Hi lovely people!
Let’s take a moment today about the word “busy.”
What moments do you think of or physically feel like when you are “busy”? For me I feel like I am doing my best to keep up with the demands of my day, doing a first rate job and meeting all of the goals I have set for myself. It also means that I am also probably neglecting a things that I shouldn’t be. Some times this looks like eating when I can, not keeping up on being hydrated properly, not moving my body as I should, not doing the things that fill my soul on a daily basis. If I am really stuck in this mindset, I’m not doing anything I’m passionate about, I don’t “have time” for those things that are so necessary to my body, mind and soul.
When I stop and reflect upon this mindset, usually because I’ve become a little grouchy and my family has let me know in their, oh so subtle ways. I usually then realize what has been driving me. Usually, money, the needs of others, the demands of others, putting everyone else first. I begin to realize that those goals that I have, are not mine. These goals are for others. I am filling people and things with the energy that I need to be giving to myself. Please do not misunderstand, I know that we need our jobs, need our relationships, however first, we need our health, mental as well as physical. We also need to love ourselves, feed our passions, nourish our spirits.
When I realize that I am in in this place of “busy” I now stop, literally just stop. Whatever I was doing just a second ago, I take a break from. Sometimes it can only be 10 minutes, but I take it. I used to apologize to myself, but now I congratulate myself on recognizing that I have been being “busy” and make a shift in my mindset. I check in with myself to see how I am feeling throughout my body, ask myself to be present in this moment. I can usually feel that my body is tired from pushing through the day, and talk to myself gently and let myself know I am aware I need to shift priorities back to myself. I take a moment to become aware of my surroundings and my place in within it. To become content within right where I am.
It took me a while to be able to change my mindset to being content instead of being busy. “Busy”would sweep me up and demanded its needs be met. I had to start actively finding what in each area in my life made me content. I did this one step at a time, when things where calm. Literally, when I wake up I give myself a few minutes to go over a small segment of my day to find what about that part of the day I can find contentment in. Which one on my senses in a certain place or or situation lead to feelings of contentment. To be honest there may not be feelings of contentment there yet, we have not been taught to take moments and be present and enjoy part of it to the point where contentment can be reached. When this happens I work on thinking of being in those moments and then remind myself what I feel when I am content, when love and satisfaction of just being aware of what is present for me. This starts a correlation of being content even when “busy” is trying to take over. I only work on one situation in the morning. As I continue to practice this in the mornings I find my mind wandering during other moments of my day, recognizing contentment when it happens, or even thinking if I did something in a different way, it would be much more enjoyable and pleasing. In time I have been able to recognize when I needed to stop, center myself and regroup to meet my needs as well. I have given myself the time and attention to create a new mindset and tools that work for me that stop me from being “busy” to content in the surroundings of my life, and yes I too am an important part of this landscape.
This does takes time and you need to give yourself grace when it doesn’t happen immediately. Practice and patience is what will get you going and move you forward. It will help you be aware of yourself and your surroundings, and truly shift your perspective on how you are an integral part of this world and how you thrive, grow and love is at the heart of what you are doing here.
You will find yourself more settled, content, and having more energy, for you have given to yourself as well as to others. I encourage you to find and practice the little things that shift your focus form being “busy”, to being present, learning what part of moments you can take pleasure in, and still get complete the necessities of the your daily life. That first night when you relax or put yourself to bed and can say to yourself that you are wholly satisfied with your day, and it is because you chose to be aware and live in each moment, that my lovely people is some powerful healing. I promise it is worth the work, everyday.
Love and Blessings,
Thea