Checking in with three simple words, How are you?
In an effort to make our blog posts accessible to all we have created our first text to speech audio. This is a work in progress, and we will continue to search for programs that will help us do this well.
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Last week I was walking to yoga, running through to-do lists in my head, kind of just going through the motions of getting from point A to point B, when I luckily happened to look up and notice that the sign out front of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst had changed. The new message reads:
“In each moment expect a miracle.” - Elizabeth Tarbox
This visual change of scenery, this literal sign post, shook me out of my busy-ness and invited me to think to myself, “What if we expected a miracle in each moment? How would we behave, how would we interact, how would we engage differently?”
This experience also reminded me that with each of our stationery designs we seek to create a similar “sign post effect” — a pause in your hustle, a prompt to check-in and re-connect with yourself, with others, and with the world around you.
We continue to bring the sign post effect to life with our #currentinvitations, monthly points of focus to inspire and guide your letter writing practice. And with that, we offer March’s Invitation:
Let’s really start with you.
How are you?
Give yourself permission to take a few minutes, literally 3 will do it, to bring awareness to how you are. Find a quiet space to sit comfortably, if it feels okay, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths in and out.
As you continue breathing bring your awareness to the sensations you are feeling in your body. Perhaps you can feel your heartbeat, perhaps a tightness in your lower back, whatever it is just notice, there is nothing you need to change. How about your state of mind? As you breathe are there thoughts that are arising? Any emotions that are present? Notice them, acknowledge them, and then return to your breath.
Click photo for our How are you? stamp
Once the three minutes have passed, you can close your session with an expression of gratitude to yourself, for making the time to slow down and engage with presence.
P.S. Continue this practice by reaching out and checking in with others.