Breathe... On Purpose
It’s not unusual for me to feel a bit overwhelmed with deadlines, projects, and life in general. After all, I’m well practiced at handling being ridiculously over committed. Over the years, I’ve honed a few skills and habits that help ease the stress:
- Conquering email clutter
- Taking breaks
- Delegating
- Saying no to noise and needless interruptions
- Taking care of myself
But I’ve been simmering with pressure & anxiety lately.
I’m cranky. I’m having a hard time focusing. I’m easily frustrated.
The full boil feels very near, and it does not feel good.
But I’m not sure why it caught up to me right now. Sure I have several major projects due. And yes, we are a few weeks away from our big party. But, it really isn’t that different than other times. This is what my work life looks like, and I typically cruise right through.
Plus I’ve been taking VERY good care of myself — thank goodness – I’d be a total wreck if I weren’t.
To my dismay, the exercise and good food weren’t taking the edge off, and proper rest wasn’t helping. Checking tasks off the list didn’t ease the tension, and chocolate brought no relief.
I knew I was in big trouble when planting herbs didn’t even ease the tension!
And then The Universe sent me a little present.
I went downstairs to sorta-work-out-sorta-putter in the garage. And in the course of the puttering, I found an old tape. Yep, a cassette tape. It was not the Go-Go’s, but rather a spiritual sort of tape that meant so much to me a very long time ago. I won’t go into the details, because my god-mother-nature-buddha-quiet-voice kind of spirituality is very personal and difficult to describe with words.
But I will say that I believe in something big, and it does not involve Kris as the Captain.
I plopped the tape into an old tape recorder that was conveniently located on the workbench. (I know… that is a miracle all by itself, right?)
The words came out, and I immediately felt a sense of calm and surrender.
That fast.
Warm. Safe. Relaxed.
A back-in-the-womb sort of comfort.
I remembered immediately the root of my stress and anxiety was that I had been forgetting to nurture my SOUL.
Sure I had been nurturing my body through wonderful self care, but my path of health and wellness demands proper soul medicine too.
For many, soul medicine may take various forms and involve special places or rituals. For me, it involves pausing, being quiet, stilling the mind, and remembering…
- that I am not alone
- that my shoulders do not have to be so broad
- that guidance and courage are available at any moment
- that I am grateful
I soaked in this tape for over an hour – breathing fully and letting go.
I was reminded that rediscovering this tape was not a coincidence, and that my whole life wellness requires me to create more of these moments throughout each day.
How do you feed your soul? What’s your soul medicine?
Meant to be, wasn’t it? So glad it worked out that way for you and that you are feeling better now. It’s always good to reflect and figure out what you need to achieve that balanced calm.
When I get overwhelmed, I take stock and look for the areas I can lighten up. If it means not volunteering at the kids school, or saying no to a new committee, so be it. We’re no good to anyone if we aren’t good to ourselves!
misszippy recently posted..The world conspired against me
Ah yes – filling the well so that we have some to give, right?
Glad to hear you found your calm!
I feed my soul with music. Whenever I am down, listening to music totally lifts me up and makes all the difference in the world.
Oh and this past week one of my goals for the online bootcamp I’m doing was to write a positive thought about myself every day so that helped too.
Angie @ Losing It and Loving It recently posted..Positive Thoughts
Aw thanks Angie! Music = Soul Medicine #truth
Kris @Krazy_Kris recently posted..Firework | Katy Perry | Music Monday
man we are on the same wavelength this…weekend.
for me it is the duality of REMEMBERING IM NOT ALONE (as when I feel my smile slipping that can so often be the accompanying overwhelming feeling) and HOLDING SOMEONE I LOVE.
Miz recently posted..Monkey bar Monday.
ahhhhh – love that about HOLDING someone we love. not talking to. not sitting on the couch with. but HOLDING. so lovely – thank you!
Kris @Krazy_Kris recently posted..Soul Medicine | The “Other” Part of Health and Wellness
you KNOW this speaks to me, ESPECIALLY right now. things definitely happen for a reason – signs little and big are there to help us when we need it.
here’s to a new week, a calmer one.
Kris recently posted..National Spinach Day
oh yes – the great thing about being from “our” generation, is that deep down, we KNOW that “life” always changes. Maybe not in a day, or a week, but eventually it always does.
Here’s to our soul medicine this week :)
Kris @Krazy_Kris recently posted..Train for Life | The Reluctant Exerciser
I spend three + hours a week at a cat shelter-grooming, petting, feeding, changing their bedding. And my life-career is with special needs kids-I gravitate towards the most needy (non-verbal/wheel-chair). These scenarios, although so different, remind me of many things and teach me so much, and make be happy.
Outstanding! I’ve been thinking more about service – it is definitely soul medicine! I used to be involved with a few different causes, and I don’t know how that changed, but I think the “stuff” stopped finding me. I guess it’s time to find “them”. Thank you!
Kris @Krazy_Kris recently posted..Jumprope | Conquering My Nemesis | The Reluctant Exerciser
Bliss. Am so glad you “found the tape” and took the time to fulky embtace and care for self. Yes; being still and nurturing our core is vital.
ahhhhh – still? so simple, yet so elusive. and yes, I am glad I found the tape too – I LOVE when the universe speaks to me (most of the time).
Kris @Krazy_Kris recently posted..Soul Medicine | The “Other” Part of Health and Wellness
Ah, love this! I am realizing that walking my dog feeds my soul, if I leave the iPod behind and just let myself decompress.
Coco recently posted..Think Pink!
I was thinking about your puppy! Such a lovely time to unplug, get out, and be present. And, the quiet part? Sans music? Hard but VERY lovely :)
Kris @Krazy_Kris recently posted..Soul Medicine | The “Other” Part of Health and Wellness
This seems to be a thing with many lately – losing our smiles as Carla wrote & you with your soul which I LOVE!!!!! Really, we don’t always pay enough attention to that. I think that part about our shoulders don’t have to be so broad & we can ask for help OR give ourselves help without feeling guilty!
THX KRIS _ LOVE!!!
Jody – Fit at 54 recently posted..Running Shoes & Unequal Technology Shoe Insoles
Aw Jody- you are so sweet! And yes, the asking for help is key! I must figure out how to do it more at work. I’m usually sunk before I realize I need to ask for help. Finding my smiles with all of you :)
Kris @Krazy_Kris recently posted..Soul Medicine | The “Other” Part of Health and Wellness
I love this post- I feed my soul with long long walks alone…just me and the trees. ;) Oh…and crankin’ up music while I make pancakes on the weekend.
So lovely – you and the trees – I know it is a beautiful sight :)
Kris @Krazy_Kris recently posted..Soul Medicine | The “Other” Part of Health and Wellness
I commented on a previous post that I listen to books and lectures when I workout rather than music. Mostly these days I listen to Podcasts of the Public Radio show, On Being. Those moments, all alone in my gym, listening to the thoughts, ideas, and inspiration of theologians, scientists, artists, and some of the world’s foremost critical thinkers keeps me grounded. As I stated before, it’s medicine for my my head, my soul, and my body all once. The efficiency of synergy in the modern world. If only for an hour a day, know peace. This one I have licked.
Emergefit recently posted..In Theory…
ah – the universe and podcasts… I must transfer the mental note to paper :)
Kris @Krazy_Kris recently posted..You Sexy Thing (aka Our New Stove) | Music Monday