Ever had one of those weeks that seemed like whatever you touched, chaos ensued?
Yeah, I just had one.
I’m sure no one wants to read the novel size version I could write about my trials and tribulations, so I’ll just give you a brief snippet of the highlight reel:
✅ Conservatively 15 hours spent - between online chat, customer service phone calls and in-store experiences - getting our wireless cell service transferred to a new carrier.
✅ Scheduled an appointment with the computer store to resolve an issue with my laptop. Instead of solving it, they inadvertently wiped out everything on it, software included. I was left with an empty shell.
✅ Upon receiving notification that our new internet provider had completed burying the line, I went outside to check, only to discover our front yard looked like a family of gophers had thrown a rager. The lawn was destroyed, the large decorative rocks once bordering the flowers now crushing them, and five feet of unearthed mystery cable was dangling off the side of the driveway.
✅ Oh, and the wire from ⬆️ that was supposed to be buried? Lying exposed on top of the wreckage that's now my yard.
In all this I'm of course barely getting to the events on my calendar and to-do list. By the middle of week, I felt one mishap away from a meltdown.
Enter that little voice within.
“You know, this resembles that simple truth you’re always sharing with your clients. 'You can only control yourself and your actions. Trying to control the world around you is a recipe for disaster'.”
Yeah. That.
I clearly needed the reminder. I stopped what I was doing, took a deep breath, and like a boat seeking refuge from the storm in a safe harbor, I turned inward to bask in the space of calm that isn’t dependent on what’s going on in the outside world.
I could feel the tension release as my body shifted from “fight or flight” into “rest and digest”. After a few minutes I felt centered, grounded and brought back to perspective about what truly really matters.
In turbulent times, our inner sanctuary is truly one of our greatest resources. We can’t control every circumstance, but we can always choose our response.
For those times when you have a week, a day or even a moment that resembles mine and you feel you're in the midst of a tornado - here are a few simple things you can do to drop within, replenish and restore:
1. Breathe Deeply – A few slow, intentional breaths gives a message to your nervous system it’s okay to relax.
2. Ground Yourself – Take a few minutes to notice your feet on the ground, feel the earth beneath you, and let that sense of stability work its way all the way up your body, to the crown of your head.
3. Take a walk – Even a short walk can work wonders. Just stepping outside, feeling the fresh air, and moving our bodies shakes off that tension we’ve been carrying around.
4. Meditate – Click the link below and take the express train within with this weeks Five Minute Fix guided meditation.
Inner peace isn't about avoiding life's storms, but rather to learn to navigate them with grace. The next time the world feels overwhelming, pause, center yourself, and let your inner calm be your guide.
Five Minute Fix Guided Meditation #34: Finding Calm in the Midst of Chaos 😌
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