As the year is drawing to a close and the holidays are around the corner, I hear people around me stressing out and trying to cram in as much as possible before the New Year. Plans, intentions, revisions of the year, reflections, goals for next year, resolutions - you name it.
Sure, I do find value in those kinds of activities myself, and if it feels good and you enjoy it, go for it!
However, I think it’s important to ask oneself, why am I doing this?
Am I forcing myself to frantically try to set goals for next year, or revise stuff that didn’t go that well and try to come up with better solutions when in reality what I need is to take a timeout and relax?
Many of you are, like me, self-employed or engaged in some self-driven projects, and that can add to a sense of urgency to keep doing. More. Faster. Better.
I think it’s time to reclaim the value of being. Just be. Without any kind of purpose or agenda. Simply being because hey, we’re alive.
A way to get in contact with that part of ourselves is by breathing deeply and really sensing the body.
Try it right now.
Take a deep breath in and exhale completely through the mouth.
One more time, deep inhalation and exhale fully.
Last time; inhale and exhale with a sigh.
Notice how you feel.
You are a living breathing being in a body with a soft heart and senses that connect you to the world.
Check in with yourself and notice what you need in this moment. Do you still have tons of to-do’s on your list for this year? Take a discerning look at the list, what is truly necessary and what can you let go off? Is there stuff that you feel you should do? (But in reality, you don’t need to). Drop them.
When we’re used to constantly doing, it can be difficult to shift gears, and we can sometimes end up creating more doing for ourselves that really isn’t necessary.
Nurture. Ease. Fun. Pleasure. Flow.
Slow. Embrace. Space. Nourish. Rest.
Let those words guide you.
If you find it hard to allow yourself to relax into being, this is your permission slip. You have permission to just be.