One Step Back

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.

This exercise is for YOU, any where, any time you feel you have left yourself for a drama outside of you. 
And it is also an exercise you can easily share with others. 
No matter the exterior scene, we can all, in our inner world, take
ONE STEP BACK.