Greetings All ~
Rest before you're tired.
Relax before you're stressed.
Look for the signals your body, mind or spirit send you before the behaviors of crises actually occur.
This last week I was not getting enough rest and having to move some furniture around for a cable guy to come for installation. I stayed up too late bingeing on a TV show, the whole time thinking, "I'd better get some rest and give myself enough time to get this done..." Did I go to bed? Nope. I got up with less sleep than needed, as well as not feeling like I'd left myself the right amount of time to do the task. So unrested and hurried, I moved a table. On its undershelf were a heavy stack of LPs and books—a large atlas and a big dictionary. I actually thought at the time, "I should remove those before I move the table." But with the time upon me, I blew it off and proceeded to move the table from an unmindful posture. Just as I did that, I knew I'd regret it. Sure enough, I awoke the next day with a pulled lower back.
Why didn't I listen to myself?
What's with the procrastination and leaning into known risk?
Why did I choose not to listen to the gift of intuition and so injure my back?
Experience and logic are there, but it can be over-ridden by apathy for what's best for me. I have come to realize that part of me thrives on pressure and drama, creating an habitual lack of self-care.
This can show up in so many ways for all of us.
Nonsensical online shopping, causing unneeded financial strain
Not hearing a loved one's point of view, causing a rift in the relationship
Overeating, thus slowing us down or making us feel less attractive
Abusing substances, which is really just us abusing our bodies and numbing the messages from our souls
So stop the finger from hitting "purchase." Take a breath if you don't automatically agree. Before you snack, try to determine what it is you're really hungry for. Confront what it is you're feeling before you light up or take a sip.
The back injury isn't a punishment. It's a consequence which carries with it a "lesson" having to be learned by me over and over again!
So on this 1st day of March, I am committing to not only listening to the signals of health and well-being, I am committing to following their directive.For me it's more sleep, more movement, less TV, and more mindfulness of self-care.
What is it for you?
To support this commitment and make it a habit, I am working on re-mastering the One-Minute Breath.
The Buddhists say, "He who breathes the longest, wins the argument." My argument seems to be with my Self! I don't want to argue... I'd like to merge.
"Today I cultivate a humble attitude, dignity and grace, and the strength to take thoughtful, spiritual action." ~from Al-Anon's One Day at a Time
All Good Things,
VickyJap Dharam Rose