āItās just a heavy season,ā I said to my sister as we were talking the other day.Ā
That phrase came out as I was telling her about the baby chickens we just got during a whirlwind weekend at our friendsā house, which was supposed to be chill and calm, but ended up being a non-stop swirl of events and plans and kids and animals.Ā And here I was up late, needing to run fast for the full work week ahead.Ā Ā
I. Was. Done.Ā
As soon as I said it, my brain rolled through the dozens of times Iāve said this exact statement in the past year.Ā Ā
And then, like the mind-blowing finale of a movie, I heard a voice clearly sayā¦
āItās time to slow down, Katie.āĀ
Everything went silent and I could immediately recognize the distinction between the calm and centered Katie, and the fast-paced, trying-to-hold-all-the-balls-in-the-air Katie.Ā
Wow.Ā Ā
Are you in a heavy season right now too?
(Have you been in one for a little too long?Ā Or a little too often as well?)
If youāre hearing your inner voice whispering - or possibly screaming - that itās time to slow down, might I suggest that you and I take a seatā¦and listen.Ā Ā
Slowing down might seem like two simple words, but for someone who has become accustomed to moving fast, it can be a bit challenging.Ā Ā
So, here are some quick tips on how you and I can slow ourselves down and reconnect to the peace thatās already within us.
1.Take 5 Deep Conscious Breaths. Take your mind away from your thoughts and feelings, and direct that attention toward the simple act of counting your breaths. Breathe in, breathe outā¦1.Ā Breathe in, breathe outā¦2.Ā Youāll be surprised how quickly you can come back to center and feel the physical and mental sensations of calm.
2.Press Play on a Guided Meditation. I love guided meditations because the only thing it requires of you is to press play and listen.Ā The guides do the heavy lifting for you.Ā So scroll through the thousands of free guided meditations weāve created for you and just. press. play.
3.Clear Up Your Schedule.Ā Cancel meetings, play dates and appointments.Ā Ask your spouse or family or friends to take over tasks (like picking up kids, taking out trash, feeding pets). Create some s-p-a-c-e for your soul to breathe and recalibrate.
4.Wake a Walk in Nature. Get outside and be one with your natural environment. Feeling the sun on my skin, hearing the wind whistle through the trees and seeing all the animals move about reminds me that nature has its own, divine rhythm.Ā And so do I.Ā It helps me recalibrate to my own, natural rhythm.
RECALIBRATE & RECOMMIT TO YOUR DESIRED RHYTHM
While I love living a full, deep life, I do not like feeling busy.Ā I donāt like feeling rushed or like Iām running around all the time.Ā So, when I begin feeling overwhelmed, irritable, physically tightā¦I take some time out for myself and recalibrate.Ā
I remind myself of my priorities.Ā Ā
I remind myself of my desires.Ā
I remind myself what it feels like and looks like to live peacefully and wholly as me.Ā
And inevitably, that leads me to turn some of those yeses into ānot nowāsā or ānoās.āĀ Ā
Living a full life does not need to include burnout!Ā So if youāre like me and youāve been going through a āheavy season,ā let me know how some of these tips work for you. Iām always surprised at how quickly I can come back to center and find my rhythm again.Ā Ā
Ohā¦and Iāll let you know how things go with my chickens. ;)Ā
So much love,
KatieĀ
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