Bring it Back
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” -Chinese Proverb
What comes to mind when you read this?
For me, it awakens my continued desire to bring myself back to the present moment. And while I believe there are countless ways to reconnect our minds, bodies and spirits, there are even more ways that can distract us.
One happens to be…summer.
Stay with me. I know. Summer is the season of freedom and fun, right? It’s supposed to be a time for amazing memories, bucket lists, vacations, family reunions, summer camps, fireworks, swimming and late nights outside. The rhythm and routine of summer are unique for good purpose. Longer hours of daylight, warmer temperatures and seasonal produce like watermelon and cool treats like popsicles can stir fun into the simplest moments (our kids still jump at the popsicle reward after weekly weeding in the yard).
Yet it’s those very rhythms and routines that can leave us feeling stretched, especially when we are juggling the dynamics of careers, transitions with kids being out of a school routine, college children back on summer break, layered in with expectations, commitments and a whole lot of overwhelm and stress. Or maybe it’s the lack of the typical routine that strikes a discomfort within us – disappointment for unmet goals, increased awareness that we still haven’t conquered those habits we want to change, or relentless boredom that we can’t seem to shake.
This month, I invite you to join me with a focus of RESTORING. To bring back and awaken the power of the present moment in small and simple ways. To get out of the weeds and broaden our perspective. To activate true relaxation and rest. How do we practice this in everyday life?
- Start with awareness. Go inward and name what you’re feeling.
- Accept. It makes sense you’re feeling the way you’re feeling. Own it with honesty, not judgment.
- Get Intentional. Now what? Where do you want to go from here?
Often times, we might have a knee jerk reaction with being intentional and we dig deep to knock out whatever needs to be done. To power through and hustle to complete the task at hand. I want to offer three tools that invite RESTORE to these moments. That will add energy rather than subtract. That will open us rather than deplete us even more. Interestingly, through taking a moment to be, we are often more able to then go and do.
- Invisible Meditation – for a few moments in a seated position, align your hips, shoulders, and head, and let your arms relax. Breathe with a box breath (inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4) and get still. Notice what is happening within you. After a few rounds of the box breath, let yourself fall into a natural inhale/exhale rhythm. Listen for the thing furthest away from you. Then listen for something closer. And something closer. Keep listening until you can hear the sound of your own breath. Offer an intention – a word or phrase that encourages you in this moment. This invisible meditation can be modified and done (with eyes open) while driving, while walking, or while doing mindless tasks like cleaning, organizing, yard work or cooking.
- Legs on the wall. Always an opportunity to restore. Watch this video for how to practice.
- D.I.G. D-deliberate, I – Inspired, G – Going. I first heard this from Brene Brown in her book The Gifts of Imperfection. This type of DIGging deep empowers us to slow down and recenter. We can get deliberate in our thoughts through prayer, meditation or an intention. We can get inspired by changing our focus. I love asking myself the question “what fuels me?” Or “what do I need right now?” Even if I don’t have the answer right away, this simple moment of self-compassion softens the hard edges of the moment. Going – even if we don’t want to, we can create momentum with taking that next step.
While RESTORING practices can be big events in and of themselves, I have found so much power in creating small and simple daily moments to restore right in the mix of every day life.
