Finding Your Way To Center

There is a technique, thousands of years old, that can give you what you need to have an incredibly productive day with less stress and less hard work.  Its results are well documented and scientifically proven.  It is the cheapest remedy for overwhelm, creative blocks and lack of clarity or energy.  It’s called centering and it is probably one of the most underappreciated quality of life tools we have as human beings.

So why do we not take advantage of it?  For most of us it feels counter-intuitive.  To suggest that we take 5-15 minutes out of an already overwhelming schedule to sit still and breathe…that’s crazy!  Or is it?  I know, I’m chuckling myself at this mystery. Our logical brains tell us that if our schedule is overloaded then we have to work faster to fit it all in.  Hard problems should have hard, complicated solutions, right?  If you’re falling behind in the race you can’t take the time to stop.  If you’re tired in the morning then that’s your condition for the day.  This is the way our brains are trained to think and it takes something to out-think our logic and get to the truth.  However, the payoff is huge and is worth the measly 5-15 minutes you take.

What would you give to…?:

• Be more at ease as you go about your day
• Have a clearer sense of what your priorities are and what can wait…or be dropped
• Get creative inspiration for how to tackle a current challenge
• Get your shoulders down from up around your ears
• End your day feeling it was well spent rather than knowing you were busy all day but not really sure what you accomplished

You don’t have look like a yogi to get centered.  You can sit in a chair with your feet on the floor if that is more comfortable for you.  The important thing is to remove all distractions and have the intention to focus on your breathing for the allotted time.  If you have difficulty focusing try counting the length of time you take to inhale and exhale.  Take slow deep breaths and allow yourself to let go of the tension in your body.  Some benefits you’ll get the first time you try centering, and the others will come with practice.  The important thing to remember is it’s a practice.  The more you play with it the easier it will be to get all the benefits.  Enjoy!