So many of us are overdoing it.

Every day, all the time. It’s so common and well known, too.

Most of us know we’re overloaded with responsibility but can’t seem to stop the self-perpetuating cycle of doing. I know it’s certainly true for me and almost everyone I know. The needs and "shoulds" stack up in our relationships, jobs, home life, community, and so on. Overwhelm. We hear: Be here at this time, don’t forget x,y, and z, you should also... Some of us know how it got this way (it’s baked right into our culture), but it doesn't change the autopilot run-away-train feeling of it all. If I had a nickel for every ad that says something “just got a little easier” - when in reality they’re adding another thing on my plate - let’s just say I’d have a much nicer car.

Some of us have been going for so long that we’ve forgotten what it’s like to stop.

When we do decide to take some time to ourselves, we’re often trained to then fill that precious time container with scrolling, watching, reading, planning, and reviewing. Some of us are bold enough to try and strip that layer away, gaining a moment of relaxation only to find our minds won’t stop obsessing about what’s happening tomorrow, that fallout with a friend or family member, what’s happening with our partners, what we should be doing right now. Ring a bell?

We’ve all been there - and no judgement here, myself included! - it’s understandably easy to just keep going and going. Our world has made it so hard to stop, but that’s exactly what I’m going to propose to you.

Bite-sized Practice to Replace Scrolling:
(5-10 min)

This doesn’t have to be a song and dance. It doesn’t have to be a yoga class, or a mindfulness practice you pull up on your phone. In fact, after reading this, put your phone in a different room. You may want to skimp on this part. Don’t.

+ Take 5 to 10 minutes and focus just on your breath with the intention of connecting to something bigger than yourself. You can call it the Universe, Source, God, Spirit, Nature, whatever rings true for you.

+ Be comfortable, and ground deeply growing roots from whatever parts of you are connected to the floor. See just how big you can make your breath, filling completely up and emptying all the way out, and then emptying just a little more. Pause at the top and the bottom of your breath. Fill yourself like a big pitcher of fresh, clean water, and then pour it back out in a gesture of reverence. Soften, let this be as effortless as possible.

+ Take a moment to wonder in awe that you are even able to sit here and be aware of the miracle of your body. Yes, no matter what you’ve been told, your body is an utter miracle and it deserves your attention, and love. Even if you don’t feel that way, or this is triggering for you, sit in that trigger. Let it teach you something.

+ No need to stop your thinking, this is impossible and not the point. Allow whatever comes up to come up and release it as you bring your attention back to your breath. We do this with no expectation of what our experience might or might not be. No judgement (nor judging of the judge) necessary.

+ When you’re done, write down whatever comes up. Be impartial to whether you like it or not. What you write is not another “should”. This is inner wisdom coming to you to reveal whatever needs attention and presence.

Be brave enough to ask: Who benefits from me on the hamster wheel? Who benefits when I stop? What is my heart’s truest desire?

There is no shame in the stuck-ness of overdrive. But each of us have a choice in every moment, right now, in how we decide to bring our bright light and presence to our lives. In this way, we reclaim our direction and agency. This is a subtle yet strong rebellion, friends. Stopping even for 5 minutes is counter culture. It’s how we pivot from victim-hood to empowerment. This may seem overstated but it’s actually immensely understated.

Try this experiment: Do the above simple breathing meditation 5-10 minutes twice a day for 2 weeks and see what happens. Does the power struggle inside shift? Does your view on “how things are” change?

Let me or someone you trust know how it goes. Find support when needed. I believe you have something incredible to discover inside, if you let yourself go there.

With You, For You.
Trista