Don’t wait until you get burned
Imagine holding a matchstick in your hand.
It’s just been struck. A small flame flickers. at the tip.
Your ears caught the spark but you don’t notice the small flame. Your attention is elsewhere.
The flame grows and the heat begins to rise, inching closer to your fingers.
There’s a subtle tension building in your body, but you don’t notice. Your mind is busy replaying something from earlier, maybe planning what’s next, helping a loved one, or maybe on your phone.
The flame continues to travel down the match.
And then you yelp when you feel the burn and drop the match.
Emotions are not just in your head
Emotions show up in our bodies before we intellectually grasp it. And many of us don’t notice these subtle signals of an emotion in our body until they grow into something bigger…like overwhelm and burnout.
You don’t have to wait until you get burned
Research has shown mindfulness practices can significantly improve your ability to notice and understand your body’s signals, and that these improvements actually change the structure and function of our brains!
When you can notice these body signals early, you can respond to emotions before they become overwhelming. You have a better chance at calming and regulating your emotions if you sense it early.
Before you get burned by that match.
Start small
Even just a few minutes of daily practice can make a difference over time where it becomes easier to recognize what your body is signaling to you, much earlier and with more clarity.
Start with this short, guided meditation to help notice your body’s signals earlier. So that you can respond to emotions with more clarity and intention before they build into overwhelm.
Subscribe to “A Mindful Invitation” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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