Taking Time to Be
When was the last time that you simply let yourself be? In the constant hum of activity that is the world, and with instant access to all kinds of things, how much downtime do we truly allow ourselves?
About a year-and-a-half ago, I went to float (Epsom salt sensory deprivation tank) for the first time. At that time, I was meditating on a regular basis and was really relaxed and chill, so it was a great meditative experience. I really enjoyed the experience and wanted to go again, but it was rather difficult to get an appointment. I let the idea slide back to the back burner.
Over the past year, many things have changed. Change seems to be the buzz word, actually. I've made great strides in letting go of my "Type-A death grip" on things, and I've been pretty good at rolling with the changes that have come. Recently, there has been a little more change than usual to my environment, and my normal little bubble of "everything is awesome" was beginning to feel a little tense...mostly because I am like a sponge who soaks up the stress/tension of those around me.
To help decompress, I asked myself (literally, I asked my highest self) what would be the most helpful thing that I could do to help decompress. Maybe a massage...no... And then I asked if I should go for a float, and that resonated with me.
I bought a package of three floats, and I planned to use them all in quick succession to help relieve the tension/stress that I was feeling. On Saturday afternoon, I went for float 1/3. It was a gorgeous day, and the float place has such an awesomely chill vibe. The float was great, although I could feel how much tension I was carrying in my shoulders and neck. Even with all of that, I managed to get into a pretty deep meditative state...where I am in the void of nothing and everything all at once...a feeling of home and relaxation. Going for a float in a sensory deprivation tank, there is nowhere to go, nothing to do. As my monkey mind let go and I let myself be, I entered stillness. I felt weightless and unteathered in the universe.
Then, I suddenly became alert, and my monkey mind came back online and there was an underlying fear that I should be doing something...that I have been in the deprivation tank too long. I started wondering how long I had been floating and whether there was something I was supposed to be doing or "should" be doing. The mental reflex of all the sudden worrying and feeling odd because I was doing nothing was so strong that it really got me thinking...
It took me a little while to realize that I was experiencing a fear that I should be doing something instead of relaxing/floating. I tend to challenge my fears to loosen their hold over me. I began wondering how many of us truly take the time to let go and just be? Why do we have such fears about not doing anything? Why is there a need to be busy, to be doing something? Why do we neglect ourselves and neglect truly resting, relaxing, and caring for ourselves?
Maybe it is time that we give ourselves permission (and I do mean saying it out loud) to just be. It's time to give ourselves permission to recharge, to be silent, to rest, to go withing, to relax, to be free. Many of us work like crazy and stress ourselves out because we tell ourselves that "after I have accomplished x, I can relax/have fun/be free/cut lose". Maybe today is the day to say that, "Today, I am going to take time to relax and take care of myself. I give myself permission to do nothing all afternoon. I given myself permission to be free during that time."
If we all spend a little more time cutting lose, recharging, being free, and giving ourselves exactly what we need more of the time, maybe we'll all be happier, kinder, and more caring and compassionate when we pick our lives back up. Food for thought.
Floats 2/3 and 3/3 were also awesome. I practiced what I'm preaching, and I gave myself permission to just be. During float 2/3, I noticed how much tension was in my jaw. When I began to feel like I had been floating too long (and "should" be doing something else), I coached myself through that feeling and comforted myself in knowing that I was doing exactly what I needed to do to recharge and decompress...and that I could just be. Float 3/3, I came out incredibly refreshed and relaxed. I still had some tension in my body, but my level of relaxation was miles away from where it had been prior to these float sessions.
I was grateful that I had tuned into and listened to exactly what I needed, that I gave myself exactly what I needed to decompress, and that I lulled my monkey mind back to calm when it started should-ing all over me. Even though my week has been a little tense, the floats helped me get back into my bubble of "everything is awesome", and I am very grateful, thankful, and appreciative. Here's hoping that you take time to listen in to exactly what you need.
As always, take what speaks to you and leave the rest.
Many blessings!!!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kathrynpalacio1111
Instagram: lovingmysoul1111
YouTube: Kathryn Palacio
Website: www.lovingmysoul.com
Looking at the archways opening to the sky and trees at Glastonbury
Abbey is a good reminder to stop and enjoy the power of nature.
