Hi, Thinking out loud here :D
Welcome to Mindful Monday Week 7
Calm
Please, if you haven’t already got a drink, get one, maybe even a snack, and find a comfy seat so you can relax. Let all worries go for the next little while; let yourself get ready for taking in five deep breaths. If you have any problems with breathing, please take an extra mindful moment here. For those joining me in the breathing exercise, please get ready.
Breath out all the way, time for your first deep breath, take in one deep breath through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. Hold for 1.. breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. breathe in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. and hold for 1..2.. breath out for five through your mouth 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. two more to go breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. and hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. last one deep breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. now go back to your regular breathing pattern. I hope you feel calm and relaxed.
Now that you are relaxed keep that calmness that you have found with the breathing exercise. Today might be pretty busy for some, but I hope you can find stillness for the next few minutes as you take this time for yourself. It can be hard to find time to be calm, still and present right now. But I promise that during this time you will be calm.
When being calm, I often think of the weather, a still summer day, which usually means not a lot of air, and the temperature is hot. Which for some isn’t that nice, but for finding that same calm within you, hopefully without the heat, think of a nice still day, maybe even a slight breeze which brings a nice little relief. For some, you might even find a storm calming, the crashing of thunder and flashes of lightning taking away some tension from the air.
I often hear “this is the calm before the storm” when the clouds above are getting darker, the air is getting thicker, yet it’s quiet, it’s calm, there's physically and visually so much going on, but everything remains calm. This shows that it doesn’t matter how much you have going on around you at this moment in time; you can still stay calm before, during and after a storm, whatever that might mean for you. So breathe through it and know that this too shall pass; the important thing is remaining calm in yourself and with the situation at hand.
Move your head slowly from side to side, move your wrists in a circle slowly one way and then the other way, straighten your body, lift your chest and chin. Standing or sitting strong can also be calming. Maybe have some music playing or a podcast; I currently have a playlist playing which I made for my current WIP (you will see what the title is); here is the link if you would like to listen to the songs throughout your day, I hope you find them uplifting. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4uSRoooJhY6uc6AvxZ9UVO?si=4014a5e59388455b
I hope you can continue feeling calm, no matter what happens. Remember to breathe; if you need to walk away for a few moments, gather your thoughts, calm yourself and then carry on with whatever has been happening, then today, do whatever it takes to keep calm in your busy, maybe even slightly crazy, but fun-filled day.
Let's finish with a little three deep breath breather.
Take one breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. final breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. final breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. no hold here you can now go back to your regular breathing pattern.
As always, thank you for reading. I really do hope this has made you feel calm.
Love always Thinking out loud xx::D
