Embracing Waves

Life is not always a calm ocean. Waves are a part of it. Sometimes they are what we want to resist and avoid, however, in managing those tricky times, this isn’t always the most helpful thing to do.

Have you ever told yourself, not to think about something, because it was bothering you? What happened? You thought about it, right? This is much the same. The more you try and push away that wave, the stronger it’s likely to become.

So instead of resisting, why not try and welcome the wave. It sounds scary at first, but just remember how many rough waters you have managed before. Each time you got through it, meaning you can do it again. By welcoming and embracing challenging situations, we are no longer struggling with the friction in our minds. It can help us to focus on that experience ahead. Next time you are aware of a difficult situation you may be faced with, remind yourself that it is natural to feel afraid, anxious, sad or overwhelmed. Acknowledge these emotions, and try not to push them away. Feel where each emotion sits in your body. Perhaps the fear sits in your chest as an expanding dark shape, or maybe the sadness is a thick deep blue liquid in your throat. Try and breathe into the shape or area of your body. Breathe in through your nose counting to five, encompassing all areas of the shape. Breathe out of your mouth letting the breath pour from that area of your body. Repeat five to ten times. Often when we’re anxious, stressed or down. Our breathing gets neglected, it’s normal to tense up and feel rigid. By bringing our mind back to the breathing it can help to bring us to the present moment. Thus helping us to manage and ride that wave. Stay wavy!