Tag / mindfulness

Health and Wellness Parenting The Alchemist's Heart

World’s Gone Crazy? Here’s the Solution You Need!

Hello Darling,

May these words breathe nourishment into your life even though (or maybe especially because) the world looks a bit crazy right now.

On a recent day with “all the things” piling on with no sign of stopping, I came upstairs trembling during a short work break. Shaking, really. My insides couldn’t seem to settle on imploding or exploding.

My next client was scheduled to arrive in twelve minutes.

Did I eat? Hydrate? Help my youngest daughter with the holy hell that seems to be her online school? Melt into a puddle? Reach out to a friend for support? Don winter gear and yak tracks so I could walk outside on the ice for maybe 6 minutes?

I forgot all about the oxygen mask principle and opted to try to help my daughter. Yes, she probably needed it, but I suspect my real motivation was to distract myself from my feelings.

Alarmingly, when I tried to speak, words didn’t actually emerge.

Turns out you have to be able to BREATHE in order to speak, and I wasn’t doing either very well….which is when I realized I was having an anxiety attack – something I hadn’t felt in a very long time.

Not a shining moment.

Except that something magical happened…and it quickly became one.

My diminutive but mighty daughter looked at me with concern. Mind you, this girl kind of hates talking about her feelings and never wants to see a counselor no matter what’s going on. Which can be consternating because I AM a counselor who LOVES talking about feelings.

Turns out she knew EXACTLY what to do.

She got up and wrapped her arms around me from behind while saying:

photo of girl hugging her mom

This is how we breathe.”

And then she breathed me deeply and steadily…belly pushed into my low back, returning to the space I carried her in my womb, reminding me of the most important things – the breath of life, literal inspiration, delivered with love.

Inside of 3 minutes, EVERYTHING felt better.

My nervous system settled, I began thinking more clearly and elusive creative problem-solving came back online.

So Dearheart, if this is a day when YOU need to be breathed (and who amongst us doesn’t!), I’m sending you a GIANT warm embrace.

Please allow your sacred imagination to guide you….to a safe space…. with a safe person…holding you from behind….while taking slow, deep, steady breaths….to remind you that you are loved, you are supported, and you can breathe.

You are worth it!

With Love and Alchemy,

Christy

P.S. Want more? Here are 10 easy ways to nourish your spirits right now.

Book Reviews Favorite Books The Alchemist's Heart

Expand your Enjoyment in Life with Everyday Mindfulness

Giveaway Alert! Ready for something special? I’ve discovered a gem of book for YOU!

No matter HOW smart, capable, brilliant, or gorgeous you are (and you ARE more than you can possibly know!), it’s challenging in the BEST of times to incorporate the mindfulness skills we KNOW can improve the quality of our lives. And let’s face it, nothing in the past year has felt like the best of times..

There’s just so DARN many things we “should” do to take care of ourselves (and I DON’T advocate “shoulding” on yourself) that get lost in the flurry of the “must do’s” for everyone else.

You know exactly what I’m talking about, right? Because sometimes it feels like the whole world might collapse if we stop for a moment of peace.

This is where the genius of Melissa Steginus can help transform EVERYTHING with Everyday Mindfulness: 108 simple practices to empower yourself and transform your life. The lovely people at TCK Publishing sent me free copies of her book, and one of them may be for YOU!

Everyday Mindfulness guides you through powerful mindfulness practices that help you rewire your habits and rewrite your life. With step-by-step instruction and evidence-based exercises designed to integrate into a busy schedule, Steginus makes it simple to integrate the changes you dream of. Your time and energy are your most precious resources; how you spend these shapes your entire life. Everyday Mindfulness can ensure you spend them on what matters!

You’ll enjoy the “slow and steady” approach which makes it easy to explore simple practices in small doses while finding your favorites. Everyday Mindfulness is designed to use day by day over 108 days, but I also like to flip to a page – any page – for guidance that feels just right for that day. I discovered beautiful reminders about nourishing my soul (day 67), engaging in play (day 31), and sharing in wonder (day 106). Everyday Mindfulness reminds me of a lifetime favorite – The Joy Diet – with its simplicity and potency.

Now YOU can be entered into a drawing from my magic bowl to win a FREE copy. Just send a quick note saying YES by Saturday, February 27th to christy (at) thealchemistsheart.com and I’ll let you know if you’re the lucky winner!

With Love and Alchemy,

Christy