Week 7: When did you stop dancing?

'You can't stop the waves of life but you can learn how to ride them.’ I believe there is truth in this.

Most of us have experienced moments of high stress and feeling overwhelmed. A mindfulness practices allow us with the chance (or choice!) to manage it more skillfully – to ride the waves, if you will.

The enjoyable things in our lives are not really optional, though when we are overwhelmed by the exhaustion funnel, we define them as such. They are essential to our well-being. However, during times of stress, we make way for the so-called ‘important’ things and let enjoyment and those activities which provide nourishment become non-important and non-essential.

What activities are just relaxing and enjoyable for you and which activities actually nourish you at a much deeper level? What daily activities (or people, perhaps) are depleting?

I completed the list of nourishing or depleting activities in my every day life and was surprised and yet not surprised. Writing this down was certainly an eye-opener for me and very helpful. I remind myself that one very nourishing act can ‘balance’ out several depleting acts. It is not about having 10 on each side of the scales, but feeling in balance.

When you ((( think ))) you don’t have the time to pray, mediate or be mindful is actually the most important time to pray, mediate and be mindful. At times of stress, helpful questions to ask yourself (included in this week’s chapter) are:

- What do I need for myself right now?
- How can I best take care of myself right now?
I hope you are having a good week. Be kind to yourself and to your thoughts.