First things first. What even is a holding space? If you haven’t heard this term before, it sounds a little weird, I know. If you search this term, you will find a lot of answers. It seems that even though the general idea of holding space, used as an action, is pretty much the same, there are many versions of a definition. I think it can be pretty simple, and also very powerful.
Here is what I know to be true. Every single one of us has a need that we are born with to be loved, seen, listened to, included, appreciated, valued. As infants, we are born searching for our needs to be met. For most, this is simply provided. Parents and others who care for us typically do their best to love us. Of course, there are exceptions to this, but painting a broad brush example here. Then, we become the “grown ups”. And our lives typically become less about us. We go to college, or get a job, we maybe get married or buy a house or have children or….do something that changes our focus from just me, to fill in the blank. This is completely normal, a natural progression of life. However, there seems to be a pretty frequent pattern among women where we take this natural shift to an extreme, and we forget about ourselves all together. We forget and maybe never realize the value we bring to the table in so many ways.
So, for me, holding space means offering a place that is safe, welcoming, authentic, loving and supportive. All throughout Scripture, we see examples of God’s design for people to be in relationship and community with one another. We were not created to live in isolation, or to do life alone. But yet here we are, becoming more and more unlike what was intended by our Creator. And, as a result we are often sad, lonely, misunderstood, unseen and alone.
Bottom line, there is absolutely no better solution for connection than actual real life, person to person, face to face connection. Hands down. And then, there’s our current reality of being totally connected via your social media of choice, while also being completely alone. It’s truly bizarre.
So, before I go in too many circles, which is easy for me to do, what is this all about, what is The Holding Space?
Well, it’s a website. And, I have social media accounts of the same name. At the risk of sounding completely hypocritical, let me explain.
I have learned that there are ways of living that, for me, help to create contentment, peace, clarity, community, self-awareness, fullness of joy and most importantly deepen my love for and trust in Jesus in this broken world in which we live. This includes, but is certainly not limited to:
Slowing down and also taking action.
Being a Homemaker. A HOME-MAKER.
Spending time with Jesus – in all sorts of ways.
Connecting to and serving my family, friends, local church and community, especially other women.
Reading and learning.
Conversations.
Gratitude.
So, my intention here, is to hold this ‘space’ for you. And in doing so, share with you what has helped me on my journey to continue to become who I truly am, like deep down in my soul…and to come alongside you, and help you remember or maybe even realize for the first time, that you, dear sister, are seen, capable, valued, gifted, unique, and loved so very much by God. And, to take that truth and use it in your own life in a way that brings out the best in you, and then maybe even share that with other women in your own life.
So, yes, a ‘connection’ that is maybe not the ideal, but through it, a path to getting back to or starting anew with how life was lived in the beginning and can continue to be lived even today.
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