One of my intentions this year is to post weekly to this blog. To support this intention I’m joining in the WordPress Post a Week 2001 challenge. I’m taking this as an opportunity to more fully practice imperfection as well as to, of course, immerse myself in this process.
From the depths,
Lesley
I want to more fully define this term and what it means here. The title above is not a strict definition. It’s cobbled together from several I found online, as well as from my own thoughts- as is everything that follows. Immerse is my word of the year for 2011, (link) and it has become a key element in the focus of my work (yep, there it is in the tagline). Right now I’m completely in love with this word and it’s implications in living a life without limits, a life where I am here and completely devoted to being present, digging in, and bringing my whole self to my actions. It makes my heart beat faster and I start smiling uncontrollably when I think about it.
On one level, immersion is about throwing myself completely into whatever I’m doing in the moment- whether that’s writing, playing with my children, eating dinner or taking a nap. It’s like presence and mindfulness, but in a very physical way. Being immersed is very difficult when you’re up in your mind thinking about being mindful. Being immersed engages all the senses and opens up a 360° awareness of what is around you.
But to immerse does not simply mean this. I’m a bit of a word geek- so as I was looking up the definition I was curious about it’s history. It comes from middle english meaning “embedded deeply” coming from latin roots that mean something like “to merge into”. To immerse, for me, means to merge into the life you are creating for yourself. It also means merging your *self* back into your life. A few years ago I was living my life simply going through the motions. I was physically there and in action- but my *self* was elsewhere. I’ve rejoined my life, but I’ve learned how it becomes easy to simply being functioning on auto-pilot and allowing the delicious parts of life to drift away. Immersion is the act of reuniting the self into a whole and remaining whole. Being deeply and fully involved in your life in every way.
Immerse means to surround yourself completely in your hopes, dreams, ideas and the actions you are taking to bring them to life. You can do this within your work, your art, your family, your relationships. You can also do this within your self; making sure that you have everything you need to be fully present. This means delicious, nourishing food, joyful movement, deep rest, creative expression, uplifting connection with others and quiet insightful time for connecting with yourself.
Immerse: to engage wholly or deeply, to devote yourself fully. Today I am choosing to immerse myself in my family, my work, my creativity, and in my well-being. There is joy in simply devoting yourself fully and engaging deeply. Where will you immerse yourself?
Lesley Reid Cross 