I Still Have Days Where I Forget to Breathe

My alarm went off and before I my feet even touched the floor, by mind was racing.

I was thinking about all I HAD to get done, followed by all the things I wanted to do. My mental checklist was ready to go...even before my coffee.

By the time I had coffee in hand (thanks to by husband), I was starting to feel the tension. My shoulders practically hugging my ears, my jaw tightly clenched and my breath was shallow, sitting high up in my chest. And then it hit me. I'm a wellness coach, sitting with my mind spinning and not doing what I know works. Then, I took my first intentional deep breath. Then another. After a few deep breaths, my mind started to settle. My shoulders and jaw relaxed. After that my coffee tasted a whole lot better, and I could look forward to the day ahead.

I think so many of us know this feeling. We live in a world that moves at a dizzying pace, and it's easy to get swept up in the current of "hurry". We think that to be healthy or well, we have to reach a magical destination where we never get stressed, eat a perfect diet, and never experience fatigue. We put pressure on ourselves to execute our routines perfectly, and when life gets messy, we feel like we've failed.

But if there is one thing I learn almost daily in my own life and in my practice, it's this: Wellness isn't about being perfect. It's about how gently we return to ourselves when we drift away.

Sitting with my coffee I didn't criticize myself for being stressed. I just used it as a piece of data. I took one slow deep inhale through my nose, and let it out slowly. Then I repeated. Then again. The busy didn't disappear, but the way by body was carrying it completely changed.

I share this because I want you to know that I am right there in the trenches with you. I don't have it all perfectly figured out, and I don't expect you to either.

I want to leave you with a gentle invitation. The next time you catch yourself rushing, or holding your breath, or feeling the weight of a busy day in your body, see if you can swap the inner critic for a little bit of curiosity. Pause, drop your shoulders, and take one deep breath.

We are all learning, every single day. And you are doing so much better than you think.