Finding Ways
In a world that is rapidly changing how do you find your way? What is something that can be done to centre your soul and heart right in the present moment.
We have been weaving the art of the right now even in the midst of change, unrest, fractured supports networks, exhausted practitioners and burnt our care givers fora few years now.
We get that it is a lot, and it can often feel like you are getting nowhere fast. That is why we always ensure we take time to rest and listen more intensely to the ways our bodies remind us what it needs.
It has led to a relentless pursuit (you might even call it obsessive😉) of ways to help you in this life we are living right her and right now.
Our Five Top Ways to Find A Better Way - this is by no means an exghaustive list but it is our ‘go to list’ when we ourselves are overcome with so many shifting demands and deadlines.
Stop and Rest!
This so counterintuitive in a world that shouts at us to keep busy but it is the number one way we find breathing space. A step away from the project at hand (even for 10 minutes) allows the nervous sytem to adjust and the brain to slow down. It gives our eyes an opportunity to look at something else and this causes changes internally on a physiological level.
Arguing with family members or being frustrated with different points of view, a looming deadline and not getting things done ‘in time’ (more on this time thing below). Stopping right in the middle of it all is often the best option. Try it next time you are banging your head against a metaphorical wall and see what happens.
2. Pick up outside interests
Do you have things you used to do that you enjoyed? Don’t let them fall away. Go read that book, pick up your knitting needles, hit the gym again and sign up for that HIIT class you used to love. Make time to connect with your nearest and dearest, head out for a long lunch. Make art, go to a festival (I have been hitting Fringe on repeat!). Hit the pool or ocean and swim, nap, book that holiday, go for a hike somewhere different.
These other interests are what makes you you. When we get busy with life and all its requirements it is these things that tend to fall off first. By making time for what you love you are reminding yourself that you matter, and this will support you to remain caring and kind and will allow you to better support the people in your circle of influence.
3. Do less
When we become overly committed, we recognise the ways this shows up in our daily lives. We are each different, but we call each other out on it here at Essential Estuary and remind each other to remember what we are here for. We have had a lot of team meetings where we have stipulated each of us to do less . Why you may ask. What happens to all the ‘urgent things’ if you do less, this doesn’t sound like it makes any sense.
Well it does becasue when we slow down and take away the pressure to perform all the matters with urgency we are able to recalibrate and then come back to our tasks with greater focus and clarity. Bonus outcome is that every.single.time the task’s get done in quicker time. So, the moral of this story is that if you practice the art of doing less but doing it well, you will actually very likely end up doing way more than you ever thought was possible.
4. Time is a social construct
Yes we are calling it right here. This whole time thing is actually something born out of the industrial revolution when machinery started to allow mankind ot automate tasks with machinery and the creation of factories. It was discovered that machines could work at their optimum for 9-12 hours without a break and from there the workday and the concept of time governing how people lived came about.
The ideal workday was put in place to best support the machines from the industrial revolution. Let that sink in for a moment.
Prior to this mankind lived seasonally and time was not binding. They lived a slower more purposeful life and were in touch with their surroundings. They met their immediate needs but did not think ‘I will just work another 2 hours to get this done’. I thin k our ancestors would be horrified to see how we live today.
All of this is to remind you that time is literally that. It is just time. It is just one unit of measure. This is also your reminder that there are other ways to measure what you are doing. Is there anothre way to value your service, your work, how much you have ot do? What ids you allowed cycles, seasons or your gut to drive how much /work/stuff/things/ you did?
Would that change how you showed up?
5. Be kind
…to yourself and to others. This is perhaps our favourite way here at EE. No-one ever asked for less kindness.
When we open up to the possibilities of being kind it changes our bodies on a physical level. We dare you to think about a time when someone was kind to you. What happens when you remember that? Does your mouth start to curve into a little smile? Does your heart fel lighter? Does your headache reduce even for a moment?
Imagine if we all purposed to do something kind for someone else each day. How incredible. Now, imagine if you also added one more thing into the mix. Imagine if you were also kind to yourself each day. What a magical way to live this life!!
We all can choose these options and so many more. We encourage you to think about what ways you can uncover the ways that work for you and the beauty you are trying to create in this world.