March

violet

March what? March where?

Answer: march myself back to my center.

Perhaps you’re feeling the same? Scattered and full of chattering, monkey mind? Overwhelmed by long to-do lists? You know, the kind where you cross off one thing and “ta-da!” three more pop up to take its place.

We all come up against the wall now and then, realizing we’ve reverted to old, unsavory patterns. Especially when we’ve just been through the cold and gloomy months of winter! We look around wondering just where the heck we are!?! Where’s the light? Where’s the warmth? Where are blooming forsythia and dogwood? We want to dig dirt and plant seeds and, well, bask! Sigh. Not yet because March still mostly belongs to winter.

forsythia

So, I’m taking this opportunity to share with you ways to regain your ground and get back to center.

1) Wake up and smile! I have noticed that upon waking my brain starts to download the day’s challenges and difficulties. In other words, all the things I don’t want to do clamor and compete for my attention. But if I take just a few moments (press pause on the download) and instead focus on how wonderful this new day is – how full of opportunity and triumphs it will be – all the little gears in my head click into a nicer rhythm that lasts the whole day through.

2) Breathe! Pay attention and stop that shallow breathing. All throughout the day take the time to pull in three nice deep breaths. This not only gives your brain extra oxygen to work with, it is also calming and relieves stress. Once you begin doing this, after a while you’ll notice it becomes automatic like blinking and swallowing.

3) Dispense with worry. It is the number one most wasteful thing we do mentally and emotionally (my humble opinion). Worry solves nothing and helps no one. Replace it with good attention to what’s actually going on around you and a trust in yourself that you will respond appropriately to each circumstance that arises.

4) If you really want to feel better about yourself and enjoy your life more, try this powerful practice. In each thing you do, consider how that action benefits someone else, and be glad for it. No matter what your job or routine might be, it always influences others. If you do those things well and cheerfully, everyone benefits.

These four practices may be simple but they are also deeply spiritual. They comprise attitude, health, attention and service. Used together they are a powerhouse of positive change.

I have used them successfully over and over again. I wrote this essay not only to offer them to you, but also to remind myself. When I stick with them, my life runs much more smoothly. Synchronicities increase, I have more energy and my joy levels rise dramatically.

daffies

Two last things. The spring equinox is on March 20 – a great time for both balancing and new beginnings. The second thing is although I am right-handed, I wrote this essay longhand with my left. Another little trick I use to break myself out of ruts!

Happy Spring!

Peace –
Tee

I’d love to hear from you! Email me at teespirit@gmail.com