You know, it is a beautiful day here in Brighton today and there is nothing I enjoy more than being out in it.  This morning I was out of the door early, went to get some coffee and saw the sea shimmering and glistening.  What a glorious way to start the day.  There is nothing that I love more than being outside on a day like this, savouring the moments of sunshine, warmth and light and not a cloud in the sky.

And today, I can’t be.  There are major plumbing issues at home and I have got to wait for the plumber to come around which could be at any time.  Gosh darn it.  I wanna be outside.  I can imagine and relate to all those people stuck in offices who would much rather be outside playing.

I could be sat on the beach with an ice cream.  I could be walking on the South Downs taking in the grand vistas that often span 20 miles.  I could be having coffee at one of the many cafes in this town (God, I love that!).  But instead, I have to wait in.  Hmmmmm.  Now that could be very frustrating.

Except that it isn’t.  The sky is an almost translucent blue outside the window and I am lucky enough to have a wall of windows in the living room.  This light is magnificent and is streaming in.  Just that alone makes me feel very happy and very lucky to be here.  It is all a matter of perspective or focus really isn’t it.  I can let my thoughts run away with me about all the other things that I could be doing, or I can focus on what is amazing about here and now.

I get to do some meditation that I have been wanting to do for ages.  I can slip out and get a great lunch (the sink is blocked and I can’t do washing up!…woohoo, I can buy my lunch out!).  The plumber has my number so I can wander over to the cafe directly opposite and see when he turns up…they have seats outside so I can still bask in the sun.  And most of all, I can breathe.  I have time unexpectedly on my hand which gives me room to just be….nothing else but be for a while.  I love it when this happens (as you can read here)!

This feels like a luxury and yet it is the way we are naturally meant to be.  So often in modern life we feel driven, but it is usually something else such as fear or external pressure that is driving us.  This is quite different from the magical experience of just showing up for your life, being in the moment and everything just flows almost effortlessly.  Even when you are taking action it is usually inspired and often feels more like play than work.

The key for me is actually getting back to a place of clarity in my thinking that allows me to be.  Not getting caught in my head about all the things I should be, could be, would be doing if I wasn’t “stuck” here.

It is still glorious out there.  There are no clouds in the spring sky and I got to eat my lunch out on the step in the warming glow.  Small things but important.  And, I’m still smiling :)

TRY THIS!

Next time you are feeling down/stuck/wanting to be anywhere but where you are, try this.

  1. STOP! – whatever you are doing, you need to break the pattern of what is happening right now.  So just stop, sit down and put both feet on the floor.  Plant your feet on the floor and feel them there.
  2. Breathe – you can not connect to your Spirit, get inspired or just feel plain happy and present if you don’t breathe.  So, take some deep breaths – at least 5 and if not 10.  Long and slow.
  3. Look around and notice – see what is actually around you.  Place your attention outside of yourself and just look around and see what you actually see.  Just pay attention.
  4. Smile – just the very act of smiling engages different muscles and changing our state of being.  Strange, but it is hard to feel down/angry/sad/distracted when you make yourself smile.  Even if you don’t feel like it, move your face to smile and you soon will feel like it.
  5. Write it out – take a sheet of paper and number is 1-10.  Next to no.1, complete the sentence “What I love about right now is……..” and complete the sentence.  It might be the bright yellow daffodils near you, the cloudless sky or the ducks on a pond!  I might even be the cup of tea that you have to hand.  It doesn’t matter.  Repeat this again for nos. 2-10.

Give that any one of those steps a whirl and you will be more present and grounded.  Try all in sequence and you will be a happy camper wherever you are!

Enjoy the sunshine!

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