Take up the space that’s yours and be mindful not to shrink into yourself.
Take up the space that’s yours and be mindful not to shrink into yourself.
We feel the most open, alive, and in the flow when we’re expanded. An open body, full of breath. A straight back, relaxed shoulders. Chest forward. Head up.
When we’re in this open physical state, our mind naturally follows along. Thoughts flow fluidly, creativity is up, we feel hopeful, and have an easy time swatting down negative self-talk. In a sense, this is a taste of enlightenment. We see reality with more clarity and feel like we’re floating along with it instead of being a stranded observer watching something ‘else’ that’s in perfect harmony.
An issue though, is that with all its beauty, life is also home to an endless stream of stress. From big challenges to even the simple tasks of just getting on with the day-to-day, we’re constantly hit with tension and problems to solve. Our natural reaction to this is to put up a bit of protective armor. We tighten up our bodies and shave down our perception to try to withstand some of what comes our way.
While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing in the moment, it becomes bad when we forget to take the armor off. As stress keeps coming, we can get into a habit of tightening up, shrinking into ourselves, breathing more shallowly, and rounding our shoulders. We forget that in the moments between the stresses of life, it’s crucial that we expand, reclaim the physical space of our bodies, and come back into balance.
Take note of how much you’re clenching and tightening your body and mind. When you notice you are shrinking–expand. Stretch your body, breathe deep, drop your shoulders, put your ribcage forward and raise your chin. Reclaim your freedom. And prepare to keep expanding into your future.
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