Do you have thoughts at this time that your life is just “too much”? Or that you simply don’t have the energy to do everything you need or have to do?
Often coaching clients will come to me who are stressed out, anxious, and “not seeing a way out” as they often put it. I’ve come to call the syndrome “the mountain of too much”!
As simple as it may sound, I often introduce clients to the concept and reality of “stopping.” As I point out to them, although it seems as though life has moved into “fast forward” rather suddenly; in fact, the person has most likely been living a life of “too much” for a long time. But like all mountains that we create, it isn’t until we reach our maximum point that we can no longer keep up the pace. It’s like putting one more item into a too-full drawer!
We have to remember that we are an integration of body, mind, and spirit. If we are exhausting our body, our mind, or our spirit–any one of these will affect the totality of who we are. Have you ever felt like a hamster on the wheel who has forgotten to get off?
So it’s helpful to figure out how long it’s been too much. It’s important to come up with a greater awareness of what you’ve been creating and where you’ve been investing your spirit. Is there space in your life for personal growth or nourishment? Often, when we realize how depleted we feel and not nurtured, we realize we have to look at the mountain we’ve created.
So, every day you can practice “stopping”—which is the act of doing nothing for a specific period of time (stopping)—I generally advise clients to do this for five minutes when they first attempt it.
Stopping for five minutes can be painful at first. So often with our multi-tasking, the act of stopping feels like wasting time. So be careful not to associate the “stopping” space with “wasting time,” “not getting something done,” and so on. Instead, by holding consciousness in the space in which you are still, you can begin a process of internal uncluttering. Stopping can be powerful because it requires that you be alone with yourself. It allows you to see yourself much more clearly and to remember over time who you really are. In other words, slowing down allows you to see the mountain you are climbing.
To practice “stopping,” simply set aside five minutes a day to do absolutely nothing but pause and reflect, to breathe. Find a refuge—the bathroom if you have kids! Yes, I know they’ll knock, so wait until they go to bed. But do find the time and space. During that period of stopping, remain silent, do nothing—absolutely nothing but pause and reflect—and see what happens. Continue this every day, and you will become more and more able to do it. Over time, you will remember important things about yourself.
Stopping will allow you to restore balance and energy to your weary spirit. It may cause you to feel sad, relieved, or even angry. Releasing the feelings within you is a beginning toward mindful living.
Sometimes, when we refuse to allow ourselves stopping points, our bodies make them happen for us. We develop migraines, colds, the flu—ways of making our bodies stop.
Instead, commit to conscious moments in which you stop and do nothing. It is then that you will really be doing something!