Mindful Moment #4

As we travel down this road of life one of the largest and most deceptive of all the pitfalls we face is losing ourselves. This is especially true for those of us who are “givers” by nature. It makes us happy to see those around us happy so we become a support system for many of our friends, relatives, and co-workers.

Often people can come to rely on and expect this kind of support from you but don’t always offer you the same support in return. This situation can quickly spiral out of control and can end up being an unhealthy drain on our time, emotional, and physical wellbeing. If we find ourselves in these unbalanced relationships often it’s a good idea to begin to set some healthy boundaries (more on this can be found here.)

Our minds and bodies give us clear signals when we’re taking on too much, if we’re paying attention. When we’re overloaded we feel frazzled, moody, and generally exhausted. These feelings are like our soul’s “check engine light”. When that light comes on it’s wise to pay attention.

It’s very important, especially around the Holidays, to be mindful of our own energy levels and take time for ourselves to recharge when we need to. On the surface taking time for yourself might seem selfish but it’s actually selfless in a way. After all, it’s impossible to be the best versions of ourselves when we’re feeling physically and emotionally overwhelmed.

These moments of self care don’t have to be a two week long trip to the tropics, they can be just a short reset. This reset can be a variety of different things to different people - a gym workout, a walk in the woods, a hot bath, a guided meditation session. Self care is anything that gives your mind and body a few moments of pause to replenish, recalibrate, and renew your energy.

A good trick to remind yourself of this is to set a recurring daily reminder on your mobile phone with a message like, “Is it time to take a pause?” or simply, “Breathe...”

“If you do not make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness.”

Putting Words Into Action

This guided meditation can help restore and renew you in a very short amount of time.

Find a quiet place. Sit upright in a comfortable chair with your eyes closed and concentrate on your breath for a count of thirty.

Just thirty seconds of conscious breathing will usually ground you enough where guided meditation can be effective.

Guided Meditation

INHALE for a count of 5 through your nose. Envision you’re breathing in a pure, bright, and healing light;
HOLD the breath for a count of 5. Imagine this healing light spreading throughout your body from the tips of your fingers to the tips of your toes;
EXHALE for a count of 5 through your mouth. Envision the bright light being exhaled and filling the room you’re in; and
Repeat for as long as you like (at least 3 repetitions).

After you practice this very simple meditation technique for even a few minutes it’s very helpful to linger in that place of peace and calm, focusing your mind on preserving and radiating the light within you. Also, never forget to actively engineer your life so you need to take less and less of these kinds of breaks.

For more easy and practical tips on ways to integrate meditation into your life please check out my book, The Perfect Pause, available on Amazon in eBook and paperback formats.

Did you miss previous installments of the Mindful Moments Series? If so, you can find them here: 1 - Two Week Media Fast, 2 - Worry and Fear, 3 - Setting Boundaries.

Be well.

In Gratitude,

~ Eric Vance Walton ~

*I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and crypto-enthusiast. If you’ve enjoyed my work please sign up for my author newsletter at my website. Newsletter subscribers will receive exclusive updates and special offers and your information will never be sold or shared.

Alarm Clock Dawn, one of the first full length novels published on the blockchain, and the book that started it all for me can be found HERE. Or Click Here to read it for free on the Steemit blockchain