Waiting often feels like a waste of time. Consider the last time you sat in traffic, were in a waiting room for an appointment that was scheduled for 30 minutes ago, were in line to buy something or even on a delayed flight. What these scenarios have in common is that they are all out of your control.
We all know how easily the waiting game can lead to frustration, but what if we flipped the script and took back control?
I remember the first time I experienced this A-HA moment. I was sitting in a doctor's office with allergy test patches all over me--if you've ever had this test, you know it can get super itchy--and I had to wait 20 or so minutes before they could be taken off.
Just me, in a sterile office, itchy and alone with my thoughts. I wanted so badly to rip the patches off and scratch, not to mention the rising anxiety levels in my body. I also had 1001 things on my to-do list, and I knew my time would have been better spent tackling one of those projects. These were just a few thoughts in my busy mind... and then a positive thought popped in.
"This is a great opportunity to meditate."
Technically, meditating was one of my to-do list items, just one that I always managed not to make time for. Plus, meditating always helped my anxiety, so it actually seemed like a decent idea.
Suddenly, the script was flipped, and I was back in control.
Now, I proactively turn idle moments into opportunities. When I know I'll be travelling in traffic, I turn on a podcast or audiobook and always have positive takeaways.
I carry books to waiting room areas and test out different breathing techniques in grocery store lines (click here to learn a few of my favourites!).
How we feel in our lives has more to do with our approach and mindset than we know. Try a few of these small shifts and see how your days change.
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With gratitude,
Christina DeFranco
Five techniques to help you find freedom from stress in only five breaths (yes, it's that fast!)
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