Have you ever noticed the frenetic energy in and around your body caused by a hectic pace and a busy schedule? Over the past few weeks, I've had several people tell me about feeling in too much of a hurry and I've seen many others post or comment this week about the pace of the busy season they are trying to manage. Especially, at this time of year where their to do lists are extra long and breaks far fewer.
I learned something several years ago, and although I still catch myself sometimes, it has helped me a lot. It was another Aha moment for me when I noticed and because I've shared it recently with several people and am hearing about so many experiencing the same thing, I thought I'd share my lesson here.
How often do you tune in and check where your energy is?
I was living in downtown D.C. at the time and I walked everywhere. I loved it, but I went through a very busy period of many appointments and meetings everyday a few years back and I found myself always rushing from one thing to the next. Always. Rushing.
Image credit: Pixabay.com // gunamalik
One day I was racing down the street to the next meeting. It literally felt like racing. I was practically out of breath and couldn't walk any faster. I didn't want to be late; however, running was not an option. Moving faster also wasn't exactly the point and I might not have learned the lesson had I been running. My guess is that I would have been moving too fast to notice.
In my race-walk, I suddenly became aware that I was frantically rushing and that it was a very uncomfortable feeling of pushing forward with my upper body faster than I was actually moving. I came to a stop. There was a frenetic energy about the whole thing that I finally perceived. It was too common a pattern. I was tired and winded. I noticed my energy. Not my energy level, but my energy. I sensed that it was completely at the front edge of my physical body and way out in front of me; none of it felt at the back or middle of my body. I was physically & energetically pushing or leaning forward and rushing.
I also realized this wasn't how I wanted to feel and most importantly, I no longer had to.
I could move fast without "rushing."
Image credit: Pixabay.com //PublicDomainPictures
Funny, but this had never occurred to me before. I know I had noticed the rushing and how it felt before, but there was a deeper self-awareness to it this time. I consciously pulled my energy back into the middle of my body and continued quickly on my way to my appointment. My legs moved just a fast as before, but the forced ahead, frenetic quality was gone. I arrived on time, feeling energized by my brisk walk and wasn't harried, as I would have felt had I not made the adjustment.
If you're feeling rushed (even frenzied) at this time of year or anytime, take a moment to tune in and notice your energy. Where is it? Too far forward? Way out in front? Pause and pull it back. If you're unsure how, imagine doing it by putting your attention on where you feel your energy and draw your attention in from there. You can move it from the edge of your body or even from much further out in front you back into the middle of of your body (the middle from head to toe, not just at your stomach for example). Let your attention rest there for a few moments. When you're ready, continue on at whatever pace you choose. Perhaps you can slow down altogether or maybe like I did, you'll move just as quickly, but no longer feel so rushed.
Wishing you a very happy & calmer busy season.
Love,
Nikki