In our Hospice Interdisciplinary Team Meeting last week, I shared (a modified version of ) a prayer written by Elizabeth Kaeton. The prayer is titled "Prayers for All Who Work In Hospice", and is aimed specifically at hospice staff.  But this prayer is for anyone working long hours caring for others, so, if that is YOU, then this prayer is for you.

I N V I T A T I O N A L     P A U S E  . . .

Before receiving the prayer, I invite you to take a moment, even as you read now, to allow a softer, deeper, more beautiful B R E A T H to fall in, and gently out. . .  Remembering that letting go of tension allows blood-flow, increased oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body, including the brain, supporting clearer, more creative thinking. Let your muscles hang heavy off your bones, just for these 3-4 minutes . . . softening the scalp, gentling the tiny muscles around your eyeballs, letting the jaw and tongue go, neck, shoulders now, then soft heaviness down your arms, hands, uncurling the fingers. . . little muscles between your ribs releasing, allowing more space for the breath to expand outwards, blood flow to all your digestive organs, warmth and ease of belly, hips, heavy the long muscles of the thighs, down into knees, calves, ankles and feet, soft the feet and tiny toe muscles. . . rest for a moment, dear feet, who carry so much on such a small surface through our days. . .



And now, in your soft openness, may Kaeton's prayer be of value to you today:

Shifting thoughts shifts brain chemistry, which shifts not only the rest of our biochemistry, but our sense of mental and emotional well being.
 
I will invite you today to a mini-thought-change exercise.   

If you have not yet stretched like a waking cat today, begin by grasping your hands and stretching them forward til your arms are long, and/or upward as well.  Allow a breath or even a sound to come forth as you do this.

Done?

Ok, good. We could all use a bit more stretching as we begin our day, or as a mid-day re-enlivening, or an end-of-day release.

Now, settle yourself as comfortably as you can; right where you are will do.

Here we go:

Imagine or bring to mind – just for a moment -  someone or some situation that irritates or even dramatically upsets you.  Think about that person or thing, "YOUR DISTERESSOR", and let yourself feel what you feel. 
Notice the type of distress – sorrow, loss, despair, anxiety, frustration, jealousy, fear, anger, even rage. . . Notice where in your body, heart, mind, and/or spirit your distress lives.
 
Now we are going to do what I think might be one of the SIMPLEST well-being exercises that exists:

Now, in your mind’s eye, see yourself TAKE ONE STEP BACK (as small or as big a step as you are called to take) - take ONE STEP BACK from your distressor. 

One step. 

Take a deep slow, lovely breath in and slowly out.
Notice yourself OUTSIDE of the circle of circle of influence.
Notice the ways your body, heart, mind and spirit feel – is there more spaciousness?  Perhaps a sense of calm, or even freedom in your cells, maybe a recollection of your own center?
 
That is it.  Place, if you wish, (and as I usually suggest), one hand on your belly and one on your heart to anchor what we did in the inner realms into your body, (so you can, hopefully, carry some of whatever SELF you accessed, with you into your day today.
 
One Step Back. It can be that simple.