When time itself is the stressor.

Mindfulness Talk

As the calendar turns to August, my sense of time goes all whack-a-doodle.  “Enjoying this summer day” suddenly turns into “Summer is going too fast!!!” 

The unit of time is objectively measurable, but the perception of time… well, that’s as subjective as it gets.  Time can feel feel so many ways:  like a whirlwind, like we are missing out, like it's being taken from us, like an empty void, like we are dragging our heels and being pulled ahead by it.  What else could you add to this list?   

Time can be a stressor, but that doesn’t mean it's against us. Time is not what guides us or watches over us or connects us. Time is not the universal spirit. Time is just life. Just like life, you bobble through time just as we all bobble through it. Just like life, sometimes we don’t notice the measure of it, sometimes it’s all we notice.

 
So what can we do when time gets stressful?  The first step is to simply take notice.  Notice when your words start mentioning time. Then, take a moment to stop talking about it and start thinking about it.  How exactly is time feeling?  What is causing time to feel this way?  Is this a recurring feeling or is it based on something new?  This process gives us the opportunity to reset time.

Meditation is another way to reset time. The Finding Present Meditation below helps to reset what one minute feels like. Ready for a reset?  

Meditation

Finding Present Meditation:

Use a 1 minute timer for this meditation, or click here for one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdoo18950vs

Count how many breaths you take in one minute. It doesn’t matter if you choose to breathe slowly or at your regular breath pace. Just count. Do this for as many one minutes as you wish.

When you are ready, open your eyes and end here.  Or, begin the mindfulness meditation.

Mindfulness Meditation:

Instead of counting breaths, choose one word to repeat for the one minute. Just choose a word that comes to mind. It doesn’t matter if you repeat the word to match your slow breath pace or your regular breath pace. Just repeat and breath. Don’t be surprised if in the very back of your mind a memory or thought or feeling arises. Let the very back of your mind do whatever it wants. But keep most of your mind on repeating the word and breathing.

Now choose another word for the next one minute. Keep most of your mind on repeating and breathing, while keeping the very back of the mind free to do what it wants.

Continue choosing new words for new minutes.

Closing Routine:

When you are ready, rub fingers together and take three cleansing breaths. Or use any closing routine that works for you.