You know the feeling of needing to get out of town so badly you feel like you can’t last one more day? Like you just need a break from it all and can’t quite seem to catch a break? The feeling of really needing to escape is real. But over the years of devoting daily time to mindfulness meditation and a few other rituals, I’ve learned how to manage the curve balls each day brings in a way that isn’t stirring me up inside so much anymore.
I’ve learned the real beauty of life is in the small moments and tasks that make up a day, and that life is lived in the moment we’re in. It all boils down to caring for the nervous system. When we don’t have the tools to manage our own mind’s response to the outside world, the outside world has total control over us. We’re pulled in all directions and react to the smallest nuisance like it’s a life-threatening event. Our nervous systems spiking and barely recovering all day every day gives us that feeling of direly needing an escape from life. Vacations are great, but without tending to the underlying issue, we return home in the same place we left — needing another break.
Whether you are a 60+ hour a week employee, business owner or a 24/7 full-time mom (or both!), here are a few things that have helped me immensely in loving life a little more:
1. A good attitude starts from the inside. It’s hard to feel capable and resilient when you have a deficiency, especially a Vitamin D deficiency. Make an appointment with your doctor, get a blood panel done and work together to get everything back on track as soon as possible.
2. Be mindful of smartphone use in the early morning. First thing in the morning your mind is most open and clear. Smartphone technology is designed to play on our vulnerabilities and our blind spots. It’s designed to remind us of all we’re missing, so we keep signing on even when there’s no reason. An easy way to take back control of your own mind is to wait an hour before checking email, text and social media. Allow your brain and body to wake to the day more quietly and naturally. Make this a daily ritual and over time you’ll notice the sense of spaciousness this brings to your state of mind.
3. Consistency is key. One of the most powerful practices available today to help people manage their own thoughts is meditation. Through this practice, you come to realize that you are not your thoughts. The power of your thoughts begins to diminish and creativity, clarity and joy shine through. Consistency is key. Ten minutes of daily meditation is more powerful and brain changing than an hour once a week. If you’re telling yourself that you don’t have time, ask yourself how much time you spend scrolling social media each day and reevaluate. This was a powerful realization for me.
Lauren Wessinger is a DFW Yoga Instructor who recently launched Wellness Partners, an organization dedicated to providing mindfulness and stress reduction in corporate environments and school-aged education.