Dec 2010 - Holidays and Wholeness

I was speaking to a friend day about how it seems that many of us in these couple of weeks before Christmas feel tired, low in energy, and overwhelmed. There is a four part centring exercise I give all my coaching clients – it is particularly useful for dealing with feelings of overwhelm and stress that the Christmas period can invoke. Take a moment now to find yourself a seated position where you can sit upright – preferably with your hips being alittle higher than your knees.

1. Take a breath in and imagine that breath travelling up your back, giving you uplift through your spine and neck and out the top of your head. Then, on the exhalation, imagine your breath travelling down your front, softening those muscles in the front (without losing the uplift in your spine)
2. Imagine you can extend your energy out around you to about 12 – 14 inches around your whole body. Take a moment to check if this bubble of energy is equal at your front and back, to your left and right and above and below you.
3. Let gravity take the weight of your shoulders and chin.
4. Now think of a quality that you would like alittle bit more of – ease, or centeredness or inclusion. Ask yourself the question ‘What would it be like if I had a little bit more of this quality in my body right now?’ Listen to the answer you receive from your body.

And now, return to the situation that is causing you to feel overwhelmed – do you feel more present, more centred? You can take the above exercise and streamline it when you need to – just take 10 seconds several times a day to breath, sense your field of energy and invoke your quality.

In my news, I’m excited to be co-leading a Finding Wholeness workshop in the New Year with my friend and colleague Kate Griffiths. If you would like to get more connected, approach life from a more centred and whole way and explore the mind/body split, go to http://www.eventbrite.com/event/916951627  

This months poem is this wonderful one from U.A Fanthorpe. I love this perspective on Joseph and I particularly love the last line of the poem.

Joseph

I am Joseph, carpenter,
Of David’s kingly line,
I wanted an heir, discovered
My wife’s son wasn’t mine.

I am an obstinate lover,
Loved Mary for better or worse.
Wouldn’t stop loving when I found
Someone Else came first.

Mine was the likeness I hoped for
When the first-born man-child came
But nothing of him was me, I couldn’t
Even choose his name.

I am Joseph who wanted
To teach my own boy how to live.
My lesson for my foster son:
Endure. Love. Give.

Wishing you all a great holiday and I’m looking forward to seeing you all in 2011 – either in person, by phone or via email

Warmly,

BethI