How many times have you taken space to create mindful moments and focused on the moment you are in right now? Just having the ability to be fully present for your self and creating a space for clarity, to start developing interceptive awareness.
If you have not provided your self time to take space at least 3 times in the last week, it is time to fix that! We want to strive to be our “best self”. In order to do this, we need to.. lead with intention & prioritize personal well-being!
This not only supports grounding but it helps to reframe negative or stressful mindsets. It can also provide you with a proactive response to the body’s physiological signals.
When I say take space, I am not just talking about sitting there and staring at the wall.. we are talking about what ever makes YOU feel good!
Having a mindful moment while you are driving your kids to school, and really just embracing the moment you have with them, and the journey you have come thus far for them! Having a moment while you a relaxing in the bath with a beautiful aroma in the air and a glass of wine, or getting that massage you have been talking about for months. There is moments to be found in every situation and space to be held for who is most important.. YOU!
We are all managing our day to day life’s like clock work, and we never forget what “has” to be done. But what about what needs to be done.. you know, like what we need for ourselves to reflect on, what we need for ourselves to be intentional, and what we need for ourselves to be, most importantly, at the TOP of our “A” game! This looks different for everyone, and there is no right or wrong answer. It is in what feels good to you, because in these moments, you are the focus!
How do you "take space" to practice a mindful moment?
Adding another daunting task to your day is not the goal here. This is a moment for you to take a breath, relax and just reel yourself back in. It will be difficult at first, and it is important to take one small step at a time. One technique that I use is the 3x3 method. This method is simple, quick and effective! We want to first start by finding 3 objects, simple object that are around you. Maybe it's a chair, a book and a pillow. We want to take a look at the chair and just take a deep breathe in and than out. We continue this exercise with the other two objects as well. One completed, you should feel more relaxed and more within the moment. This method is easily adjusted to each personal need. If you need to do a 4x4 or a 10x10- it is your moment!
Another helpful technique would be to find a comfortable position, wherever that is for you in the moment! I begin with closing my eyes and concentrating on my breathing. Then I move to concentrate on listening to my heart beat rhythm. Although this seems very simple, it is not. I find my mind wandering more than I want it to and this is totally normal! I just bring myself back to my breath or my heart beat and start again, with no judgment or expectation.
What about everyone else?
We can bring our practice of Mindfulness to others as well. Being that empathic shoulder for someone, or simply creating space for others. We can be that shining light for someone when they are experiencing stress or negativity.
Recently, I connected with an old friend, who is dealing with major health concerns that had completed altered her lifestyle. Upon chatting, I began to see how much she was grieving her old life. Not being able to drive or go for drinks with the girls, not being able to go on a rollercoaster or even go to work- it was so hard. I started to take space in our conversation where we just embraced how powerful and strong she was today. Taking away the focus of what was, and embracing the moment of NOW! These conversation led her to focus on the present and embrace her change instead of fighting it. On top of these conversations we now plan outings where we can challenge ourselves and change what was the "old norm". I can say providing her insight on reflecting and being intentional in her own choices, also helped me recognize my own tough moments and bringing out the positives in them. I found that even in our chats, we were embracing each other and providing valuable reflection, while giving feedback and setting some solid ground to be very intentional.
What needs to be done for you!