We have had a few of the most wonderful days; yes, it’s been a little chilly, but we’ve had some really lovely winter sunny days, and living right next to the river has been just stunning.
So, the title of this week’s newsletter ‘the joy of now’ might make you think that I am going to ramble on about appreciating the weather, nature, the view etc. You’re right to a certain extent, but as I was out in my garden recording a little video, it made me think about my life, the life I’m living right now, the mindset shifts I have gone through to bring about a life that I absolutely LOVE.
And as I was standing in my garden just about to record – yes, enjoying the sun, the view, the peace, being in the now as we say – when it dawned on me, I mean really dawned on me, as I had heard it said before but not really absorbed it…….you cannot feel anxious if you are in the now, if you are living in the present moment. All I was feeling was what I call elevated emotions – peace, joy, happiness, contentment. I wasn’t feeling guilty about something I had or had not done, I wasn’t worrying about the things I had to do or what might happen if I didn’t do them, my mind was totally present on the sun, the view and a deep sense of peace.
That was quite a profound moment for me. You see I deal with a lot of clients with anxiety and I read lots, learn lots and know all the theory, but that moment there in my garden brought it home to me so clearly.
Most of us, and I say that confidently as almost all people I come across (including myself) are doing one of 2 things: they are beating themselves up for not being good enough – whatever not being good enough means to them. It might be they’ve snapped at their kids, felt cross at being asked to do something extra, not completed something they are supposed to have done, not eaten well, not exercised, slept in. Whatever it may be, it causes them to feel a depressed emotion such as guilt, shame, fear, rejection etc. Basically, we are living in the past as we are bringing that emotion, that FEELING into our now. The other thing we do is we worry over the future, the ‘What ifs’: I can’t do this because that might happen, she/he might react this way, people might laugh at me, a mother wouldn’t behave in that way. Again, we are living in the future and this causes those depressed emotions which lead to stress, anxiety and even depression. With our hectic over-full, over stimulated lives, we are rarely living in the present.
This is EXHAUSTING for our Mind and our Bodies!
Why can’t we simply be nicer to US? Don’t you think life would be happier and more fun? We would have more success, more fulfilling relationships if we took better care of US, better care of our bodies, better care of our minds – you know it all boils down to one thing……do we believe we are good enough, loveable enough, valuable enough??
The single biggest issue I come across in RTT, Mindset and yes, even Pilates!
If we truly did think we were enough, then we would treat ourselves with the love and care we don’t just deserve, but need.
Start small, be in that moment more, discover the joy of now………..stay present during your Pilates, quieten your mind with meditation, practise mindfulness (paying attention) whilst you are with someone by really listening, focus on your food, look around when you walk, just slow down, stop and breathe – your body and mind will love you for it 🙂
Is it time for you to Rethink your Life?
Coming in January 2018
Life Rethink – Rapid Transformational Coaching Programmes
Just a quick heads up, I have a few RTT spaces left between now and when we close for Christmas, but after Christmas, the prices are going up.
If you’ve been thinking about having an RTT session, but haven’t got around to contacting me, do it now before the price rise in January 2018 – it changes people’s lives!