“And in the end, maybe it isn’t an epic bang or fireworks as we cross the finish line. Instead, maybe it’s a quiet exhale, a moment of rest and a deeper understanding of who we are and what we’re here to achieve.” – unknown
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the quick pace of life – running from A to B – going / doing non-stop. We’re often so focused on completing “the thing” that we forget to slow down and smell the roses. We forget to pause and take in all that we’re accomplishing as we complete the project, art piece, run or task at hand. We forget that in slowing down we become more present to the moment – and more connected to what we see, hear and feel.
When we finally do take a nice long exhale, we’re able to relax into the moment. And in this moment of rest we begin to notice just how far we’ve already come.
I’ve found that slowing down to enjoy the journey is the most important piece for living a mindful and more connected life. As we bring more rest and stillness into our lives, we create space for reflection, integration and celebration. We create space for possibility. We create space to hear the wisdom in our heart.
But slowing down, pausing and resting, takes bravery. It goes against the status quo AND requires us to stay true to our purpose, our wisdom and our needs.
As Glennon Doyle explains: “Brave does not mean feeling afraid and doing it anyway. Brave means living from the inside out. Brave means, in every uncertainty, turning inward, feeling for the Knowing, and speaking it out loud. Since the Knowing is specific, personal and ever changing, so is brave. Whether you are brave or not cannot be judged by people on the outside. Sometimes being brave requires letting the crowd think you’re a coward. Sometimes being brave means letting everyone down but yourself. To be brave is to forsake all others to be true to yourself.“
Brave is quiet, gentle, fluid and fierce. To LIVE mindfully + wholeheartedly requires bravery.
When was the last time you felt brave?
What were you doing?
Where were you?
Who were you with?
Was it recent or long ago?
Yoga, Mindfulness + Meditation are practices of BRAVERY. Each practice teaches us how to reflect, examine, feel, let go, trust AND open to the infinite power of our heart.
Each practice is a truly transformative experience.
So today, I invite you to be BRAVE: Slow down. Exhale longer than you inhale. Tune in to the journey that links all your “to-do’s” together. And notice what shifts as you become more present throughout the day.