Coming Home to Yourself
Too often we forget how simple and sweet life can be — how it’s supposed to be. In the hustle of everyday life, we tend to lose track of what actually matters. And that’s obviously a problem.
Over the past several months, I found myself letting the seriousness of life link up with everyday stress — creating a perpetual chain of things to do and places to be, none of which were the places that deeply nourish me. But a few weeks ago, I renewed an important commitment to myself: to tap back into the blissful state of mind that’s waiting just on the other side of stress.
It’s funny how easily we forget to come back to that home base — that alive, peaceful, and present place within us.
Being busy is fine. It can be fun and rewarding on many levels. But allowing it to erode the personal practices that restore you is not the way to live a long and joy-filled life. We create heaven and hell on earth through what we choose to focus on. The world will push you toward that place of torment if you let it. We have to stand guard over where our minds go if we truly want to tap into our personal power and the deep well of love that fuels us.
The Reminder That Started My Morning
A careless breeze, happy birds, and a child’s song drifting through my window this morning reminded me of one of the best things you can do for your body and your mind — rest.
That moment was inspiring. It was the perfect reminder to continue — and deepen — my commitment to nourishing myself.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in daily activities and responsibilities. But the most important thing is spending sufficient time rejuvenating. When we do, we show up more fully in the world, face challenges with alert optimism, and are genuinely present in whatever we’re doing. Focusing is a lot easier when you’re not daydreaming about escaping your duties.
Remember: we can only give from a full cup.
Three Ways to Stay on Track
I want to challenge you to wake up each day with a plan for how and when you’re going to carve out a little time for yourself. Will it be yoga? A bike ride? Meditation? A walk in nature? It’s easy to forget — but taking care of yourself really should come first. If the fruit tree doesn’t get enough water, it won’t bear fruit.
Here are three things that help me stay the course:
1. Pre-Commit. When you plan and budget your time, you can exercise, meditate, or enjoy a nourishing cup of tea — without guilt. Commit 100%, not 99%. That missing one percent gives you an easy out that can quickly spiral. A full commitment means this sacred time won’t be compromised.
2. Do the most important things first. Willpower is fueled by glucose, which means you have more of it in the morning than in the evening. Tackle the hardest or most dreaded things early. Getting a win or two before noon triggers serotonin and creates healthy momentum for the rest of the day.
3. Display your encouragement where you can see it. Like New Year’s resolutions or weight loss goals, we like to think we’ll change — but we often don’t follow through. Visual reminders help. Rotate sticky notes so they stay fresh. Use quotes or images that move you. If you want to build a habit of reading and drinking herbal tea, set your cup and book out the night before in a way that invites you to follow through. Symbolic reminders need to actually mean something — they should encourage and inspire on a subconscious level.
Sometimes keeping stress at bay takes only 10 minutes a day. So what will you add to your life — starting today?
