ROCK thru when life feels like a climb | Connection to self
by Lee Havenga | May 4, 2023
The trek through the Grand Canyon from one edge to the other is relentless and without the option to quit. Once you’re at the bottom, you must get back out. Fatigued legs, feet, and shoulders all feel the sting of the heavy pack and arduous terrain. When I focus on the thousand steep steps I’ve already taken, I relive the tumultuous past. And I’m filled with dread when my attention drifts to the thousand more steps ahead. Both fixations add unnecessary misery to a difficult journey until I shift my focus and connect with myself. This is the place within me where I trade mental burdens for respite, easing the challenge of the climb out of the canyon. This truth is the same for the climbs of life.
CONNECTION
There are no burdens in the present moment.
Apply it
When you’re overwhelmed and downtrodden, connect to yourself with these simple techniques and lighten your emotional weight, making challenges a little easier.
1. Take a break
Place one hand in the center of your chest and the other on top. Count ‘one’ with the first inhale and ‘one’ on the first exhale. Count ‘two’ on the second inhale and ‘two’ on the second exhale. Continue counting each inhale and exhale with the next consecutive number.
2. Lighten the load
Take deep breaths in and long, slow breaths out. A steady and complete exhale sends signals of safety to the body – exchanging stress hormones for calming ones. This tells your body there is nothing to fear and it’s okay to release negative emotions.
3. Notice the world around you
Soak up the space around you. See the minute details. Feel the temperature and textures. Taste the tang, the sweet, and the sour. Hear the sounds and the silence. Experience the smells deeply.
Connections to yourself help lighten your emotional load whenever you feel like you can’t take another step in your difficulty. ROCK thru when life feels like a climb, and I’ll be rooting for you every step of the way. ~ XO, Lee
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