Sometimes I forget to breathe.
My clients think this is for them. Ha.
Confession time–I've got a bit of a Superwoman complex. If there's someone in need (including a small yappy dog) I think I'm the one to rescue. This “complex” has led to an absolutely crazy schedule, one in which at the end of the day I'm too depleted to do anything but flop on the couch and watch re-runs of Two and a Half Men.
Yeah, it's that sad. (Though I saw the new season opener that featured a naked Ashton Kutcher, and that wasn't bad.)
I haven't done any writing, or even rewriting, in close to a month. At that realization, I feel panic tightening my chest with a band of stress that's become a familiar presence. I miss my writing, and can't get to it–other people's emergencies are in the way.
Here's what I tell my clients having a panic attack:
Breathe. Feel the air moving in and out of your lungs. Be in now, feel the sensations all around you. Ground yourself right where you are and know you are okay and have everything you need. Let the emergencies going on around you, go on without you.
Ram Dass gave us this bit of awesome way back in the 1970's.
Mindfulness. It's a practice, a way to de-stress in the shortest possible time. Because no matter how bad things are, each separate moment of time they simply aren't that terrible. It's the monkeymind projecting, anticipating, constructing, rehearsing and mental grinding that are this Superwoman's kryptonite–and may be for you too.
Another thing I do to be mindful is watch the sunset as many nights as I can with Renaissance Man. The other night we hopped in the car and drove up the mountain, parked our beach chairs on the edge of the road, sipped wine out of canteens, and I got this shot:
I call this the Glory Sunset because it reminds me of a look into the glass furnace.
Yes.
Stop what you're doing, and breathe.
Take it in.
Notice.
Let go.
It's all okay.
- Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans. -John Lennon
Wow – the second blog post I’ve read today reminding how important each breath is 😉 What a wonderful thing!! Thanks for the excellent refocusing, I needed that!
Thanks for popping by, Sessha!
This sounds so familiar. I’m glad breathing’s an automatic process, otherwise I’d really forget. Those times when I remember to breathe deeply, I’m always amazed at what a brilliant way it is to revitalise and recover.
I wouldn’t worry about the not-writing phase. I’m sure you’re processing things in the meantime, and your writing will be better for it afterwards. (Mind, I might be projecting here, or deluding myself. ;-))
It’s all going on in the back of the brain somewhere. I hope.
Hmm. I find that it is a pitiful world indeed when we have to remind ourselves to breath. I sit here listening to the neighbors water pond, birds singing, and the wind softly blowing the leaves through the trees and I donʻt hear them. Contradiction? Yes. But I needed to read your words to remind me that they are all there. Beautiful sunset.
I’m glad you slowed down. Really liked your piece on the war capes today!
After you breathe, if you’re still having trouble getting motivated, write a short story, some little spark or what-if and let be be as long or short as it turns out. It could be just what you need to get the juices flowing again.
great to hear from you, Mark, and great suggestion!
Thanks for these words ….I do need to breathe.
Thank you for this perfect timing post! Have a beautiful day!
Take care,
Lisa
:Thanks for popping in to comment!