Give yourself the gift of the Pause!!

I recently read an essay* that reflected on the phrase, "cross that bridge when you come to it". The writer was considering the ways we worry about things we have absolutely no control over, things that are still unknown and can't be known until somewhere further down the road.

This week, as many of us step out of ordinary time, you might notice your mind going into rumination over bridges that aren't yet in front of you.

• The new class that you've registered for - will it meet your needs and expectations?

• The results of the bloodwork or medical imaging that have been ordered for January - what will they show? What will the next steps be?

• The application you submitted for a new job or funding - will you get it or not?

No matter how much you worry, fret or stew, you can't know the answer to any of these questions yet. So how do you want to spend your energy today?

This is another one of these questions that is simple and challenging, because if your habitual go-to is worry, it's no longer a choice but a pattern.

If you want to change, the first step is awareness - without judgement.

"Oh, I notice I'm worrying about that again."

Then with awareness comes the ability to choose.

"That worrying really isn't serving me, and I'd rather put my focus and energy into something that benefits me."

You already know that your nervous system will resist change - a Pause can get you out of your head and remind your body that it's safe to rewire your nervous system.

Give it a try:

Let me know what happens!

* The essay is from Oliver Burkeman's "Meditations for Mortals." Read more about Burkeman here.