Creative Katrina

Photo by kandyjaxx on Flickr

All of us need time to power down, disconnect from the world and find a way back to the space within. It’s not always easy with all the demands on our time and body, especially when so many people want more and more from us.

There is only so much the mind, body and spirit can take operating at that level. Pockets of energy build up, old emotional patterns and ways of thinking clog our perceptions and suddenly we feel run down, maxed out and anxious, not to mention exhausted. We may even become ill as our body finally tells us it’s DONE.

So as you scurry to finish all of your “activities”, have you ever thought about how to release all your old, heavy, pent up energy? Some people shop excessively, eat constantly or distract themselves by butting into other people’s lives. Others just unleash on someone else, dumping all their “stuff” without a second thought. Do any of these sound like you?

Find your Emotional Baseline

The most important first step is to tune in and really get a clear baseline of your personal boundaries physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. It’s hard to know how to deal with managing stress in these areas if you have no baseline as to what is “too much” for you.

It’s also critical to get a sense of what a “yes” and a “no” FEELS like in your own body. It takes practice and relaxation, but keep at it. Practice by asking yourself simple yes/no questions that you already know. With the help of a clear way to tune into feeling this information, you can learn to make better choices about your time and stress level as you go about your day.

One of the most important things to learn and accept is the idea that not everything needs to get done right now. Really feel into the sense of relief that wells up inside of you when you truly release the pressure of “should.” Then re-evaluate with your yes/no inquiry.

Implement Healthy Emotional Release Tactics

If you strip away all the unhealthy options for unloading, do you have positive methods in place to clear out your internal energy system? If not, create a simple plan that works for your lifestyle, and work it daily. Have as many or few items as you need.

Here are 10 simple ways to get started:

• Regular exercise (a little each day or longer periods every few days)
• Meditation
• Old fashioned screaming and crying, in private
• Consult with an alternative healing professional for a treatment (Reiki, acupuncture, EFT, acupressure, massage, rolfing, etc.
• Take deep breaths as frequently as necessary
• Go for a walk
• Spend time in nature and/or with animals
• Journal daily or at least weekly
• Take a time out frequently throughout your day, and walk away from your desk or work situation
• Get off the computer, your phone and other electronic devices for at least 15 minutes each day before you go to sleep

Once you have a sense of your personal boundaries, then you can add things into your daily, weekly and monthly routine that help manage the stress of everyday life. The important thing is to not only experiment, but DO IT.  A little bit every day helps, rather than letting things build up until you blow.

Activities that are free and easy can be added to your daily routine, whereas healing treatments can become part of a weekly or monthly plan, depending on your budget. As you feel more in control of how you manage stress, anxiety and emotions according to your personal baseline, and utilize the tactics you have in place to know your own unique boundaries, you will see how much more grounded and happy you can feel.

Of course, if you feel overwhelmed or unsure of where to start, consult with a mental health professional to help get you centered, and then create a plan that works for your lifestyle.

(Source: creativekatrina.com)

Photo by spettacolopuro on Flickr

Do you think it or feel it? Decisions, that is. I do a little of both in most situations. I used to be all head and logic, thinking myself into a tornado of what-ifs. They would circle me at higher and higher speeds, increasing in number by the minute. Soon I was whipped into a frenzy of anxiety and frustration, when nothing had actually even happened yet.

On the flip side, thoughts like, “maybe its best to be patient and see what happens,” got jacked by my brain and ego screaming, “my way – NOW!” At best, intuition was just something I would feel as a vague tickle in my stomach now and again. I passed it off as a fluke.

Now I know the gut and brain have their equal place. We need them to take care of their individual assignments and do them well. Its not about looking at one as better than the other, or thinking that if you have a tendency towards one that you are in some way defective. Its all about the balance.

The Head Plus Heart Equation 

When you look at it realistically, heart and mind can and should be working in unison.  Combined, they paint a more complete picture, offering you all the information you need to make the best possible choices. What often trips people up is the sheer amount of information flying between the two. People have no idea how to decipher it, either becoming overwhelmed or blocking it out.

One of the most critical tools we need in our tool belt is a way to journey inward; get to the rough, raw parts of ourselves. When the truth of who you are is covered up, bogged down in to-do’s or lost in self-distractions, its no wonder you have no idea whether to trust your heart, mind or the hobo yelling on the corner. Its impossible to tell what is guiding you because you don’t know how to tune in and FEEL the truth.

Tuning into Your Unique Process

As human beings we all crave a balance of mental and physical peace, whether we know it or not logically. The journey of how each of us gets there is unique. For me its a tingling sensation in my tummy or hands when something feels right or is a positive choice. Other times its a thump in my gut or a lump in my throat. To me this signals a need for further thinking and investigation, as I decipher if there is reason for caution or if its just fear.

If you take the time to sit with feelings and body sensations and ask yourself what you can learn from them, you can start combining the head and heart in ways more powerful than you ever imagined. The trick is to just let the mind explore thoughts without judging them as good or bad, especially as you get a better sense of what balanced means and feels like for you.

Now that I incorporate my intuition in all things, I am able to bypass a lot of mental muck and drama to start my logical thinking process in a much more advanced place. This helps me to feel more at ease, knowing I am bringing two very powerful forces to work together as one.

This week I encourage you to look at how in tune you are with your own body. Please tell me what you learn!