As we near the end of this wild and wooly ride for 2020 the perspective seems to be drawing us inward, slowing down and keeping it simple this holiday. Not the usual busy hustling around where you run yourself down running around to get your shopping done, cookies baked, and cards mailed topped off with making your rounds of Christmas gatherings. This year is about caring for your physical and building up your immune system with playing it low key and simplifying the pace to align with the natural energy of these shorter days. Days to dream more in alignment with the winter solstice. The theme this year is to pause, reflect and simplify.
We are definitely continuing with movement into yet another new spiral of changes in 2021. There are still many unknowns. The call for resilience is stronger than ever to respond to life’s twists and turns without reacting and feeling the impact of anxiety and fear. How to feel brave and courageous is what you can explore as you go inward and reflect upon the ideal attitude and approach so you can stay the course of resilience.
As a nation we are resilient. We pull together collectively and lean into our faith and hone our trust that something larger than we can imagine is guiding this evolutionary movement collectively. The call for those who are self-aware is to be part of the solution and not add to the collective fear, worry and upset that so many around us express.
Here is a simple practice that you can do to stay calm in the storm, to respond and not react, to increase your self awareness with mindful awareness. This practice is called Pause-Notice-Choose and you can do this anywhere, any time as pausing in the moment is always within your free will circle to exercise.
Pause-Notice-Choose Practice in the moment so you can reflect and take a breath:
- Pause in the moment and center yourself with a breath into your belly, a slow deep breath. Quiet the mind and only focus on the inhale and exhale.
- Notice in that moment: what do you feel? What do you sense? What is your internal landscape? What is going on around you in the outer landscape? Stay neutral as you assess and name what you notice in that simple moment.
- Choose: now what will you do in this moment? Will you take more deep breaths? Will you pause a few moments longer? Is there an empowering action you can take to respond and not react to what you are feeling and sensing for yourself in that moment? What do you need? What is your heart’s desire?
How you choose to respond is how you are taking responsibility for yourself to be part of the solution as a response and to consciously step out of reactivity. Holding space for yourself to slow down and notice is an act of free will and self-love. This is how you can stop being at the effect of your mental and emotional fluctuations so you can rebalance and center yourself to feel more present and neutral both internally and externally.
Pause-Notice-Choose to see the beauty and the peace of the season and enjoy the pause.
Sara Regester RN, BSN, NBC-HWC
Stress Mastery Expert at Directions 4 Wellness
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