Have you felt as if time is moving faster? Do you sometimes feel that you blink and it is Friday again? In today’s world, our lives are constantly in motion. With our global connectivity, and devices that allow us to continue from one activity to the next, we often become unaware of where we are in life. We get stuck in the cycle of meeting the next deadline, managing work and personal responsibilities, and feeling that we can barely keep our heads above water.
The funny thing about time is that, when we make a choice to prioritize an activity or task by consciously booking time for it and reordering our day, it quickly becomes a new normal. The time for it is suddenly always available and we are able to dedicate this time without sacrificing something that matters.
Creating balance in our lives is about taking time for self. We freely give to others, both through our responsibilities and because we care, but how often do we add ourselves to our daily lists? Likely, if an unexpected task crops up, you get bumped off your daily list to make time for it. Yet the picture of our lives is painted from within – our internal state dictates how our external world is shaped. When you feel unsettled within, everything around you is off-center.
Taking time to give to yourself and bring internal alignment, will ripple out into every area of your life. Instead of waiting for life to force us to pause and check-in with a wake-up call, we can decide to make ourselves a priority in our own lives.
A few ways to feel balanced and centered:
Create quiet time: Giving ourselves time for stillness, meditation and quiet, is a powerful reset. Creating quiet time in your day allows you to reset, refocus and reenergize your being. Take 15 minutes of your day to be in silence or meditation, not thinking, planning or strategizing – just being in a place of no thought. Do this first thing in the morning when you awaken, and you will
notice a positive change in the day.
Do a weekly check-in: Take time to do a weekly check-in and see what worked this past week. Check in and see if you are moving towards a life that brings you joy, and see if you are taking proper care of your mind, body and spirit. Explore how you are feeling. If you find yourself responding negatively to any of the above, write out one small change you can make to rectify that state, making it a small enough action that you will be able to stick with it.
Be present: Are you going through the motions to get through each day, or are you consciously aware of how the day is unfolding? Most of us focus on getting through the day, not taking in each moment. Becoming present through each activity and interaction is a powerful way to experience life. It also makes you more aware of what your day looks like and how you are spending your time. Experiment and see if you can, for the rest of this day, be fully present in every interaction and experience. Share your experience below. If you managed to do this a few times a day, you have done well – few people can say they are fully present all day. Learning to be more present each day makes life a richer experience.
What do you do to bring balance to your life?
Many Blessings,
Santa
