How to Be Okay with All This Going On: Take Five

Right now.

Do nothing else, but breathe for the next five minutes. Just sit there (close your eyes if you must), but breathe.

It’s okay. I’ll wait.

Could you do it? Because this was the advice of my therapist weeks ago, and I haven’t been able to do it yet.

Call it whatever you want: meditation, mindfulness, quiet time, prayer, or focus. Your mind and body need this. You can slow your heart rate and bring yourself down to a calmer state. When you do this reset periodically throughout the day, you can stay within arm’s reach of your baseline as opposed to staying anxious all day long.

I’ve never been good at doing nothing. I mean, I can dodge responsibility like the best of them, but truly nothing? Nothing nothing? That’s tougher. That requires some internal stillness, especially in the mind.

Maybe you’re like me and sitting still and breathing even for five seconds, let alone five minutes, sounds impossible. I’m with you.

Still doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

~jennifer.