Isn't life amazing? The force that animates, unifies and organizes substances in such a way to create you? It is awe inspiring when we pause to give thought to just what it would take to develop "you" from two cells at conception to the multi-billion walking, breathing, thinking, feeling person you are. This force innately knows. We don't teach it. It’s already present with life. So give thanks to this day. While perhaps not every day is a "joy-joy" day, we can reframe how we look at what the day brings to make each day better. I know that I can learn from each moment and that tougher days … [Read more...]
5 Solutions for Chronic Stress
Last week we looked at short term “eu” stress and long term “dis” stress and how it impacts our body. This week, I’m going to share with you my top 5 stress-busting solutions. 1) Respect your body. This comes from listening within. What that means is to listen to the feedback through your senses. Close your eyes and do a “check-in”. What are you feeling? Exhausted, needing a stretch, or perhaps some time grounding yourself in nature? Ultimately, you know. The key is quieting the active mind chatter in order to tune in to you. Respecting your body also includes mastery of being the “observer … [Read more...]
Best Pieces of Advice Ever Received?
Last week we discussed chaos, what it means, and the opportunities it brings to you and your life. When stressed and confused, we may not see the forest through the trees. After the fact, things appear much different don't they? These are the best pieces of advice that I’ve received to-date for calming chaos: Wait 3 seconds before replying. Right-size the issue: Decide if it’s a problem or an inconvenience. Find a way to not take yourself so seriously - laugh more. Meditate and ask for guidance. Look for the answer(s) provided. Ask "How did I contribute and what can be learned to not … [Read more...]
Routines and instinct…part 1 of 2
Ever consider how much you run your day on reflex? At the extreme, reflex is the coordinated response with a result from the body at the survival level, it's instantaneous. Step on a tack on the floor and your body is responding before you are fully aware of what has happened. Reflexes protect us from immediate harm. As a child, we initially had to expend a coordinated effort in learning tasks. We learned how to walk, jump, brush our teeth, write numbers and our name. We repeated these things until the skills were developed and became a habit. Initially we had to think a lot about how to do a … [Read more...]
What is tapping you on the shoulder?
What is tapping you on the shoulder? Got a concern bothering you? An ache that doesn’t go away? Some thought niggling away at you? All of these are messages through the body/mind asking us to pay attention. How often do you ignore them? I am sure you have experienced the same thing as me: When we ignore, don't pay attention these feelings, thoughts, or "aches" they do not go away. Well they might for a bit, but they rear their little heads in another message or through a greater signal at a future date. As I have experienced, when I've overridden these messages, they end up smacking me … [Read more...]