Tag: waking up

What if it’s not a problem?

~ The Healing Modalities ~ Leave a comment

Let it be.

Because our human brains have evolved to help us survive, we are still very aware of things that pose potential threats. But sometimes we like to create problems when there really aren’t any. Something only becomes a problem once we THINK it is one. 

And when we make something a problem, we start thinking of all the ways to “fix” it—which is really only worrying about it and making it even more of a problem in our minds. 

For example, if we’re having trouble falling asleep, is that a problem? Not until we think it is. We might feel frustrated that we can’t fall asleep. We might tell ourselves why it’s so important that we get the right amount of sleep. We create a “bad” story about our sleep, which creates anxiety ahead of time. This does not help us fall asleep faster. 

Instead, we can also think, “I’ll fall asleep when I do and I’ll get the amount of sleep my body needs.” Less of a problem now.

We can practice asking ourselves, “What if it’s not a problem? What if there is no problem and nothing to fix?”

What if:

  • – Feeling sad about this outcome isn’t a problem?
  • – Waking up in the middle of the night isn’t a problem?
  • – What that person said isn’t a problem?
  • – The number on the scale isn’t a problem?
  • – Missing him isn’t a problem?
  • – Her anxiety isn’t a problem?

When something isn’t a problem, we often feel more acceptance around it. And paradoxically, when we accept something, we are more open and willing to take aligned actions for ourselves. 

So if the number on the scale isn’t a problem, maybe we’d be more willing to make healthy choices. If waking up in the middle of the night isn’t a problem, maybe we’d be able to fall back asleep again. If missing him isn’t a problem, we can allow the feeling and still live our lives the way we want to.

So, “What if it’s not a problem? What if there is no problem and nothing to fix?”

Your turn: What have you been making a problem? What if it’s not a problem? What would you think about instead? What would you do instead?

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Work with me: Want to see how self-care is transformative and can help create a more meaningful life in which you start committing to yourself and show up the way you want? I can show you how. I offer first-time seekers a complimentary 60-minute exploratory session. Sign up here.

What’s on your mind? It can be powerful to learn from each other and our common struggles when it comes to our practice of self-care–or just being a human being. If you have something you’re struggling with and would like some perspective, share it here. Your issue may be chosen and addressed in the next post–it’ll be totally anonymous.

Your morning revamped

~ The Healing Modalities ~ Leave a comment

Step into your day.

Do you look at your phone and check emails, the news, social media, or text messages the minute you wake up?

This used to be my morning routine: the alarm on my phone would go off. I’d turn it off and since my phone was in my hand, I would immediately check my work emails. I wanted to see what my day might look like. 

It seems like a productive thing to do, right? To “prepare for your day.”

I want to offer that when you do this, your day might appear to “come at” you. 

All the requests from other people and all the time you need to spend on emailing others for info, looking for info, and creating responses once you have the info. Along with the other meetings and projects you had planned to do that day–or last minute meetings and projects that have popped up overnight. 

Not to mention what fills our minds after looking at the news, social media, or text messages as well.

It might feel overwhelming. Starting your day immediately feeling overwhelmed likely doesn’t contribute to productivity in a way that serves you. 

What would happen if you didn’t look at your phone and start having information come at you the minute you wake up?

I’ve talked to clients who said they feel anxious just thinking about not checking their phones/emails first thing.

What if instead, you have an alarm that’s separate from your phone? And what if you took five minutes after waking up to start your day in a way that YOU WANT? 

This could look like intentional breathing, a short meditation, or some gentle movement and stretches for your body. For five minutes. 

It could look like lying in bed and recalling a dream you had or just savoring those five minutes for yourself in whatever way you want. 

It could look like writing down your thoughts or drinking a glass of water to rehydrate your body and feeling it flow through your system. Five minutes for yourself.

It could look any way you want it to look. This creates space for you to step into your day the way you want to. Instead of having your day come at you.
Your turn: How would your days change if you stepped into them the way you want to? What would happen if you start by exploring with five minutes to yourself at the start of your day, without your phone? And what if you could stretch that to 10 minutes? What about 20 or 30 minutes? What would you do to empower your morning with time away from your phone?

Subscribe if you want to receive this content directly in your inbox.

Work with me: Want to see how self-care is transformative and can help create a more meaningful life in which you start committing to yourself and show up the way you want? I can show you how. I offer first-time seekers a complimentary 45-minute exploratory session. Sign up here.

What’s on your mind? It can be powerful to learn from each other and our common struggles when it comes to our practice of self-care–or just being a human being. If you have something you’re struggling with and would like some perspective, share it here. Your issue may be chosen and addressed in the next post–it’ll be totally anonymous.