Finding Your Center Can Be So Grounding
We live in a very complex world, that’s not only busy but can be stressful at times. It can be as simple or as complicated as you decide to make it though. We can rush here and rush there, without really stopping to smell the flowers, most of which we can find in our own backyards, our homes or in nature. If you want to live a more simple life the key is to plan and focus on having a string of simpler days. This may mean having to change how you look at your life, by making different choices about how you spend your time and energy.
If you have a difficult time making a decision, ASK YOURSELF if it will matter in a year from now or even five years from now. If it won’t , then you can relax in the knowing that there is more than one “right” decision.
A good way to start finding your center is by following these steps:
- Limit Your Choices – Every day we may have tasks that we don’t enjoy doing but know that they need to be done. Sometimes when you’re faced with tasks you don’t like, it may be easier to break down those tasks into smaller chunks. Getting smaller chunks completed a little bit at a time can make these overburdening tasks more manageable. By limiting the number of choices you have to make every day this can also help reduce your stress. Try reducing your wardrobe to only your favourite outfits. Plan and organize your meals for the week in advance and post this on a calendar near your fridge for easy access. Keeping up with things is so much easier than getting behind and having to catch up later on.
- Staying Organized – When you have a family, it can help to have your children do simple chores which keeps everyone more organized. For example, you could keep colored bins in a central area assigned to each child. These bins can hold school notes, or paperwork that may require your attention. When you plan your day, stay on task resisting the urge to deviate from your original plan by finishing what you started, or do one more thing or buy one more item.
- More Than One Choice – If you are having a challenging time making decisions, try asking yourself if this will matter, in a month from now, or a year from now. If it won’t, you can put your mind at ease with the knowledge that there is more than one ‘right’ choice.
- Stretch – Stretch out your body whether your in bed or sitting in a chair eating your breakfast, this is an easy task that you can make a regular part of your routine. Just reach your arms overhead gently so as not to overexert yourself. With your toes pointing towards to the sky, pushing your heels out, reach your finger tips as far back as you can. Really stretch. Hold for 5 seconds and release slowly. Breathing out at the same time, breath in, releasing and breathing out, several times in a row till you feel relaxed. Stretching helps to circulate the blood, leading to more energy, and more oxygen in the blood stream.
- Ground yourself each morning by taking a few moments each day to center yourself and think about how you will keep your life balanced today. If you feel like dancing , move your feet, and invite the rest of your body to follow, and if you feel like singing, belt out your favourite tune at the top of your lungs.
- Make it a goal to smile at everyone you pass today and see how it feels. Don’t be surprised if most people smile back, which will make you feel really good. There is nothing more attractive than someone who is smiling and happy.
Remember there will always be people with more wealth, charisma, charm, and abilities than you – as well as people that are far less fortunate than you. Be happy with what you have today. A little gratitude can go a long way to feeling better and more grounded.
