Awakening Your Everyday Mindfulness, Part 1

Do you find yourself feeling a little more frantic than centered most days? Would you like to grow your connection to your own inner wisdom within and lay down the flag of overstimulation? Does the faucet of stress in your life need to be turned down from pouring out to a trickle? Does feeling more comfortable in your body, thoughts, reactions, and decision-making process sound lovely to you, too?

I think a lot of us answer yes to most (if not all) of the above, yet we love the many moving parts and pieces of our work, families, and lives and can’t imagine things any other way. You may have a picture in your mind that unless you take a vacation, or everything around you just stops, life will be like this as you know it.

Over the next four months, we will be gathering here on the blog to grow your mindfulness muscle and connect you to your inner voice of wisdom within. If you have been looking for an invitation to get more comfortable in your life, family, and work, this could be for you. You may want to invite a few friends to join you, too. Support is a fantastic tool in all areas you are wanting to grow.

So, what is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is an invitation to embrace the beauty of one thing at a time, no matter how crazy-busy things are. It’s not about all-or-nothing or shaming yourself into slowing down, it’s instead a lifelong journey that can begin on the edge of a single new breath, at any time, when you decide you want to experience things another way.

Are you ready to dive in?

In my work as a coach and inspirational writer and speaker, I get to support others in transforming their lives and brands one brave, mindful moment at a time. The truth is that no one can do this work for us, we must put ourselves on the priority list and slow the gears of reactivity in the name of productivity down – even if it’s just for 15 minutes.

The first post in the series is about waking up to what is. To do this, we will start by cultivating and creating a sacred space or place for you to begin connecting with yourself.

For the rest of the month, this is where you know you can come to find peace, process, and be. This may look like a chair tucked away in a guest room, maybe it’s the driver’s or passenger’s seat of your parked car, or perhaps it’s sprawling out on your bed.

It doesn’t have to be fancy or look picture perfect. It simply needs to be quiet, peaceful, and comfortable for you while you are in it.

Here are some simple ideas for what you can put in your peaceful processing space:

• Journal
• Pen
• Candle
• Quiet (if needed, closets are actually wonderful!)
• Blanket, sweater, things to make you comfortable
• Inspiring instrumental music

Recipe for soul time:

• Start by asking yourself if you would like to begin.
• If the answer is yes, carve out 30 minutes, set a timer, and leave your phone behind (even if that means airplane mode).
• Invite any feelings of rush or stress to leave.
• In your peaceful place, with your items from above, let’s begin.

Step One:

Set your timer for 10 mins. Journal on and ask yourself:

How is your heart?

What do you know to be true right now? 

How do you want to feel when the next 4 months are over?

How do you want to show up to yourself in this experience?

Step Two:

Listen to the following guided meditation from me. You can be seated or laying down.

Step Three:

With your journal close by, write down any thoughts lingering from the meditation.

Some questions to get your juices flowing:

What are you currently focused on? 

What is turning your dial up? (Bringing you up in life, making you happy, high vibration.) 

Turning down? (Doesn’t feel good, bumming you out, low vibration.)

Wonderful and beautiful job. Go do something nice for yourself, like taking a walk or making a cup of tea, as a celebration for slowing down and creating this sacred space, bringing you closer to your center and away from demanding distractions.

I look forward to connecting with you here next month. Let me know how your experience is going in the comments below or over on Instagram using the hashtag #comfortwithrachel. I am cheering you on on your journey of health and happiness!