:Most people rush from place to place seldom taking time to be aware of their surroundings. They live in their heads constantly thinking about the next thing that needs to be done, the next place they need to be, the things they have forgotten, and so on and so forth.
This produces a massive amount of cumulative stress, and I suspect contributes more than any other single factor to loss of productivity, illness and inefficiency in the work force. Not to mention depriving you of the joy that is your natural birthright!
Sadly the vast majority of people rush through their holidays in exactly the same way, and then wonder why they come back to work less refreshed than they would like to be. This summer do something different: take time to fully experience your holiday.
Allowing yourself to be fully aware of where you are, right now, can open an amazing world of richness and refreshment. It naturally produces gratitude, reduces stress, increases vitality and promotes relaxation and youthfulness. It also boosts the immune system and enhances creativity. What better way to make the most of the holiday?
The simplest way to do this, is to bring all of your awareness into your physical senses. Here are some suggestions to spark your imagination.
- What do you feel?: Consciously bring your awareness to the feel of the sunshine and fresh air on your skin. Let yourself enjoy it.
- What can you smell? Take time to enjoy the smell from the BBQ, take notice of the scent of flowers or the seabreeze.
- What can you taste? Slow down your eating and really taste all the delicious foods that you will be eating during this celebration period. (You will enjoy your meal more, and be less likely to over- indulge if you do this. It is also an excellent weight-management tip)
- What can you hear? If you are having some time at the beach or the bush this summer, take time to really listen to the sounds around. Play a game with your children to see who can identify the most different sounds.
- What can you see? We live in such a visually rich environment that most of us are simply overwhelmed, and simply tune out all of the wonder that is around us. Choose one simple object, such as a flower, a shell, or a stone. Hold it in your hand and take time to examine it in detail.
Teach these suggestions to your children and practice them together. They will love doing this with you and may even teach you a thing or 2 about the ability to live life fully NOW!.
