Do you ever feel like your spark, the essence that makes you You, has dimmed a little? Do you look back at an earlier version of yourself and see a person you wish you still were? There are a lot of things in life that can feel like they dull your spark.
It could be gradual, like a slow color fade, or sudden, like someone flipping a switch. It can be hard to stay in your power when you feel constantly unseen. And in time, you may feel a quiet shrinking of your presence, your creativity, and your voice, making your light shine less brightly. But is your spark lost forever or can you get it back?
I’m Savannah Alalia and welcome to the latest episode of High Functioning Human podcast where you connect to yourself as a high functioning human.
Let’s start with the good news. Your beautiful spark is still alive. It rests underneath the layers of life, tension and stuck fascia, waiting for oxygen to turn it back into a bright shining flame.
So let’s talk about where you can find that oxygen, how you can fuel your spark.
First, let’s take a look at what might have got you to this place. One of the biggest lost spark moments can occur when you no longer feel able to rely on your body in some way that you’ve been used to. Maybe you’ve had a pain or an injury, or maybe you’re more tired than you used to be. Maybe it just feels like age is catching up with you.
Perhaps a partner, friend or colleague failed to truly see you, so you adapted and shrank, becoming a little bit less or a shadow of your former self. Maybe you were in a work culture which prized output over originality, so your voice slid into the background.
I’m sure a lot of people can resonate with this.
You might feel like that spark has been lost to you for some time, whether from a situation or injury. However, the idea that aging has to mean a dulling of sensation or a loss of motivation, drive or spark is something I disagree with in general.
There are of course, many factors at play, but a disconnect with your body can come from just stuck fascia, which is why I am so passionate about people learning about how to do at home fascia release that can be done consistently. And that’s why I’ve created my face programs, Your Face Symmetry.
When your spark feels dim, you often protect it, keeping it close. But when everyone is doing the same thing, it means that the whole world gets a little bit darker. And while protecting yourself is of course important, I really feel like we have the capacity to bring out great qualities within each other and bring out each other’s spark and bring it back to life. Like bees cross pollinating to make incredibly beautiful flowers.
Sharing and brightening each other’s days has a knock on effect, keeping your spark alive. But in order to feel like you have the capacity for that, you have to have a proper connection and trust within yourself. This requires sensible boundaries which grow from being able to trust your body. Being able to sense “This drains me,” or “This feeds me” and to act accordingly. Trusting your body to help you make that choice keeps your spark bright without needing a fortress of boundaries.
Of course, tricky relationships are one of the things that can dim your spark. Modern life itself does a pretty good job of it as well. So over time, you may have lost the passion for things that build vitality, whether outside of you or inside of you. The constant pressure to perform, to be efficient, to tick boxes, often leaves little room for creativity, which is something I’m continually a champion of. Embracing your creativity is a great way to remind yourself of the joy that exists within you. Start small and with intention. Try journaling, painting, cooking, sewing. Something you have a ton of experience with, or something that’s completely new. Bonus points here if it’s something that includes a lot of colour or noise. Bring out your inner child wherever and whenever is possible and let her get really messy.
Another thing I speak about a lot is the importance of pace. In particular, how stifling it can be to function at a pace that feels unnatural to you. Addressing this disconnect can look like respecting your circadian rhythms, but also really slowing down to respect your pace when it comes to work, social interactions, exercise, and just the enjoyment of life. It’s the same with big projects. It’s really easy to step out of your power and rush around trying to accomplish things at warp speed. But so much urgency around, you can carry someone else’s voice. Ask yourself, whose timeline are you actually following?
Finding a pace that allows you to be yourself lets you listen to your body about what it really needs. And this is one of the most important factors in reconnecting with your ‘élan vital,’ your life force, your spark. That process has to start in you, in your body, and then go out into the environment immediately around you. You have to own it, and then you have a greater capacity for other people, instead of being depleted by things happening in the world.
And ownership of nourishing that part of yourself is so important. Spending time meditating, learning to listen to your breath and fascia release is a great way to tell your body, “I’m here. What do you need?” If you’d like some guided support, you can check out my programs Your Face Symmetry below, but you can also find my Fascia & Feelings playlist on YouTube and I have a free 5 minute meditation available on my website too.
And where you can choose to gather with people who feed that brightness who reflect it back to you, who love cross pollinating color and ideas with you. Well done for taking the time today to listen to this podcast, you should be super proud of yourself for thinking about ways to deepen your connection with your body and to brighten your spark.
Remember, trust your body. Stay curious about sensation because the world needs your voice and the magic it brings to us all.
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I look forward to chatting with you next time on the High Functioning Human Podcast. Take care and talk soon.
As always, I remain a cheerleader for your inner self-worth,
