🧩 One way that we can bring our mindfulness practice into our daily life is by tracking our stress levels. 📈📉 We can track the level of stress we're experiencing by asking which of the following 3 questions we'd most likely say yes to:
1️⃣ Do I feel open and in connection with either myself, my environment or another person? Do I feel one or more of the following: calm, relaxed, focused, creative, curious, safe, okay, a sense of ease, flexible, inspired, hopeful, compassionate, empathetic, social, nourished, satisfied or happy? 😌
2️⃣ Do I feel contracted and/or like I need to protect myself from myself, my environment, or another person? Do I feel one or more of the following: tense, unsettled, fidgety, disorganized (or hyper-organized), stiff, worried, clenched, angry, chaotic, reactive, unsafe, or like I want to run away? 😳
3️⃣ Do I feel so overwhelmed that I have given up and I'm immobilized? Do I feel one or more of the following: despair, numb, shutdown, lost, far away, disconnected, alone, depleted? 😞 🔑Mindfulness invites us to notice what state we're in without judgment. From there we can acknowledge and accept where we are at with compassion and then respond to what's needed.
If you answered yes to number 1️⃣, then your work is to savor the experience and connection that you are having with yourself, another or the world around you? 😊
If you answered yes to number 2️⃣, your work is to pause and do something to bring some ease into your body (breathe, meditate, play, reach out to a friend, go out into nature 🍃, exercise, listen to music that you love 🎶 - anything that helps you to feel more open, spacious and easeful). If you answered to yes to number 3️⃣, your work is to take care of yourself and challenge some of the negative thought patterns arising like: I'm alone. I'm stuck. I have no options. I'll never not feel like this. Remember that these feelings are not permanent. Choose one nourishing thing to do for yourself. Go for a walk. Make a meal. Reach out to a friend. These things might feel impossible or counter-intuitive in this place, but they are the kinds of things that will bring a little bit more energy and perspective. 💙🌊