Love Full Out – Being Present

As you know, I started off this year with the inspiration to Love Full Out.  In doing so, I’m keeping my focus on three main practices in my daily life:

• Be present
• Be curious
• Be open to receiving

Last week, I got my first big opportunity to practice being present.  You may have noticed I didn’t post an article last week.  All week long, I had a sinus headache, an earache, and felt all-around lousy. I thought it was allergies or the changing weather, but apparently, it was a cold.

As per my usual, I don’t have time to be sick.  It’s the first of the year, after all, and there is planning to be done.  After a break from work and school, we were all trying to get into a normal routine.  I needed – wanted – to write, to work, to get back into my groove.

So I tried to rally. I didn’t miss any work, but by the time I got home each day, I was exhausted.  Early bedtimes, Echinacea tea, and even hot toddies didn’t give me the energy I sought.  I finally acquiesced. The cold simply had to run its course.

Such is the way of being present.  My reality was having a cold.  Period.  No matter how much I wanted to pretend or ignore or fight, my body needed rest.  It needed nurturing.  And it needed me to be present to its needs.

How often when we consider being present, do we forget out about our most important instrument, our bodies? 

How often do we run ourselves ragged, while our bodies faithfully preserve to keep us moving? 

How often do we ignore the aches and pains and cries from our bodies to slow down and pay attention?

BEING PRESENT – LOVING FULL OUT – INCLUDES KNOWING AND RESPECTING THE VOICE OF OUR UNIQUE BODIES

Yes, our bodies talk to us. They tell us what they need and want to stay healthy and functioning, but we’re usually too busy to really listen.  Or we don’t believe they actually have this capacity.

So how do we stay present? 

We get in touch with our unique bodies.  We sit in quiet contemplation daily and slowly scan our bodies from head to toe.  We notice how each part feels in that moment.  We ask our bodies what they need from us.  Then we stay quiet and listen for what comes up.  Really, truly listen.

We tell our bodies how much we love them and we thank them for being the vehicles that ensure we move forward.

We apologize for any harsh words we’ve said.  For the moments of disdain and disgust.  For the times we wished for a different shape or size or color.

We touch our bodies gently and tenderly, like we would any other love in our lives.  For this love keeps us alive.

We trust that when our bodies tell us they’re sick or sad or tired, they are.  And we take care of them.  In return, they will trust us back.

For many of us, it will be the first time we’ve given our bodies this kind of attention and compassion.  It may feel awkward and uncomfortable and we may not even fully believe what we’re saying and doing just yet.  Presence is a practice.

Make a daily commitment.  Pick just one of these and repeat it until you really feel it in your heart and soul as truth.  Then add to it.  Make it your own.

Above all, commit to being present with your body.  It’s the first step to being present in all other areas of your life, and to Loving Full Out.

Love & light,
Ashley

http://www.ashleybarnescoaching.com/articles/love-full-out-being-present