Being an Ambassador of Love and Peace

I've always been interested in coincidences. The big questions about how God/the divine/ the universe/higher good might be active in my life. When topics or ideas keep poking me or nudging me along, I eventually take time to pay attention and listen.  What's been poking me lately? I keep hearing words about just doing the next thing, the question: what is mine to do, or what's my purpose in life? Do I have a divine appointment here on earth?

This winter I received a note from one of my yoga students. Let me just pause there and say how blessed and lucky I feel to teach and be in community with so many amazing yoga students who let me know if they'll be absent from class (even though I have never made this request), and who send me cards and notes and the occasional encouraging email. Anyway, I received this note that ended with "keep on being an ambassador of love and peace." What the??? Who me? Being an ambassador of anything sounds lofty and terribly important and I'm not sure that's me! Yet, the words wouldn't let me go. How could I try to be an ambassador of love and peace? How could I step into this and try to live it out? As is so true of any endeavor, you just begin to try.

If you think I'm this highly evolved spiritual being, who emanates peace and tranquility, you don't know me. I am a fiery redhead with a temper and a high need to control (my husband knows this very well!). Yet I'm trying. To be more peaceful. To try to see those who upset me with more compassion and understanding. When the world feels like too much, I remember to just do the next thing. To do my job as a yoga instructor and let forces larger than me be in my words and actions. Then it hit me. This is not my job to do alone! I can be an instigator! I can offer the ideas and asanas in yoga practice that build a sense of feeling grounded, balanced, and connected. All of my yoga students can take these ideas and skills and use them in their lives....doing the next right thing. It feels big, really scary, exciting, and even revolutionary. It's a calling. I'm finding my way. Wanna join me as an ambassador of love and peace?

Pause and Productivity

Time is precious. Most of us feel we run out of time or feel pressed for time, or it seems as if there are simply not enough hours in the day. As a result, we scurry around, trying to complete lots of chores, tasks, and details and end up feeling exhausted and depleted by days end. 

How then do we live in the present moment and use our time most effectively? The short answer: slow down and pause. Let's look at why pausing can be such an effective strategy:

The myth of multi-tasking. Our brains cannot do more than one thing at a time (there's a clue there!). Instead, when we think we are multi-tasking, we are just rapidly attention switching which often leads to a lack of attention and detail. As a result, we don't do our absolute best. We fail to get the details right and rush through projects and feel exhausted rather than proud of a job well done. Slowing down and paying attention to what is in front of us right now helps us focus and complete tasks more quickly than if we were trying to do several things simultaneously.

Don't just do something, sit there! Pausing and taking time to simply be still and at rest for a few minutes can be restorative and aide our productivity. None of us would run a power tool until it is squeeling and overheating. We know that electronics sometimes just need a re-boot. A bit of time unplugged can solve so many problems!

Finally, pausing and taking a bit of time outside can do wonders for our outlook and overall energy. Getting out in the sunshine for a short walk in the morning or over a lunch break can make a huge difference in our energy level and attitude. The natural world is also a great place to be reminded of the fact that growth takes time and nourishment. As living organisms, we all need water, sunlight, rest, and time to grow and bloom.

So the next time you find yourself rushing through your day, or bemoaning the fact that time feels fleeting, slow it down. Pause and do just one thing. Or pause and do nothing at all for a few minutes. Taking time to restore and re-energize leads to improved functioning and better productivity. You'll get more done and you'll feel better as you take a more restful path to moving forward.