Living in the Moment
Creating presence over presents this December
Over the last few days my morning journaling practice has been focused on questions related to creating intentions for the holiday season. I’ve been writing about all the things I love about Christmas as well as all the things that I don’t love so much about the holidays. I’ve been considering questions such as:
What do you love about Christmas/the holidays?
What causes stress during the holidays?
What brings you joy at this time of year?
What drains you?
How do you want to feel during this holiday season?
How can you create that feeling?
What I’ve decided is really important for me as we head into this busy time of year is to stay in the present moment; to enjoy each moment as it unfolds. As I move through each day in a month that typically causes thoughts that lead to feelings of overwhelm, I’m going to remember to pause and ask myself:
Am I living in the moment?
Am I connecting my body with my mind?
Am I going with the flow or against it?
I’d like to share a poem I found that perfectly says what I’m trying to share here. I invite you to read it through once, and then read it again. Really embody the words:
Stop looking forward for a moment, stop
looking back for a moment.
Stop exactly where you are right now
and take a deep breath in.
Hold it for a few seconds
then breathe out.
The world isn’t moving without you.
You are your world.
Everything around you will start
flowing a lot smoother when
you begin tuning into yourself more.
Just a Poet Guy (Facebook)
It’s not the presents, Christmas parties, or ridiculous amounts of food that we all really want, yet that’s what we keep telling ourselves. It’s always a feeling that we’re after.
So how do I want to feel? I want to feel calm, peaceful, loving (and loved).
By tuning in frequently throughout each day, you will begin to notice your feeling state. How can you create the feelings you want in the present moment?
Maybe that looks like taking a few deep breaths;
Maybe it means connecting with someone dear to you;
Maybe it means baking some Christmas cookies or watching a holiday movie; or
Maybe it means sitting down with a cup of tea and a book.
How can you create the feelings that your body craves? What do you need to think? And what do you need to do (or not do)?
“Everything around you will start flowing a lot smoother when you begin tuning into yourself more.”
Very wise words.
———
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"I felt at complete ease with Sharon from our first conversation. She has a wonderful, gentle but firm way that made me focus on my thoughts / feelings so I could remove / change to move forward with a completely different feeling to what felt like obstacles. It was great having regular coaching that gently kept me accountable to actioning and moving towards my goals. Sharon has vast experience in so many areas, I felt that makes her an amazing coach.”
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