Contemplation = Space = Renewal = Creativity
What would you feel like if you were at the beach right now? Imagine it: the sun glistening on your skin, sand soft against your feet, the ocean singing in your ears. How would it feel to be fully relaxed—to feel attuned and free?
When you can start enjoying simple things and giving up focus and control, you’ll expand your emotional capacity and make space for creativity - in leadership and in your human connections - for a more balanced life.
We all suffer from stress, especially as the year comes to a close. Some of us stress over expectations (both our own and others’). Some of us stress about money. You might find yourself struggling to leave that stress at work and find a good balance between your work and home life.
A lot of people get stuck in the routine of their daily lives and due to singular focus. This pressure of achieving makes us block out people, colours, sounds and tastes—all in the name of focus. But to find balance and truly enjoy the journey, you need to expand your inner richness.
How? Make time to try these three simple things.
Designate one hour to sit and contemplate and allow yourself to just feel—nothing more. Be present with yourself.
Disconnect from social media completely for 24 hours and instead be present with your loved ones, 100 percent.
Find a physical activity you enjoy that will release endorphins in your body, and ride that natural high—even something like dancing in your kitchen.
If you need help, our retreats (For women only. For men and women) aren’t just gorgeous settings and pretty vacation photos. Our Somatic Intelligence retreats offer individual opportunities for you to slow down, reach a balanced state, and become your highest-achieving self. It’s a powerful week you’ll never forget.
Still feeling the holiday stress and pressure taking over? Try this Somatic exercise for some quick mindfulness. Do this 4-5 times a day, at random!
Both men and women can try this exercise from our friend Angelina from Breatheme.com: Watch her in action here: Instagram, or Facebook.
Try it for yourself. How does it make you feel?
Breathing is essential for releasing pressure, but learning how to breathe so that you actually feel pleasure as a mindful act takes you to a whole other level. This holiday season, remember to take the time and breathe—fully and deeply.
It’s a simple way to connect to your inner self and physically find enjoyment in the small things. When you slow down for a moment in the midst of all your activities and experience simple pleasures - the cleansing effect of taking a deep breath, the temperature of water as you wash your hands, the delicious feeling of a slow shower - you are, in fact, practicing the mystery and awe of life. You’re practicing loving yourself.
When you have that space for contemplation, you create space inside yourself. It’s a wonderful sense of renewal—and in that space is where creativity is born.