working back to your centre

Monday, June 4, 2012
today I woke up with a pain all down my right leg, the remnants of my virus (which I am still battling!) and a slightly stressed outlook. As it is a public holiday, I believe everyone who is home from work has decided that getting out assorted power tools sounds like a good way to spend the day, and is using them as loudly as possible.
I have two essays to complete - one hopefully by 5ish today. I am overtired from a really awful night's sleep (nausea + trying to sleep apparently = bleurghhh). And yet, I am surprisingly upbeat.


So I'm going to use this post to remind you that you CAN return to your centre. Some days it's harder than others - some days you don't really get there because there's just too much going on to remember you HAVE a centre to return to. Some days you wake up and you're just there... and it's beautiful.
Here are some things that I have found useful for returning to my centre:


  1. spend some time alone. the thing is, a lot of people don't like doing this. it can be difficult to spend time alone when you have problems with yourself, or if you spend a LOT of time alone and just want something different. connection with yourself is so important. so when I say spend time alone, I don't mean sitting there and turning on music so loudly that you can't hear your own thoughts, or turning on the tv and watching whatever random sitcom has been put on today (I often end up watching re-runs of Friends or How I Met Your Mother, or The Big Bang Theory). I mean consciously tuning in to what you're thinking and having a discussion with yourself. Sometimes it's difficult - it's okay if you can only do it for two minutes - hey! That's two more minutes than yesterday! It's a process. But if you can listen to what you're thinking, you may be able to find a way back to feeling calm and centred. Journalling is also helpful!
  2. get moving! Ah yes, exercise. My enemy from the age of about 10 to 17. Then it became something which was there, but could not be attained. Right now, I'm patching up my relationship with exercise. We're on a gentle agreement that I will do yoga every day that I'm able, with the addition of something else if I can. Sometimes my exercise is simply walking from my house to a local shop to pick up food/other necessities and then walking back. Sometimes it's walking from my work to the financial advisors next door to drop off some documents - whatever it is, it counts as something to me. Consciously exercising and taking a moment to move your body in whatever way feels right can be so beautiful, and so grounding. Find something that works for you!
  3. find some nature. breathe in the fresh air, feel the breeze, absorb some sunshine! If it's raining and you don't want to get wet, just stand under a verandah for awhile and breathe in the scent of the rain. On days when I'm feeling really sick, I will always try to sit outside for a few minutes and either read (if I can) or just watch things in the garden. Even if I don't feel better physically, it can give me an amazing emotional boost.

that's all right now. I need to get back to that essay! The three tips above are supremely useful, but I must admit sometimes I forget to even try to go back to my centre. There's too much to do, too much at stake! I don't have time to journal right now! But, really, there's always a little time that I can make for myself. Because investing in myself is one of the best things I could do --> it gives me more energy to invest in others. :)

love to all who read!

oh! and - journalling prompts. try making a list of things that help you feel more grounded in your you-ness. What brings you back to yourself? <3

1 comment:

  1. I think what brings you back to your centre is the same thing that brings me back to mine: aloneness, exercise (to remind me of life), and nature (for reflection). And maybe time- time heals many things.

    I think the most important thing is to keep trying to be a better person. It can be harder some days than others, but it's always worth it.

    ReplyDelete

All content owned by Bethwyn Walker unless otherwise stated. Powered by Blogger.

books | chronic illness | lifestyle | wellbeing

Powered by Blogger.
Back to Top