We all have busy lives, we all feel rushed and in a hurry sometimes. Originally I was going to write about how tired I am of seeing people speed through the school zone and not stop for pedestrians (regardless if I have my kid with me or not – a cross walk is a cross walk, and it’s 15 MPH in a school zone people!). But literally, as I typed up that first sentence, as my fingers were hitting the keyboard, I felt another message flow into me that I want to share with you instead.
There’s something magical that happens when we slow down. Think about it: when we are constantly DOING, we don’t have time to be present and just FEEL. Trust me, I know what it’s like when you have a billion things to do and when your head hits the pillow each night your brain rattles off the list of things you never got to that day, or all the things you have to do tomorrow. I know what it’s like when you can’t fall asleep, but you are so, SO tired.
Think about this for a moment: if you were to give yourself time every day to be still, quiet, open, what do you think would happen? It doesn’t have to be a long time, it can be five minutes or even two, but what do you think might happen if you allowed yourself that moment of peace? I will tell you what happened for me, and why this time has become so important to my daily routine.
I’ve always been a writer, I love to write, but often times I “can’t” (ultimately this is a choice, and should be “won’t”) find the time to sit down and journal. Everything I need is right there – my journal, a pen, a nice place to sit – but I still don’t find myself being still. I don’t need a long time, like I said earlier, it can be five or even two minutes, but I wasn’t doing it.
Four days ago I was sitting in the lobby of a beautiful hotel in San Diego, having flown there the night before for a conference with my mentor and community. I got the urge and felt inspired to take out my journal and just write. I didn’t have long before I needed to be somewhere, but that didn’t matter. I began with gratitude: “I am grateful for…” and I just started listing things out, in no particular order, just whatever came to mind and was in my heart in that moment. After filling two pages of gratitudes, and feeling wonderful after having acknowledged all those things in my life (little things like the rain all the way up to the big things like my amazing, supportive husband and kids), I decided to write a letter to God.
This is something I had never done before, in fact I am so new in my journey of getting to know Him, that I didn’t even really know where to start, so I wrote just that: “Dear God, I don’t know what will come of this journaling but what I hope is guidance and inspiration…” What happened afterwards was incredible. I got answers. I got clarity. I got guidance and I got inspiration. All because I chose to find time to be still, quiet and open.
The conference I was at was packed with information, all completely relevant to my work, and all things that eventually I will be able to incorporate. What could have been an overwhelming experience where I just shut down turned into one of the best trainings and masterminding event I have ever attended. I was so present and calm throughout the conference. Nothing bothered me, nothing phased me, nothing overwhelmed me. This was a first for me!
I truly believe my energy shifted and remained one of calmness because I gave myself the time to just BE. I opened up my soul and my heart, asked for guidance and inspiration, and the one message I received, clear as day, was to be present. If I had not done my journaling, if I had not allowed myself a moment of stillness before all of the craziness began, I would not come out of those four days in the wonderful, calm, joyful, peacefully excited way that I did. If I didn’t allow myself that time, I would have been frantic and confused and (I’ve said it before) overwhelmed. How do I know this, because that’s how I’ve spent most other conferences like that one – running myself to the ground trying to learn everything, do everything, be everywhere, instead of just being present.
The lesson I’m trying to share with you is this: give yourself permission to take a moment. Whether it’s meditation, journaling, praying, walking, stretching, or whatever you feel in your heart that brings you calmness and peace, do it, as often as you can. The business of life will always be there, it’s not going to just disappear, but imagine how you might be able to handle it and react differently if you come from a place of peace.
And one last reminder… slow down for the children, 15 MPH in a school zone, and stop at those cross walks!
With Love & Mommy Hugs