Have you ever noticed how, when things get intense, you have a tendency of speeding up…?
When uncomfortable feeling arise we might find ourselves scrambling to get rid of them, losing ourselves in yet more activity and thinking, thinking and activity… in a desperate attempt to make ourselves feel better…or at least to feel more in control.
‘Don’t just sit there, DO something!!’ the voice in our head seems to cry.
(Of course we want to feel better!)
And yet, by trying to get away from the feeling, we are actually turning against ourselves.
And it’s such a well-practiced habit we mostly don’t even realise we’re doing it.
I wonder how it would be different if… the next time you feel some ‘negative’ emotion knocking at the door of your heart, you could instead say to yourself;
‘Don’t just DO something, SIT there!’
What if the most profound act of kindness and generosity to ourselves AND those around us was no action at all. (Even if just for a few seconds).
I believe this middle ground between feeling and action is sacred ground, over-flowing with possibility.
This is where magic and REAL change can happen.
This place is where we can begin to, slowly and very gently, turn back and meet ourselves with…dare I say it…. LOVE.
It is here in this place we can discover our freedom from all those habits and patterns that keep us locked in survival mode.
That keep us from really flourishing, that keep us from feeling alive and spontaneous…
So…
Before you hurry to do that next job…
Before you ‘should’ yourself to do something you don’t feel like doing…
Before you scramble to mend your sadness…
Before you buy that extra gift that you don’t need to buy…
Before you rush to fix what doesn’t need fixing…
Before you jump to blame that other…
Before you open your mouth to assert that you are actually right…
Before you hook onto that belief that you’re not enough…
Pause.
(please note: this may be hard and seem completely counterintuitive…but give it a try…)
Place your hand on your heart.
BREATHE here…count slowly up to 5 as you imagine breathing in warmth and kindness, breathe out.
…let your belly soften, feel the soft touch of your hand on your beating heart, the earth under your feet.
Without judgement, but with curiosity and love, ask yourself ‘What do you need, my dear?
Can you offer this place what it needs…whether it’s love, understanding, some rest, a walk…?
Proceed…. with love….
Repeat as often as required -)
***Please don’t ever underestimate the power of pausing with a hand on your heart for as little as even 3-4 seconds!
I consider moments such as these as mini miracles… miracles because in pausing we have interrupted billions, yes billions of moments where we’ve previously turned away from ourselves.
May you be wrapped in an abundance of love and warmth right now…