How do you create space in your life? Are you addicted to filling every moment? Are you cranking things out at work, rushing, meeting deadlines, just getting it done? At home are you continually checking email, social media, your cell phone? Do you flip from channel to channel on the television, searching, searching, searching? Are you plowing through your projects, checking them off so you can get to the next project with your limited free time?
How do you break that cycle of constantly doing and allow yourself some space? Are you consumed by doing things quickly and efficiently, only to miss the real experience? And, I’m not referring to the natural sense of order for those of you with Workability energy. What I am referring to is all of that chatter in your mind that simply runs the show – do more, do it faster, do it better, do, do, do!
When do you take the time to “be,” allow yourself those quiet spaces to gentle into your own rhythm? I don’t necessarily mean time to sit and do nothing. What I am referring to is allowing yourself the space to be – whatever that is for you. Allowing yourself to be in a moment without thinking about it, analyzing it, or wanting it to be something other than it is.
The past few days I have been focusing on being aware of my own mind chatter and the feeling I get when I speed up so I can get things done more quickly. I noticed that I was feeling anxious and felt like I had kicked into turbo drive. It didn’t help any situation, so I am experimenting with recognizing that feeling, then slowing myself down, taking three slow, gentle breaths and giving myself the space to still the chatter in my mind. It’s kind of like a computer re-boot. I erase the programs running in the background of my mind (all of the chatter) and have a cleaner space to be.
Yesterday was the first perfect Fall day. It was 65 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze in the air. I was sitting on my deck writing and stopped , sat back and noticed the way the leaves were rippling in the breeze. It was almost as if they were dancing. I simply sat there and enjoyed the moment. It felt great to stop and be. As I sat there simply enjoying that beauty, this blog popped into my head. I had been struggling about what to write and then this flowed with ease.
What do you do for yourself to reduce your mind chatter? How do you create space in your life? How might you begin to recognize that you are kicked into turbo and slow yourself down?
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