|
Sometimes, in the midst of working on a project or task — especially under a deadline — it’s possible to get caught in a swirl of striving, pressure, or mental fog. But what if there’s another way? One with awareness, ease, and alignment, that honors your body’s natural rhythm. In the moment when stress arises, we’re often standing at an inner crossroads: one path leads to resistance and tension, and the other to calm, inner listening and connection. Let’s explore both. Then, I’ll guide you below, through a short, transformative, heart-centered practice to help you shift from stress and strain to ease and boosted clarity and creativity. ➡ As you read the two scenarios below, take a moment to reflect upon a time in your own life when you’ve found yourself on either path — and how each one shaped your experience. Scenario 1 You were trying to get a specific project or task completed. Maybe it required clear focus and called for some analysis, problem-solving, or a touch of creativity. Maybe it was a project that you needed to accomplish for work, and you had a deadline that you needed to meet. Or perhaps it was a time in school or when you were taking a class and learning something new. Whatever the specific situation, it may have begun as a fun or meaningful project, but somewhere along the way, the ideas were no longer flowing easily and you felt blocked. Self-doubt, over-analysis, worry, fear, or self-criticism may have crept in along the way. The voice of the inner critic was getting louder in those moments. You found yourself pushing through from the mind, trying to do the work, the assignment, project, or whatever it was. The more you pressed on, maybe even frantically to get it all done — striving, forcing, pushing yourself, trying to make the ideas come — instead you felt tense or stressed. Perhaps you’d describe it as feeling fuzzy-minded or foggy. The task then had begun to feel somewhat complicated or challenging. 
Scenario 2
Now reflect for a moment, on a time when you had another important project or task that you were working on. And in any moment when you felt unease, stress, or fatigue, you gave yourself permission to step away from the task awhile and take a break. During that pause, maybe you did something that’s fun for you and brings you joy. Perhaps you did some mindful breathing, meditated, took a walk in nature, watched a funny show, listened to music you enjoy, or spent time with your beloved pet, just to name a few examples. The break may have lasted an hour, a day, or even just a few minutes. You had recognized that you needed a little pause — to unwind, relax, and honor what your body was telling you. As you recall such an instance: ➡ How did it feel when you returned to the task? ➡ Did you notice that it was easier to concentrate? ➡ Perhaps you noticed that new insights and ideas came to you — almost like magic out of nowhere — without effort. That short pause may have felt like a little mini mind-vacation, that left you feeling refreshed, revitalized, and clear. From Survival Mode to Creation Mode: What the Science Reveals
When we try to make things happen, strive, force, push , this creates resistance to the natural flow of well-being. It causes strain and stress. ➡ When stressed or feeling unsafe, blood flow shifts away from the part of the brain that governs creativity and clear thinking, to the primitive part of the brain that is focused on survival and safety. ➡ And when we take moments to pause and tune into and naturally activate the qualities of the heart (joy, calm, ease, compassion, love, appreciation, gratitude, kindness etc.) and its intelligence, we re-center and re-align. The brain and body start to feel safe again, feel-good hormones are released, and blood flow shifts so that clear-thinking is restored and creative ideas can flow again. So, the benefits of heart-centered pausing are clearly evident as it activates heart-brain coherence and boosts heart-aligned action. Rather than pushing through from the mind, we can allow ourselves to flow from and with, the heart, our true inner being essence, and well-being. A Simple Practice to Pause, Tune-In and Re-Align with Your Body's Innate Intelligence The next time and anytime you notice any unease (stress) while working on a project or task, (and no urgent action is required — no emergency) try the following short practice. It requires no external resources or special conditions, only the connection with the resources already within you. And just a kind reminder to not judge yourself for any stress, worry, tension, frustration, anxiety, impatience, upset, or any kind of unease you notice you have been experiencing. It’s ok. Just notice with kindness, curiosity and compassion. (And refrain from judging any judging as well, if that occurs!) Step 1 Begin to take a few slow and gentle breaths that are a little deeper than usual, but completely comfortable for you. Imagine your breath is flowing in and out of your