Finding Ease
A Sunday word:ship guide to gentle living
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Dear Friend
How are you feeling this Sunday? At ease? Relaxed? Tired? Overwhelmed?
Well no matter how you’re feeling right now, why not take a few moments to read my Sunday word:ship newsletter? You never know, today could be the day you try journalling, and just in case I’ve curated a few prompts just for you.
Finding ease isn’t just a nice-to-have state of mind, it’s an essential state of mind for good health and wellbeing. And I know this firsthand. After years of pushing, striving and trying to keep all the plates spinning (sound familiar?), I’ve learned that ease is actually our natural state. We’ve just forgotten how to access it.
I see it all the time at my retreats and during my journalling workshops - wonderful, capable women who’ve gotten so used to running on high alert that slowing down feels almost uncomfortable. Maybe you’ve been feeling like this recently? When sitting down makes you fidgety, or when your to-do list screams louder than your need to rest?
But here’s what I’ve discovered…
Ease isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about finding that sweet spot where life flows more naturally. Where we’re not fighting against ourselves with every step, or allowing our inner critic to chip away at us. And the beautiful thing about this all? We can start finding this ease in just a few hours - yes, you read that correctly and even on a busy Sunday.
I’ve spent years exploring this journey, much like my relationship with journalling and I’ll tell you straight - there’s no perfect way to find ease. Just like there’s no right way to journal. What matters is showing up for yourself, even if it’s just for a few precious moments. When was the last time you actually felt bored? When did you dare to daydream or take an afternoon nap, without feeling guilty?
Let this Sunday word:ship newsletter be the permission you need to sit a little longer with ease, lean into lazy, try and feel at ease, even if it’s for just 10 minutes. So grab your journal or scrappy notebook, and let’s explore what living with more ease could look like for you. I’ll be journalling alongside you, because like everything I share with you here on Substack - this is a practice, not a perfection, and to be honest, I love an excuse to journal with ease.
You don’t have to use all 10 of the following prompts. Choose one or two for today, then savour the rest for later in the week.
Pause for a moment and notice where you're holding tension in your body. Write about what happens when you consciously soften those spaces. What stories does your body want to tell you about ease?
Think about a time when everything felt effortless – maybe you were cooking, walking, creating, or just being. Describe that moment in detail. What made it feel so natural? How did your body feel? What elements could you bring into your life now?
Complete this sentence in as many ways as feel true: "I could let life be easier if..." Let your pen flow without any judgment or editing. What patterns do you notice in your responses?
Imagine ease as a close friend. Write a conversation between you both. What would ease say to you about how you're living? What would you want to ask ease about your life right now?
Write about the messages you received growing up about 'taking it easy.' Where did they come from? How do they influence your relationship with ease today? What new messages would you like to write for yourself?
List 10 tiny moments of ease that already exist in your day (like that first sip of morning coffee or a warm shower). Now choose one and write about how you could fully sink into that moment tomorrow.
Dear Resistance... Write a letter to the part of you that fights against ease. What is it protecting you from? What would it need to feel safe enough to soften?
Describe your perfect 'ease-full' Sunday, starting from the moment you wake up. Don't worry about what's practical or possible – just let your imagination flow. What surprises you about what you've written?
Think of someone who embodies ease for you. What qualities do they possess? How do you feel in their presence? What wisdom could they offer you about living with more ease?
Write about what's asking to be released in your life right now. What would open up if you stopped pushing so hard? What might flow more naturally if you created more space?
Remember there’s no right way to approach these prompts. Let the pen do the work. Write for as long or as little as feels comfortable. Trust that whatever emerges is exactly what needs to be expressed right now. If you came back to these same prompts in a weeks time, you’ll notice totally different descriptions.
You could select a favourite prompt from the above ten and revisit it daily this week, seeing how your responses shift and develop over time. Notice what emerges when you give yourself permission to explore the same question multiple times, it really is an enlightening experience.
If you’d like more accountability for your journalling practice, you may like to join my ‘Journal with Ease’ workshop every Thursday via zoom at 1pm. It’s a gentle 45minutes of guided journalling with a group of super lovely women of all ages. Send me a DM or email me hello@easeretreats.com for further information on how to join.
Happy Sunday!
Until the next time,
Take care and stay safe xx
What’s On with Ease
Are you ready to write your next chapter? My 2025 retreat are now open for booking
NOVEMBER 2024
"Rage On A Page" with Tanya Lynch - an online therapeutic journalling program. The next series launches this November, where I help women channel their emotions into something more positive and creative. This is for you, if you’re going through emotional upheaval due to menopause, divorce, life altering illness, a lack of purpose, empty nest syndrome, low self-esteem or general overwhelm. The good news is that you’ll be joining a community of likeminded women to learn how to channel your emotions such as rage and anger through the practice of therapeutic journalling, in less than 60 days!
"Doing Hard Things with ease" & Stacey Heale - a day full of exploring the messy nature of our lives through writing within an intimate and safe environment. This is an amazing opportunity to reframe the hard moments in our lives, break through creative blocks and learn techniques to access the healing power of expressive writing. 8th November 2024. ONLY 2 SPACES LEFT!
"Creative Unblocking with ease" & Emma Gannon - a weekend retreat based in a gorgeous converted barn in the Welsh mountains near Brecon. The weekend will be full of learning and resting. You will come away feeling nourished inside and out. You will receive a masterclass of creativity, connection and reflection. In Emma’s special “Creative Unblocking Workshop” you will learn tools to help you turn ideas into tangible creative projects. Part masterclass, part group coaching session — this day will be your chance to ask Emma anything, plus learn everything she has to share on living a creative life. 16th - 18th November -SOLD OUT - Join the waiting list!
EASE RETREATS 2025
If you’d like more information about the retreats I’ll be hosting in 2025, or you’d like to join the waiting list, please don’t hesitate to email me at hello@easeretreats.com
28th March 2025 - "Finding Your Voice" Day Retreat with Laura Pashby
4th April 2025 - "Retirement Rebels" Day Retreat with Siobhan Daniels
9th May 2025 - "Sparkle on Substack" Day Retreat with Claire Venus (she/her) ✨
June 2025 - “Read Yourself Happy” 2 Day Retreat with
October 2025 - “Digital Detox” Weekend Retreat with Tanya Lynch
PS. Bring your unfinished stories. Bring your wild dreams. Bring yourself. Because here at ‘with ease’, you are always welcome.
Love these prompts!