Hi dear friends,
Today we are going to practice one of my favorite nervous system support exercises.
We're going to reflect on moments from your recent past where you felt the most like yourself.
These are moments that brought a little more ease or calm,
Perhaps even a spark of joy or pleasure to your day,
Or where you felt a little less stress or anxiety.
These moments do not have to be monumental or life-changing,
And they do not have to be perfect.
They might simply be a brief but meaningful pause in your day,
A sip of your morning coffee,
A beautiful connection with a tree,
Or a moment that you shared with a pet.
So let's get started.
Think of a time within the last 24 to 48 hours when you felt most like yourself,
A moment where you felt a little bit of ease,
A little bit less stressed or anxious.
And once you have that moment in mind,
Hold it gently in your awareness.
Now picture this moment in your mind's eye.
What did your surroundings look like?
Imagine taking in the full 360 degrees of the scene.
Notice the colors,
The shapes,
The textures present in this memory.
Maybe the people or the animals.
What details stand out to you?
Now bring your attention to what you heard in that moment.
Was there the sound of wind in the trees?
Perhaps the laughter of someone nearby,
Or maybe a comforting quiet.
Notice any sounds near or far in this memory,
And let them enrich your connection to the moment.
Now shift your awareness to what you could smell or taste.
Maybe it's the aroma of your coffee or tea,
The fresh scent of the outdoors,
Or something subtle that added to the experience.
Take a moment to linger here.
Now notice what you can touch in this memory.
What textures did you feel?
Perhaps the softness of a pet's fur,
The coolness of the air,
Or the warmth of sunlight on your skin.
Maybe the person next to you.
Were there materials or water or objects that you interacted with?
Let yourself explore these sensations.
Maybe you also noticed how your body felt in that moment,
How it moved.
Now,
After connecting with this memory through your senses,
Can you bring your attention to your felt sense in this moment right now?
The sensations in and around your body in the present.
Do you notice any shifts in how you feel?
Perhaps there's a sense of warmth or relaxation or grounding.
Simply observe without judgment.
If this practice resonates with you,
Try recalling another moment from the past couple of weeks,
A little further back in time,
Where you felt most like yourself.
Again,
Thinking of a moment where there was a little more ease or pleasure,
A little less anxiety or stress.
And once you've got that memory in mind,
Bring it into your mind's eye and have a look around at the scene.
Notice what you see.
Now notice what you hear.
Notice what you smell or taste.
Notice what you can touch or feel.
And see how connecting with this moment affects your felt sense in this present moment.
Does anything feel different now in or around your body compared to when we started?
Notice how reconnecting with these moments influences your sense of self and well-being.
I really love to collect these moments as I go through my days now.
Noticing when I feel most like myself.
Using all my senses to capture a snapshot in my mind of that moment,
So that I can always come back to it at a later date and reconnect to the memory.
So when you're ready,
Gently bringing your focus back to the present moment right here and now.
Carrying the connection of these moments of most like yourself with you into your day.
