I did an Instagram Live last Sunday with Life Coach and Public Speaker Karlyn Percil. In the IG Live (watch and listen here) we spoke heavily about starting anew and giving ourselves a break from time to time when it comes to manifesting the things we truly desire.
In speaking to Karlyn I made the point about having patience (which is not one of my virtues might I add) when it comes to dreaming, planning and manifesting. I’ve really been focusing on “rest” in all forms and in the spiritual space, rest means giving myself a break from spiritual readings, planning, feeling and dreaming. I find that whenever I get in the groove, staying there for long periods of time is never a good thing, because I get too caught up in the concept of time (when things will happen) and action (how things will happen), when really I just need to trust that all is happening as it should. That being said, I need to practice taking a step back and allowing my thoughts to take shape in greater ways, for my feelings to take full form and for my manifestations to occur without any added pressure. How can anything I want happen if I am not creating any space for it. Hammering away at the bricks can only work so far.
So as I spoke to Karlyn I likened the process of spiritual practices and growth to baking a cake (leave it to me to find a food analogy). You choose the best quality ingredients you can find, you prep, plan and execute seamlessly, right? Wrong. Believing in everything I just said is giving into the when and how, something I need to always talk myself out of. Really, we need to give into the entire process of baking the cake, however long it takes and while at it, enjoy each emotion, thought and feeling that comes out of it. That includes the hours before you started baking, and hours and days after you enjoy that first bite.
It’s funny how we can have tons of patience for letting that cake bake, but for some reason we can’t let things happen the same way when it comes to life, love, success, health etc.? Just like a delicious cake, our manifestations and intentions take time to develop as well. It’s called alignment – once we get aligned with the greater good, our higher calling and become one with the universe – everything falls into place. For those eye rolling – as mystical as this may sound, its true even in the most practical sense. There are lessons for us to learn, feelings for us to process, thoughts that must germinate and come into fruition – all of which come together to create peace and unity. Its the process every problem takes to come to a solution.
Its been a full 7 days since that conversation with Karlyn – work got in the way, deadlines were heavy, I didn’t sleep a few nights this past week and in the process basically forgot about my brilliant cake analogy. Then on Saturday afternoon I got a craving, for lemon and sugar after my sister blurted out that she was in the mood for something sweet and wanted to try her hand at baking. In that moment I remembered I had everything at my disposal in the pantry and fridge to make my most favourite recipe by Barefoot Contessa – her Lemon Yogurt Cake. I had everything I needed, right in front of me and in one moment of inspiration I gave in to the process of creation. An hour and a half later, after patience, out came a beautiful cake.
This one moment brought me back full circle to last Sunday – to my own analogy of cake and creation. We all have just what we need in front of us, its just a matter of clearing up enough space in our hearts and minds to understand, believe and know that like the universe – we all hold the answers to our questions. And most importantly, only we have the power to shape our future and give life to our creations.
My cake was delicious by the way, and I savored each bite.
Go on…bake your cake, and eat it too girl..you deserve it! Recipe below…
For the cake:
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
3 extra-large eggs
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
For the lemon icing:
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
This recipe is from the cookbook Barefoot Contessa At Home.
Full directions available here
