Blog

Waiting to Exhale?

October 29, 2024

by Kim Childs, CPPC

If you’re enjoying lots of peace, calm, stability and certainty these days, congratulations and well done! If not, welcome to the club! So many of us in the U.S. are holding our breath as we await the outcome of our votes next week, while also dealing with our own personal concerns amid solar flares and tech glitches, economic and environmental challenges, and war and violence on the planet. Whatever you are enduring, I offer my compassion.

I’m also sharing some self-care practices (beyond deep breaths) that have helped me cope with these “unprecedented times.” Try one, and let me know if it helps!

1) Self-havening is a super simple practice of offering your own caring touch, words, and presence to yourself for more calm and peace. I find it soooo soothing. You can experience it in this 10-minute video, created during the pandemic.

2) EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique, or “tapping,” also involves self touch, and is a clinically proven way to calm the nervous system around a stressful situation. You can try it in this 4-minute video, inserting your own word(s) into the phrase “This _________ (stressful physical, mental or emotional condition)” when the moment comes.

3) Claiming time for yourself in the morning before engaging with devices and people, even for 5 minutes, helps start your day with more intention and self-connection. Whether it’s journaling, meditation, prayer, time in nature, or something else, I write about the value of this practice here.

4) Artist Dates, as introduced by the brilliant Julia Cameron, are personal play dates designed to fascinate, intrigue, delight and replenish us. This month I’ve been singing, and enjoying the gorgeous fall leaves (also reminding me to “let go” of what no longer serves me).Here are some other ideas.

5) Unplugging for a time can also help our nervous system calm down. Earlier this month, I lost my Facebook account to hackers. At first, I felt a real loss of community and connection. After awhile, I realized that I felt something else…peace, in the absence of FOMO (fear of missing out). The other gain was a deepening of my spiritual practices. Try a 24-hour news and social media fast and see how you feel.

And last but certainly not least…
Letting it rip in the car is something I’ve also been doing when I need to release internal pressure with a shout, scream, or rant. I only do it when I’m alone with the windows rolled up, unless other passengers want to join me, in which case it usually leads to laughter, another healer. Try it, to let your body discharge what it’s been holding on to.

If you’d welcome help navigating your way through life this year with support, accountability, inspiration and thought-partnering, please reply to schedule a consultation or a tune-up session. Lately, I’ve really enjoyed helping people “rise from the ashes” of loss.

To our highest, greatest good and easier breathing!

Kim Childs, CPPC, is a Certified Life and Career Coach specializing in Positive Psychology, creativity, and life transitions. Click here to learn more and schedule an initial consultation.