Copyright 2018 Kathryn Palacio.
About a year-and-a-half ago, I went to float (Epsom salt sensory deprivation tank) for the first time. At that time, I was meditating on a regular basis and was really relaxed and chill, so it was a great meditative experience. I really enjoyed the experience and wanted to go again, but it was rather difficult to get an appointment. I let the idea slide back to the back burner.
Over the past year, many things have changed. Change seems to be the buzz word, actually. I've made great strides in letting go of my "Type-A death grip" on things, and I've been pretty good at rolling with the changes that have come. Recently, there has been a little more change than usual to my environment, and my normal little bubble of "everything is awesome" was beginning to feel a little tense...mostly because I am like a sponge who soaks up the stress/tension of those around me.
To help decompress, I asked myself (literally, I asked my highest self) what would be the most helpful thing that I could do to help decompress. Maybe a massage...no... And then I asked if I should go for a float, and that resonated with me.
I bought a package of three floats, and I planned to use them all in quick succession to help relieve the tension/stress that I was feeling. On Saturday afternoon, I went for float 1/3. It was a gorgeous day, and the float place has such an awesomely chill vibe. The float was great, although I could feel how much tension I was carrying in my shoulders and neck. Even with all of that, I managed to get into a pretty deep meditative state...where I am in the void of nothing and everything all at once...a feeling of home and relaxation. Going for a float in a sensory deprivation tank, there is nowhere to go, nothing to do. As my monkey mind let go and I let myself be, I entered stillness. I felt weightless and unteathered in the universe.
Then, I suddenly became alert, and my monkey mind came back online and there was an underlying fear that I should be doing something...that I have been in the deprivation tank too long. I started wondering how long I had been floating and whether there was something I was supposed to be doing or "should" be doing. The mental reflex of all the sudden worrying and feeling odd because I was doing nothing was so strong that it really got me thinking...
It took me a little while to realize that I was experiencing a fear that I should be doing something instead of relaxing/floating. I tend to challenge my fears to loosen their hold over me. I began wondering how many of us truly take the time to let go and just be? Why do we have such fears about not doing anything? Why is there a need to be busy, to be doing something? Why do we neglect ourselves and neglect truly resting, relaxing, and caring for ourselves?
Maybe it is time that we give ourselves permission (and I do mean saying it out loud) to just be. It's time to give ourselves permission to recharge, to be silent, to rest, to go withing, to relax, to be free. Many of us work like crazy and stress ourselves out because we tell ourselves that "after I have accomplished x, I can relax/have fun/be free/cut lose". Maybe today is the day to say that, "Today, I am going to take time to relax and take care of myself. I give myself permission to do nothing all afternoon. I given myself permission to be free during that time."
If we all spend a little more time cutting lose, recharging, being free, and giving ourselves exactly what we need more of the time, maybe we'll all be happier, kinder, and more caring and compassionate when we pick our lives back up. Food for thought.
Floats 2/3 and 3/3 were also awesome. I practiced what I'm preaching, and I gave myself permission to just be. During float 2/3, I noticed how much tension was in my jaw. When I began to feel like I had been floating too long (and "should" be doing something else), I coached myself through that feeling and comforted myself in knowing that I was doing exactly what I needed to do to recharge and decompress...and that I could just be. Float 3/3, I came out incredibly refreshed and relaxed. I still had some tension in my body, but my level of relaxation was miles away from where it had been prior to these float sessions.
I was grateful that I had tuned into and listened to exactly what I needed, that I gave myself exactly what I needed to decompress, and that I lulled my monkey mind back to calm when it started should-ing all over me. Even though my week has been a little tense, the floats helped me get back into my bubble of "everything is awesome", and I am very grateful, thankful, and appreciative. Here's hoping that you take time to listen in to exactly what you need.
As always, take what speaks to you and leave the rest.
Many blessings!!!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kathrynpalacio1111
Instagram: lovingmysoul1111
YouTube: Kathryn Palacio
Website: www.lovingmysoul.com
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