No Rush November
It’s here! My November experiment! 2017 = No Input November, 2018 = No Coffee November, This Year = No Rush November!
What does “no rush” mean?
To be honest, I’m still figuring it out. This past month, I’ve experienced a lot of anxiety in a frightening way. I’ve always held tension in my jaw + shoulders when I’m stressed — but this month, it felt like someone was strangling me… my throat was/is [depending on the day] so tight.
It took me two weeks to finally book an acupuncture appointment + the appointment helped so much that I told myself I’m going to get acupuncture [even though, yes it’s expensive — I go to Shen Shen in Chicago] every week until the end of the year to see how my body responds. My acupuncturist said that I had a ton of energy running through my body, but that my throat was completely blocked ++ so many spots that were related to stress were inflamed.
Intellectually, I know what the root of the stress is ++ I know everything is fine. Physically, my body is responding as “this is not okay.” This month, I want to slow down, relax, tune in, + up-level how I handle stress. I want to get better at prioritizing [re-reading the book Essentialism this month!]+ dropping pressure that I put on myself. Ultimately, I want to be peaceful + present!
I decided on a few guidelines to help me this month — see below! I’m giving myself permission to try the guideline on for 5 days + adjust as necessary.
#1] Decide the three priorities for the day the night before.
#2] Absolutely no texting/checking email/going on instagram until the three priorities for the day are done. Phone calls are allowed.
#3] When I enter a room, close my eyes for one breath + say: “May I be peace. May I bring peace” [side note: I’m really going to have to work on this — I’ve already entered five different rooms today, + I forgot to do this practice each time, lol]
#4] Walk slower. Eat slower. Move around slower… except in my workout ; ).
#5] Above all: Am I being compassionate? Am I being kind?
This morning, I opened my journal, wrote a bit + then decided to read The Book Of Awakening, as I hadn’t read it in awhile. Message from November 1:
To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is to succumb to violence. The frenzy of the activist neutralizes his or her work for peace. / Thomas Merton
Um, WOW. I felt like God gave me a big warm hug + said: this is exactly what you are supposed to be doing right now!
The message went on to talk about how we need to not only slow down, but also accept our limitations… + that the want to do it all is a want to be it all, + while this comes from a desire to do good, it often becomes out of control because our egos take over + want to be admired. This shows up in the form of: not wanting to say no, not wanting to miss any opportunity, not wanting to be seen as less than totally compassionate, etc.
The last part of the message hit hard: “Do one thing at a time + do it entirely, + it will lead you to the next moment of love.”
I have lots more to say, but I’ll leave it at that for now. Time for me to move on to my second priority of the day! xx
— Blog post on the book Essentialism, right before No Input November
Rooting for you always,
