We all have days those days where we feel like a lab rat scurrying as fast as we can go, running from here to there, just finishing one task and then off to start another activity that is just one of many on our daily To-Do List. And at the end of the day, you remember that you hadn’t eaten all day. Really?!
And just before your head hits the pillow, you quietly think, “Wow! Where did the day go?” You might even silently say to yourself, “I didn’t get half the things I wanted to do done. Oh well, I have tomorrow to get those leftovers done plus the things I already had scheduled”.
Then perhaps, waves of stress pour over you. While lying in bed, you mentally try to imagine how to best to plan the next day’s activities. Maybe get up a little earlier? Or, maybe reschedule the dental appointment, or that needed car tune-up. By now your mind is spinning in high gear. Your body tenses up and sleep is now pretty much impossible.
What is happening you think? “I’m smart person”, you say to yourself. Why am I so stressed?
You notice that living under stress has become your new normal and things in your life are starting to be less than optimum. Your relationships, your health, quality time with kids, or maybe even overall satisfaction with the direction of your life.
It’s not uncommon for many of us to feel like we are living life in the maze. Remember Mazes? Mazes like the children’s playground feature where the goal is to quickly find the hidden exit once you enter while running as fast as you can making snap decisions. Every footstep was a calculated gamble on whether to turn left or right or go straight ahead, hoping each turn would take you to the exit.
But in reality, we eventually realize that by going fast and running blindly ahead we reach another dead end and have to back track. Not once, not twice, but more times than we would prefer. And all those quick decisions and actions only resulted in blind alleys, more frustration or stress.
Wouldn’t you rather know that in every moment you were somehow getting closer to your goal, even when you don’t seem to be moving at all?
We’ve all heard the saying, “Go fast by going slow”. When you break it down, this simple phrase becomes your key to getting more out of your thoughts, actions, our day and our lives. Perhaps the easiest hack for slowing down that comes to mind is focusing on our breathing.
By simply just stopping, sitting still and slowing down our breathing to 6 breaths a minute benefits our cardiovascular, respiratory functions and parasympathetic system in addition to increasing calmness and wellbeing. Think of it as an instant “Reset” button allowing you to renew, restore, and reflect. It can easily be expanded to include a favorite meditation or prayer.
Another favorite quick “Reset” button is the practice of a walking mediation in nature, or perhaps through your neighborhood. A more sophisticated walking meditation that I love is the experience of walking a Labyrinth. Since ancient times and across all culture’s in the world, labyrinths have been used as an easy method for people to reflect and remember their connection to the world.
Walking a labyrinth is an ancient practice used by many different faiths, saints, mystics, and pilgrims alike, for spiritual centering, connection, contemplation, and prayer. Entering the serpentine path of a labyrinth, you walk slowly while quieting your mind and focusing on a spiritual question or prayer. Essentially, it is a body movement prayer in stillness and with intention. Focusing the mind and body together towards inner reflection and moments of inspiration. Labyrinths are just one way for us to slow down, reflect and experience just being.
While, like a maze, but designed so you can see the destination, sometimes referred to as, Source, God, or sometimes known as the Still Point. Labyrinths allow us to discover truth and self-understanding in a calm peaceful way. Labyrinths can easily be found in most cities, usually near or on various church grounds or spiritual retreat centers.
You can never get lost in a labyrinth while you definitely can in a maze. And sure, running through life as if in a Maze can be fun, but it is also stressful and unhealthy in the long run. But, living life as if in a Labyrinth can be fun too, and yet without the accompanying stress of a maze.
How we live our lives is our choice. We can live everyday as if in a maze or we can choose to live life knowing we are moving forward to our destination in a stress free, purposeful and peaceful way.