One of my favorite quotes from the summer is from my Taoist teacher, Dr. Nan Lu.
“Doing nothing is doing something”.
Dr. Nan Lu
It was a strategy he offered for creating more peacefulness and harmony in our daily lives. Summer offers most of us time to focus on recharging and renewing our energy.
But this is the last day of August. Summer is coming to a close. The fall rush is at the starting gate. It’s preparing to bear down on us.
Some school districts are already back in session. College freshmen are already making their adjustments to their new environment. The taste, smell and feel of fall are in the air.
If we’re not already there, we will be back to business as usual managing our numerous daily demands. Very soon many of us will be longing for the peace and harmony of summer.
So this week, I have 3 do nothing strategies so that we can do something about keeping our harmony and flow. They will help us slow down and unplug so that we can plug in to our true power source.
Meditate ~ Take a few minutes and focus inward. Three deep breaths will usually slow you down. Then choose a statement that allows you to keep your mind still. It can be an affirmation, a Sanskrit mantra, a bible verse, or a favorite quote. You choose. Remember the statement should be one that helps you reconnect with and maintain that umm good harmony. If you’re short on time and you don’t have 10-15 minutes, take 5, 6 or 7 2-minute breaks throughout your day. That’s easy enough. You can take 2 minutes when you go to the bathroom or to get a cup of tea.
Breathe ~ Yes. Breathe. There are so many breathing techniques that help us slow down, tune in and power up. One of my favorites is alternate nostril breathing. This one calms my anxiety in three minutes. Three minutes!!! If you’ve ever taken a yoga class, you’re probably familiar with its miraculous benefits. You can also take 10 deep breaths. Deep breathing pairs well with meditation. So if you’ve got a few minutes, spend a little time focusing within.
Digital Detox ~ Disconnect from your cell phone, email, Twitter, Facebook, computer, all of your digital connections for a few minutes each day. Start with 15 minutes and then increase the amount of time as you become more comfortable.
Perhaps, you can work up to lunch without your phone or any digital connections. Have lunch with a good friend or colleague and turn off your phone.
These are some of the best “do nothing” strategies. There is a ton of research on the benefits of meditation and deep breathing. These practices enhance our nervous system. Our genetic structure changes in ways that are associated with increased life expectancy. Basically, meditation can help us fix ourselves up.
Digital detox is also getting well-deserved praise. It seems people are more productive and have better interactions in meetings where cell phones are not visible.
So power down your phone, take a deep breath, and focus on you. Power off so that you can power up.
If you need support, contact us. The Living Source is here to help you plug in to the power of you.
© Sandra Y. Lewis