radiant, loving, heart center. (You can also place a hand on your heart, if it feels right for you and are able to safely do so in that particular moment). This step stops the impact of stress on your mind and body and eliminates the energy drain. Step 2 After doing step 1 for a couple of minutes or so (or longer if you like), as you continue breathing this way through your heart center, connecting more deeply with its innate intelligence and wisdom, internally gently say to your body: “I see you, hear you, and feel you. I care about you, and want you to feel safe and well. I love you. Thank you for all that you do. I appreciate you.” Then with self-compassion ask your body: “How can I help you right now?” “How can I support you?” And simply continue to rest and be (without trying to get answers to the questions) in the connection with your heart and body. You may naturally receive impressions, answers, or guidance in that moment, so just continue to be open and simply enjoy relaxing in the spaciousness of your heart essence. ✻ Then honor the loving and gentle wisdom within, by following any intuitive guidance you may receive. This is a simple yet valuable practice and it lets your body know that you are acknowledging and listening to it. And it shows your body how much you deeply care about it. It’s you offering yourself the support that you need. It is also a wonderful and powerful practice to do Step 1 above, right before working on an important project or such, as it will help you to flow into the task from a space of ease, self-compassion, and connection with the loving intelligence of your heart. And you will be more open to inspirational ideas and creativity, and boost clarity, concentration and focus, and purposeful engagement. Over the years, as I’ve learned to become more deeply aware and in tune with my inner body, I’ve been able to recognize the subtle signs of inner tension and the voice of the inner critic more quickly and clearly. This awareness helps me to stay anchored in presence, more often than not, without getting drawn into old patterns — and in those moments when I do get pulled out of presence, it gently supports a quicker return to inner stillness and peace with self-kindness and compassion. Heart-centered pausing has become a natural habit that I love. I’ve noticed the gentle, quiet inner shift that occurs when I give myself the gift of pausing in the heart. I then often find that new ideas and approaches, answers, solutions, and inspiration begin to flow naturally — sometimes even like simple miracles. Miracles reflecting the Truth of our being. 
I know that some reading this post may be attuned to vibrational therapies as well, like reiki. Integrating reiki with this short practice enhances the practice. I enjoy taking a heart-centered pause before activating reiki and they work beautifully together to boost the connection and alignment with our wholeness and clarity. And also, just simply tuning into the vibration and radiance of the heart feels so blissful! The heart carries a gentle yet profound power and intelligence that blesses every part of us — more than most people might ever imagine. I would love it if they taught about this in schools! As a vibrational therapy practitioner and meditator for many years, I have personally experienced — and have also witnessed in others that I work with — the heart's innate power and energy. And more recently, I have learned so much more about the intelligence of the heart through the HeartMath® Certified Practitioner training I completed. I've come to understand even more about its intelligence and have deepened my connection with it. The magnificence that the heart holds, is always available and ready to be tapped into more deeply for personal and planetary alignment, healing, and transformation. (Stay tuned — I will continue to share more about the loving power and intelligence of the heart in my upcoming e-newsletters and blog posts). So, remember to give yourself the permission to pause and center in the peaceful essence of your heart when any unease arises, and simply to relax into the magnificence that you are. And your whole being will appreciate your loving attention and kindness. May you enjoy the beautiful connection with your sacred essence. In Oneness and Peace, Maya Bringas PS. If you would like one-to-one personalized support on the path of embodying awakened consciousness and living more deeply attuned to the natural rhythm of your wholeness, I invite you to explore my Reconnect with Inner Harmony Program: Inner Peace, Balance, and Empowerment Through Heart-Centered Alignment. It would be my honor and pleasure to gently guide you on your path of transformation and alignment with your true essence, welcoming the natural unfolding of well-being, clarity, and balance in your life. Feel free to share this post with those who you feel would be interested in the content.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |