Wouldn't it be nice if you had an internal GPS system? Well, you do. All you want for Christmas is an Internal GPS.
'Tis the Season to Breathe.
Did you know that you can use the wisdom of your body to guide you in decision making? From what outfit to wear today, to what person to marry and if you should start a business or not, and more!
On average, we make ~35,000 decisions a day! A day!!!!
No wonder we feel so tired. And if you are indulging in worry and confusion, it's no wonder you are overwhelmed. The problem is that most of us don't realize we are indulging in any feelings. We just feel like our circumstances are responsible for our feelings, and sometimes we even feel like victims of our own minds gone wild. But if you work with me you know that it is always your thoughts that cause your feelings, not your circumstances. Sure some circumstances can be more challenging for us than others (insert events of 2020) but you can get to a place where you are more in control of how you allow life to affect you by learning how to manage your mind. The practice of managing your mind is like exercise for the body. Just like you know you are supposed to take care of your body, you need to learn how to take care of your brain too!
Don't take this lightly...
This is the best gift and news I could ever give you. Because it means you are in control! You are in the driver’s seat of your life! If you don't know how to take control, get involved in one of my trainings, coaching programs and/or free mini session coaching calls. I am here for you. I can help you make 2021 the best yet.
The holidays are upon us. Most of my clients are very stressed during this time. It can be such a busy time, and though it’s always important to quiet the mind and feel into the body, it’s especially important when life outside ourselves gets hectic. 'Tis the season, to be jolly, no? But yes you can. You can learn how to hardwire your brain for happiness. It is possible.
"Mission Control, this is Operation Haywire, my mind is on overdrive, but my body is no where to be found. What do I do?"
Our minds and bodies are huge sources of guidance and information for us. It’s more typical that we find ourselves operating primarily from our mind, working so hard to “figure it out” or “think it through it,” that we get all jumbled up and go into paralyzed overwhelm. Cut to not doing the things that are so important to you. Like going for that new job, creating that business you’ve been dreaming of, losing that weight once and for all, dealing with unresolved emotional baggage you know you have been carrying around, and organizing your life so that it runs smoothly and more effortlessly.
But what if you stopped spinning out in your thoughts and used your body’s wisdom too? Your mind can have you running and running on a hamster wheel, thinking and overthinking a decision because you’re not anchored.
When we do this we’ve left our body, and are running our life from the chin up. Or trying to. Getting in touch with the body can anchor you like nobody's business. It's a great, often untapped resource.
You know those old school handheld games that require batteries? You can pick up the device and push all the buttons and shake it a little to try to get it to work, and it might do a little, it might make some noise, but for the device to FULLY work, you need fully charged batteries. Our lives are the same way. To get the most out of our lives, we should have a label that reads “bodies required.”
Listen to your body, it's messages are your internal GPS.
Yep, use your body and the sensations you have to guide you. Your body's wisdom is your internal GPS. Guiding you with little hints here and there. Sometimes with GIANT signals, like a stomach in knots, when you feel all choked up when you get sick after too much work, a headache, a flutter in your heart, etc., etc. Your job is to LISTEN. Listen closely and understand what your body is telling you. Do you need to stop, quit a job, quit a relationship, mend a relationship, forgive, take more time for self-care, work on an abundant mindset with regard to time, and money?
If your body had something to tell you today, what would the message be? Think about this and write it down.
Let the body anchor the mind.
When we are busy and everything feels hard, and like a chore, tuning into the body wisdom and what the body wants can lead you in the right direction. Without our mind-body connection, we’re left with very busy brains, constantly running with our hair on fire trying to sort things out, instead of just stopping to put out the fire. Can you physically feel it when you're operating from just your head, it fueled by adrenaline and other stress hormones. It feels heavy, like a lot of information circling around in tumultuous weather conditions that are causing a storm in the mind-- there’s not much clarity or insight. Confusion attacks, and “the what should I do's?” take on a mind of their own.
So how do I use my internal GPS to guide me, to be my compass, to send me on the right path?
I use one of Martha Beck’s tools called The Body Compass to help you tune into what your true self really wants in every decision you make — big and small.
So this season I want to offer you a stocking stuffer. A quick and easy practice that will take no longer than 15 seconds, and will help calm your mind and begin to get you in touch with your body’s wisdom.
So here you go: I want you to breathe.
Close your eyes.
Take 3 deep breaths.
Follow the air coming in through your nose, and down into your body.
And follow your out-breath as you exhale through your nose.
Then just notice how your body feels.
What is the message it has for you right now? How can you use this wisdom to guide yourself on your one true path? Not the perfect path, but the one that is just right for you, with all the twists and turns that are designed to make you flourish and be more aligned with who you really are, with the fabulous person you already are!
Is the message, “yes go for a walk before you sit down for your afternoon work from home session?” Or maybe your body is saying, “hey, let’s take a nap.” Is it telling you to choose broccoli over a baked potato? What does your body want to wear today? You can ask your body what’s the best next thing for me? What wisdom do you have for me today body? What wisdom do you have to offer me right now? Should I turn left or right? Should I take that training course or use the time to mediate and do yoga? The answers your body has are often different then what your mind will offer up. Take time and listen to and get to know your bodies wisdom and natural rhythms.
Fifteen seconds a day, and this exercise will begin to help you connect with your body. To become aware of, not just what you’re thinking but, what you’re feeling, what the sensations in your body are trying to tell you. Over time, you’ll find that a quieting starts to happen when you do this. Your mind settles a bit and choices and decisions become easier, clearer. That is your GPS. It is available for you anytime you ask for it's guidance.
We’ll talk more about the gift and power of our mind-body connection in future writings. In the meantime, I wish you all very happy holidays with R&R time for your mind and your body. Happy New Year!
'Tis the season to breathe, friends.
Holiday Namaste to you all.
