With all the hustle and bustle of life, sometimes you realize "I need to spend quality time with myself – by myself."
It's easy to feel guilty for wanting to be alone, to think "I'm being selfish." When I feel this way, I pause, take a deep breath, and remember to be kind to myself instead.
Do you find it challenging to find moments to be alone and present? Is this something you wish you had more time for?
We all find ourselves busy with kids, work, household chores, and many, many other things that are important, but what we forget is that those few moments where we allow ourselves to just lie back, relax, and appreciate whatever it is there is to appreciate right in front of us, are so rewarding. How can we take more time to be connected to ourselves and be present instead of always being on the go?
I’d like to propose this goal for everyone this week: Enjoy the present moment.
Here are three things that you can do to take you a step closer to that goal:
1.Listen to affirmations on a regular basis.
I highly recommend “Soul of Healing Affirmations” by Deepak Chopra. In one of my favorite affirmations by Deepak Chopra, he talks about the idea of presence and what it means to be in the present moment. He starts the affirmation with the following: “Today I will find my soul here and now. This information is about the present moment. Make this your promise for today, and when you find that you have wandered from the present moment, ask to be brought back...."
2. Slow down.
Whatever you are doing, make an effort to do it in a slower way. Take your time and work on thinking and doing one thing at a time. Are you reading to your kids? Just read to your kids, spend time with them, tell them you love them. Don’t think about the emails or texts you have not answered. Are you having a conversation with a friend? Just talk to that friend, don’t worry about the dishes that aren’t being done or the laundry you have waiting for you.
3. Observe the feelings in your mind and body without labeling and judging them.
For me, I often notice that these feeling are located in my upper chest. I find myself not breathing properly – to the point where I’m almost having shortness of breath. I found that if instead of avoiding the feelings and trying to get rid of them or push them away, I just welcome them without allowing my brain to spin out of control, they will often subside.
So, what is that one thing that you can do today to help yourself be in the present moment? Well, you have already accomplished one thing by reading this!
So what is the second thing you can do? Contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our expert therapists or mindfulness coaches.