On Fridays I like to sit outside and do nothing for at least one hour.
No phone. No music. No podcast. No book. No yoga. Just sitting, maybe some tea or a smoothie. I just sit and think about whatever is coming up for me. I don’t do anything with it, no matter how exciting the idea may seem, or no matter how annoying that person was. I just sit and let the thoughts all be.
I notice what emotions these thoughts bring up, and then I get interested in them, I give them some space and curiosity. I notice how my body reacts to those thoughts and emotions and I relax more into those spaces. And then after the hour is up, I get up and get on with my life.
It’s one of my favourite things to do, because it seems so audacious. Like I can hear the cars driving, and the buzz of life around me, and I know I have so much I could be doing, but I like to have the audacity to do nothing, with intention. I like to take one hour a week to say “the world can wait.”
What I’m really doing from a neuroemotional perspective is tending to my emotional needs by seeing and hearing myself, exactly where I’m at. And that’s all the emotional brain state really wants and needs. To be seen and heard. I do this because I know that once I’ve done this process, my neurochemistry will shift me into the executive brain state, and it’s from that brain state that I can access my superpowers.
That’s the brain state I want to be in to deal with all the challenges, decisions and opportunities life throws at me, so that I know I have as much brain chemistry on my side to support me making the right choices, to support the life I want to live.
I learnt how to do this on my journey to becoming a NeuroEmotional Coach with The Center for Emotional Education – and it’s really all I’m interested in these days. It’s 100% the piece of the puzzle that most people are missing on their way to try and find their “success.”
Without an understanding of your brain states, you’re operating at a deficit. No doubt. The more you can understand yourself, the better your life will be. Same as any other relationship. The more you can understand the other person and how they operate, the more you can be in relationship with them. We were just never told (or modeled or taught) how important it is to be your own best friend before you can be the best version of yourself for others. Brain science nerd stuff for the win.