Personal Sanctuary
“Sanctuary, on a personal level, is where we perform the job of taking care of our soul.”
Christopher Forrest McDowell
Once upon a time our personal homes or dwellings could provide refuge from the rest of the world. However, modern innovation and technology has allowed everyday busyness and stress to permeate into this space, making it difficult for the home to correlate with rest or retreat.
When we lack regular access to a sacred space, we are more likely to be harmed by negativity and stress. This has a compounding effect that eventually leads to a place of dis-ease and impacts our physical and mental health.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Stress that’s left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.”
It has been proven that stress has the ability to modify cellular structure which can lead to fatigue, mood issues, auto-immune disorders, and many other chronic illnesses.
No one is immune to stress and negativity. Therefore, everyone is at risk for greater physical and emotional disruptions, especially if they are not regularly engaging in practices that help to counteract and reduce those harmful effects.
“Stress affects all systems of the body including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive systems.”
The American Psychological Association
Sometimes we have autonomy over whether or not we allow difficult situations into our lives, but more often than not we are faced with stress that is not easily eradicated, such as work and family.
One thing we can control is how to manage our well-being as we swim through the chaos, and what methods we choose to employ as protection against difficult circumstances.
Finding a sacred haven is a useful tool for counteracting physical and emotional disturbances. Ensuring regular access to this space is a way of claiming peace by dedicating time to reconnecting with your inner self.
It is difficult to argue against the value of a personal sanctuary. However, despite all the benefits, most people are not implementing this into their routines.
Lack of time, lack of resources and the devaluing of personal wellness are common hurdles that prevent us from experiencing the restorative benefits of purposeful seclusion.
Another common roadblock is the difficulty of finding an appropriate space to serve as a personal place of refuge.
“A place of solitude offers a retreat from the opposing forces and diverse demands of living, an entry into a state of peace and unity. Mind and body can retire from confusion and conflict to a sanctuary of clarity and harmony.”
Anthony Lawler
How can I establish a personal sanctuary?
Everyone comes from different places with different resources so there is no one size fits all approach to establishing a sacred space. Sanctuaries can be indoors or outdoors, large or small, and contain other helpful tools or be bare bones and minimalistic. There can be a lot of flexibility in how to create a sanctuary, but there are also some important key factors that are necessary in order for a space to be consecrated for the purpose of providing sanctuary.
An effective sanctuary must be:
An environment where you feel completely free to fully relax
Removed from work, chores or other commitments
A place that offers privacy and seclusion
Easily accessible on a regular basis
Able to provide restorative benefits for the mind, body and soul
Why do I need a sanctuary?
Every day we are exposed to physical toxins and emotional stress that compromises our health. We are all guilty of poor past or present choices that further accelerate and complicate these issues.
Achieving wellness requires ongoing repair of old damage and consistent protection against future damage.
How do we accomplish this? What resources are there to help us? Where do we find this sanctuary of support?
We will continue the discussion in the 3rd and final segment
