you feel adrift, you can check if you’re pointing toward or away from that true North.

March – Aligned Action

Goal: Translate the vision into tiny, repeatable practices that feel natural rather than forced.

• “Idea” notebook or voice memo: 2‑minute jot of any creative thought that aligns with your vision.
• Micro‑project (once/week): Pick a 30‑minute slot to move towards a larger target for the idea you documented (e.g., order groceries for a new recipe, outline a blog post, prep for an event or a trip).
• Reflection Sunday: Ask: What did I do with ease? What felt strained? What did I ask for? Make inner + outer adjustments for the coming week’s micro‑practices accordingly.

Momentum is built on consistency, not intensity. Even a 5‑minute daily practice compounds into noticeable, incremental progress.

life audit JOURNALING BENEDICTION

SOULjourner, before we hurry headlong to envisioning our 2026, allow these questions of how you’ve lived and are currently living in 2025.

May they sit + simmer with you; there’s no need to pressure yourself in a frenzy to find answers—allow flow.

1. What is currently surviving solely because I absorb its cost?
This matters because when we keep expending energy on something that only exists because we’re constantly feeding it, that effort can’t sustain itself—it eventually demands repayment in fatigue, stress, or burnout.

2. This year, in my serving others, which inner + outer activities can I release so my energy is focused where it matters most? This might mean delegating or sharing tasks in a different way, automating routines, gradually trimming them away, and/or amplifying personal support.

By “amplifying,” I mean to deepen or expand the support you already have rather than simply adding to it. Depth is the aim.

Why These Questions Matter

At year‑end, we tend to give more reflective space to breathe + resonate with curiosity the life we’ve actually lived, opposed to the one envisioned at the onset of a new year.

Intentional + Integrated + Instructive

Notice, Nurture, and Embody the process of deciding what + how to carry forward into the next year. 

This gentle audit can lead to a more intentional + integrated + instructive way to tend to your humanity uniquely as you.

Sustainability  +  longevity first. Everything else can be negotiated afterward.

Less doesn’t need defending; it merely needs choosing.

COMMUNAL BLESSING

May the Prince of Peace swaddle us in a peace that surpasses all human comprehension.

Communal affirmation: 

We are not optimizing our souls for busyness; we are remembering our holy belovedness  +  belonging.

Personal affirmation: 

I will choose the rhythm that honors my deepest gifts + the grace that sustains me, instead of accommodating other people’s definitions of progress by default.

Two Gift Set SOULutions to Help You Rhythmically live Your Life

If you enjoy a kinder + gentler thirty-day streak of intention setting…

choose a not-so-typical 30-Day Intentions Journal-Planner style SOULution designed to support your intentional living + soul care journey. 

Unlike traditional annual planners that can feel rigid + overwhelming, my soul care approach offers a month-by-month journey that adapts to your unique flow.

If you enjoy a kinder + gentler day-to-day streak of intention setting…

choose the fun Note to Self Intentions Notepad style SOULution. 

Beyond the overwhelm of endless to-do lists, nurture your daily flow with intentional action steps that honor your desires + dreams + your energy. This isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about creating space for your beautiful, unique self to breathe + do + be.

Soulful gifting for social change 🧡

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Until next time,

Gift from your soul.

Deepen Your Soul Care Journey

Beloved SOULjourner, as you continue to nurture your gift-giving practice, discover sustainable gifts designed to embody intentional gift-giving + connection.

Soulful gifting for social change in the soul care boutique. Be inspired to amplify your ARTvocacy through peace + play vibes.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only as I share my pastoral care, my journey, and bring to you valuable research. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing any medical concerns or symptoms, please seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.

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