“We were born to try to see each other through,
to learn to love ourselves and others well
is the most difficult and meaningful work we’ll ever do.”
Sleeping at Last
This year, many of us cannot travel the way that we used to. For Molly and I, we have already had to cancel several trips we were looking forward to. Although our plans have been cancelled, I want to take a moment to remind us of a lesson that we once learned on an airplane.
Over the years, you have probably heard a flight attendants’ safety presentation dozens of times.
“In the case of an emergency, please put on your oxygen mask before assisting others.”
In the past, this presentation has been my cue to fall asleep. Today however, these instructions are not a song of slumber, rather a call to wake up.
Right now, if you are a parent of young children who are feeling the loss of friendships, they need you to help them make sense of why they cannot go to school. If you have parents who are getting older, then you are probably worried about their health and wellbeing.
In times of crisis, the needs of our loved ones are magnified. In moments like these, it is nature for us to run to the aid of others while neglecting our own needs, but we cannot save others when we are drowning ourselves.
This week, I want to remind you to take some time to make space for your personal needs. In my own life, if you do not take some alone time in the morning, then I will have nothing to give to my wife, my loved ones or my clients.
Here are the practice I do every morning:
Awaken my senses
Sight: I open my blind to watch the sun rise
Smell: I light my favorite fragrant incense from Hasami Porcelain (Aloe Woods…It’s so good!!!)
Taste: I brew a pot of coffee
Hear: I turn on Sleeping at Last Enneagram 9 song or play my piano or singing bowl
Touch: I sit down on my yoga mat
Box Breathing [4 part breathing pattern]
- Inhale
- Hold the in-breath
- Exhale
- Hold the out-breath.
Each should a continuous even cycle of 4-6 seconds
Read something beautiful
Lately, I’ve been reading A Year with Rumi. There are so many ugly things being said right now, so I want my eyes to see something that inspires me.
Write down anything
Sometimes, it’s a prayer, a poem or a song. Other times, it’s my fear. It honestly doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it gets me out of my head.
Move my body
I bounce, shake, squat, waves, bend and flow. Here is a link to a previous post with detailed practices.
Try some of these practices for yourself. I would love to hear what works for you!