Hey Basil....time to shhhh

Dearest,

How does this moment feel? Are you in the moment or are your thoughts on a distraction of the past? Is it a pleasant distraction that you'd love to never end or an uncomfortable/awful/completely unbearable experience that you wish you could erase? Perhaps your thoughts have raced ahead to the future trying to cement outcomes over which we have no control?

Lets take a moment to be right here, in the moment. Allowing it to be what it is. Breath in. Does your belly fill or is movement only high in your chest? Breath in again, this time consciously ensuring your belly fills. Breathing is such an automatic part of our lives (thankfully!!) we can stop checking in to make sure we are doing it as well as we can.

Now tell me - how are you in this moment?

This week I've found myself having to practice box breathing more than usual. (Box breathing is where you breath in for the count of four, pause for four, exhale for four and pause again for four). I'm so grateful to have this tool that I can use wherever I am. It moves me from panic and anxiety, back to the present moment and calm. Various changes have triggered these feelings. They have been so consistent this week that I decided to give them their own name - Basil

I had a hunch that if I named my panic/anxiety/worries with a ridiculous name it would help me see how ridiculous it was to be anywhere other than the present moment. And it worked!

I'm thankful for Basil - whose name I sought inspiration from ChatGPT which then reminded me of Basil Fawlty from Fawlty Towers (and aware very age specific reference).

I'm the car - off track and feeling like I'm taking a hiding ;-)

His words that fill my head are intended for protection and safety but what Basil doesn't realise (despite being with me my entire life) is that change and growth can be, actually are very likely to be, scary and uncomfortable.

Sometimes I need to remind Basil that I can do hard things and he just needs to shhh while I make my way through it.

What would you name yours? Have you named it already? Feel free to use Basil if it resonates - remember Dearest #youdoyou.

So with Basil's volume turned right down, I'm entering the weekend calmly. Open to opportunities to support the kind of life I'd like and accepting of the experiences from which there are lessons that I should learn (note I say "should" - sometimes I may not learn a lesson as quickly as I should!!)

I came across this line out of Seth Godins' latest book and it kinda sums it up nicely.

"What happened yesterday already happened. It's a gift and an asset from your previous self. You don't have to accept it if you don't want to"

So Dearest, may this moment and all the moments that follow see you move in kindness, be of service and stay curious - for yourself and for others.

Take care Dearest - of yourself, of others, of your thoughts, of your actions and of our wonderful world.

You are worthy - always

Ngā manaakitanga xx