Serenity - Serenity How Soon Will We Become Overwhelmed?

A week maybe less? How quickly will serenity become a memory as we jump into the fast lane? Our end-of-year vacation is, for most of us, rapidly forgotten, and before we know it, we are speeding through the day. Our to-do list stares us in the face. We’re aiming to get as much done as […]

A week maybe less?

How quickly will serenity become a memory as we jump into the fast lane?

Our end-of-year vacation is, for most of us, rapidly forgotten, and before we know it, we are speeding through the day.

Our to-do list stares us in the face.

We’re aiming to get as much done as we can.

We get overwhelmed, even panicked by the volume and the pressure. We notice how happy we are when things go smoothly and when we get much done. In our enthusiasm, we tend to forget that 40% of our day can be unexpected.

Appreciating The Unexpected

This morning I was going to a Pilates class, but instead, I landed in a Yin Yoga class as the Pilates teacher was not able to come.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the lesson.

Yin Yoga involves natural stretching and breathing into your body. I let go of thinking and sank in to be with my body.

Yin Yoga is a combination of Chinese medicine and yoga. It’s meant to counter the constant rushing and stress that we put on ourselves. In Yin Yoga, we slow down and learn to be in a position that is effortless, to breathe, and to let the energy in our meridians flow freely.

With Chinese medicine, we want to create an ultimate flow of energy and free up stuck energy. The movements are very slow, teaching us to slow down.

We Are So Busy Every Day

What if we took more time as if we were in Yin Yoga class, where we breathe with each movement, with ease, and while attending at the same time to freeing energy?

The question is, as we move into 2024 do we want to continue to put pressure on ourselves?

It’s true that others may try to put pressure on us. The people we work with might push us to be more busy. We might feel the pressure to keep up with them. However, we have a choice.

And even if the world outside is racing around, we can still build and maintain internal resilience. We can hold a sense of inner stillness, a sense of serenity, amid the rush of life that is happening and will continue to happen around us.

What do you choose?

Serenity Builds Resilience

Barbara Frederickson, a leading scholar in positive psychology, defines serenity as one of the ten positive emotions. She defines serenity as inner calm, harmony, and a state of peacefulness where one is content and untroubled. Unlike negative emotions, positive emotions help us connect to others, build collaborative teams, and elevate our relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. Positive emotions also empower us to be more resilient when facing stressful situations, opening doors to productive strategic thinking.

With a mindfulness practice, we can invite serenity into our inner space. We can use mindfulness tools to start our day, setting our intentions for that day. We can use mindfulness techniques throughout the day, especially during those stressful times in the office, at home, or when traveling.

Here’s what I do to maintain internal resilience and serenity when I find myself under pressure because of the outside world racing around and waiting for results.

How To Invite Serenity Into Your Inner Space

Here are two ways I invite serenity in every day.

As part of my morning routine, I close my eyes, take a few breaths, smile and envision my day ahead, and imagine my choices and how I navigate my day with presence, calm, and ______ (fill in your words here). This is even if my day looks busy and full.
Multiple times during my day, I pause and breathe. In this space, I calm myself and invite in serenity, ease, and flow, like in the Yin Yoga class.

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If you would like to receive a short mindfulness audio recording to listen to and guide you as you pause during your day, please contact me, and we will send this over.