Is this our fate; to be locked into being over busy and stressed for the rest of our lives? Some believe that when the kids are grown, or when they retire, or when they finish this last project, they’ll finally have enough time to relax and experience inner peace. But over the years I’ve discovered that busyness doesn’t end. It grows and festers within, searching for the next item to add on to the to-do list.
Being busy and overwhelmed isn’t a result of not having enough time or having to many things to do. We don’t have enough time to do everything because we have a busyness mind set. Within us and surrounding us is a pressure to perform, produce and prove ourselves at all times. “No rest for the wicked,” is drilled deep into our subconscious.
There is an antidote, fortunately, that allows us to shift our mindset and experience inner peace amongst all the activity. Practiced regularly, it leads to bigger spaces of peace and stillness that replace the urge to “Do, do, do.” Explore the following mindfulness and energy awareness techniques below to help you let go of overwhelm and busyness. And for more guidance, read the book Inner Peace: How to Be Calmly Active and Actively Calm
3 Tools to Help You Find Inner Peace
1. Be mindful of your experience. Bring awareness to how you feel as you go through your day. When you notice you’re caught up in busyness, be with the experience. What does busy and overwhelm feel like? Is it a racing sensation in your chest, tightness in your solar plexus, fuzziness in your head? Breathe into the experience and accept it as it is. Then look underneath to explore the messages that drive it. Is there a voice telling you to keep moving? Does it warn of stagnation, failure or boredom if you slow down? Is it true, or have you been unconsciously following false guidance? Follow your truth.
2. Experience stillness and inner peace. Spend at least five minutes each day or better yet, at the beginning, middle and end of each day, touching into the essence of inner stillness. Put it on your to-do list or write it as an appointment in your day-timer if you have to satisfy your inner taskmaster. Do a quick, easy meditation where you close your eyes, focus on your breath to still your mind, and then tune into the spaciousness of stillness and peace within. Notice if the nagging voice interrupts commanding you to get back to being busy, or if there is any uneasiness or anxiety in your body. Breathe into it and focus on the inner peace underneath. What we focus on grows in our awareness, so allow the peacefulness to be bigger than the distractions. Let the light energy of peace flow through your whole body, down into the cells.
3. Take peace with you. As you become more familiar with the energy of inner peace, bring it with you into your daily activities. Instead of pushing, pulling, racing, or struggling to complete a task, do it with ease and joy. Fill yourself with inner peace and allow it to wash overwhelm and busyness away.
You can find inner peace in any moment if you give it priority over busyness. Own your power to create your ideal experience.
What supports you to let go of overwhelm and busyness and find inner peace? Please share below.