There’s so much going on in our busy lives these days. We run from one thing to the next. We complain to our friends and family “Oh, I’m so busy!” …and then we continue on the same path. We struggle to finish one task so we can move on to the next. We look ahead and see an endless line of upcoming tasks. We are tired, we are exhausted, we are worn out…and yet, we keep going? Maybe with less and less enthusiasm and energy, but we keep trudging on in the same direction…
Stop. Now. For a moment.
Just stop and breathe. Really, really breath. Take a deep, deep breath in, hold it for a moment and then exhale it completely. Now, do it again. And again. And once again. Keep going. Focus only on this breathing without any judgment. Letting go of everything else for the moment and just let yourself focus on nothing but the natural rhythm of your breathing. As if this very breath was recalibrating your whole system. Re-tuning your heart, your soul, your body, your mind…you. Listen to the breathe. Let your mind clear. Feel your body slow and expand with each breath you take. How nice does that feel to know that you have the power to reset and recharge? To stop if only for a moment or two or three and to let yourself just breathe. Connecting with everything around you in a way that it fully present and aware of the very moment your in.
And then once you’ve cleared your mind with your breath and come into the present moment. Ask yourself, “Is this what I want to be doing right now? Am I spending my time and my energy on what I want to be doing? And if so, am I doing it how I want to be doing it? If not, what do I want to do and how can I get there?” Listen for the true answers that only you know. Ask yourself if you are paying attention to what you are doing or if you are simply on automatic going from one thing to the next, to the next, without really thinking moment by moment about what you are doing? How much more might you appreciate what you are doing if you brought your focus back onto it directly? I’m asking you to tune in. To pay attention. To be fully aware of what you are doing at the time you are doing it. Listen to your intuition. Tune into your own answers that are available if you take the time to stop and listen. How much richer might your experience be? How much more might you get out of what you are doing? How much more might you enjoy what you are doing if you allow yourself to come out of automatic and make the choice purposefully enjoy it? There’s really only one way to find out.
Stop.
For a moment.
Breathe.
Be present.
Choose.
What do you think? Worth a try?
Be happy and well,
Sari Roth-Roemer, Ph.D.
