As a yogi, I have a fairly flexible body. What is the best yoga trick I know? The one that truly stands out as noteworthy and worth the effort to practice again and again, is to nurture that same kind of flexibility with my mind.
I am staring down a very rigid mind this morning. I am drinking a green smoothie, and thinking about the portaging trips this summer. The planning must begin. I am also thinking about what that means for my morning smoothies and fresh produce in general…these things will not be on the menu. Meh.
Portaging food will be tasty. Our dehydrator will run non-stop for a few days in preparation. The lists will be exhaustive and so will the organization of all the gear. We will be in good shape all the way around. Even though I am not leaving tomorrow, and despite my awareness that this is something I actually enjoy doing, merely planning is making my mind put on the breaks.
I’m filled with excitement but also with dread. My mind is sticky. It likes what it likes. I wrote about this last summer too, in the post Discomfort and Pleasure.
I am dreamy about the sound the paddle makes as it moves through the water. I am looking forward to adventuring through the woods with everything we’ll need on our backs and the undoubtedly endless sources of awe.
I am not anchored in the beauty or awe right now.
Instead my mind is dangling the carrot of comfort that exists in my current reality. This morning I appreciated my insect free environment while I practiced yoga and the freedom to stand upright as I made my breakfast shake using my blender to make fresh produce (easily accessed from my fridge) into a smoothie. Noticing the sound of the toilet flushing and the shower as it was turned on upstairs were things of beauty today. These observations and many more have reentered my awareness as luxuries in the anticipation of their absence.
It occurs to me once again that my flexibility needs some work. Change brings awareness and facilitates growth. What ways do you recognize this in yourself? How might you plan for a switch-up even if it feels uncomfortable in the moment?
Things to try
- Remove access to tech and modern conveniences by going wilderness camping
- Place your phone on silent at home or work and batch-check messages if necessary
- Take a social media holiday
- Try new foods or recipes even if you eat a varied diet
- Plan a fresh-pressed juice cleanse
- Deliberately wear colour if you dress in neutral shades
- Try a new workout and complete it at a different time of day
- If you lack structure, schedule regular activities during the most stable/unchangeable part of your day like first thing in the morning
- If you tend to watch movies, start a book and if you read more than you watch do the opposite
- If you are naturally chatty explore being quiet and pay attention to others
- If you tend to be quiet, challenge yourself to say hello to strangers when out for a walk, pick up the phone and call someone you haven’t connected with in awhile
- Garden
- Paint a room
- Rearrange furniture
- Declutter
- Allow a space for clutter if it makes you uncomfortable
- If you feel compelled to do dishes immediately after a meal, try going for a walk after dinner first and then do the dishes.
- If you tend to put off everyday chores, complete them first thing in the morning
- Spend time paying attention to animals everyday for a week even if you don’t have a pet (we all have access to birds, squirrels)
- Smile
- Find reasons to laugh
- Do one thing that brings you closer to something you know in your heart is good for you
