Greetings and welcome to the Why Struggle Podcast.
I'm your host Barbara J.
Faison and my intention with this podcast is to offer ideas,
Insights,
And inspirations so you can live life better.
Greetings and welcome to 2024,
Week 39,
Slow Down and Breathe.
I love this quote,
Autumn is about to show us how beautiful it is to let things go.
Anonymous.
In the northern hemisphere,
Autumn or fall is the time to start slowing down.
In some places,
The temperatures are dropping.
We aren't quite there yet in metro Atlanta.
It's coming though.
Do you feel the change in yourself?
Moving from the energy and excitement of summer to wanting to slow down?
Autumn is the time to start slowing down,
Releasing,
And letting go of whatever you need to release.
Nature shows us how to do it.
The trees are letting go of the leaves to prepare for the winter.
What about you?
What are you preparing for by releasing and letting go?
I've learned that around this time,
I want to do less.
So,
Guess what?
I'm doing less.
I'm giving myself permission.
And in case you need someone to give you permission,
Permission granted.
I hope you enjoy this excerpt from my book,
Why Struggle Life is Too Short to Wear Tight Shoes.
Slow Down When was the last time you did anything without rushing?
We can reach out and touch people in numerous ways,
Including the phone,
Email,
And social media.
Technology offers our society such wonderful enhancements to daily living that we sometimes forget to slow down.
We get up with our smartphones,
Cuddle with them,
And go to bed with them,
And sometimes we allow them to dictate all of our daily activities.
Technology is not human and has no discretion or judgment.
Remember to disconnect from technology to fully engage in life and with people.
Set personal boundaries around the time you spend on the phone,
Computer,
Or tablet.
Be sure to schedule or factor in time for relaxation and downtime.
Commit to turning off the phone and enjoying the beauty around you.
If you're with someone,
Enjoy time with the human.
The technology will be there after you're done.
Practice.
Choose a time to spend alone in nature.
Take a walk and slow down.
Breathe the air and feel the sun against your skin.
Slow down and give each moment your undivided attention.
Affirmation.
I allow my mind,
Body,
And spirit to slow down and be at peace.
Learning to slow down or stop and know when I have done enough is something I have to practice.
Guess what?
I get to reset,
Give myself grace,
And choose peace.
Just taking a few deep breaths can calm your body down.
Let's do that now.
Enjoy this audio called 10 Conscious Breaths.
Let's take a moment to ground ourselves and become more focused by taking 10 conscious breaths.
I suggest you place your hands in your heart center,
Which is right in the middle of your chest,
And we'll do 10 breaths.
We'll breathe in through the nose with a loud,
Emphatic exhale through the mouth.
So,
If you're ready,
Let's begin.
Breathe in and out.
Breathe in and out.
Ah.
Breathe in and out.
Ah.
Breathe in and out.
Ah.
Ah.
Breathe in and out.
Ah.
Breathe in and out.
Ah.
Ah.
Breathe in and out.
Ah.
Breathe in and out.
Ah.
Ah.
Breathe in and out.
Ah.
Final breath.
Breathe in and out.
Ah.
Ah.
Now,
Return to your regular breathing rate,
Pattern,
And rhythm.
Relax your hands.
Check in with your breath and your body.
How do you feel?
We can check in with our breath and our body anytime during the day.
It may be helpful for you to set an alarm on your phone to remind you to stop and take any number of breaths you have time to take.
One,
Two,
However many feels good in that moment.
Thank you so much for checking in with your breath and your body by taking 10 conscious breaths.
Bring a smile to your face.
And remember,
You can stop and take any amount of breaths at any time.
Breath is free.
Thank you so much for listening.
Until next time,
Be well.
How do you feel after taking those intentional breaths?
Leave a comment,
Observation,
Or reflection where you're listening to this podcast.
