Exploring the deep connection between health and wellness involves finding solace in everyday experiences, identifying how small moments of calm. Through practices that nourish both body and spirit, we can discover new ways to face daily challenges with greater resilience and fulfillment.
What is comfort? Where can we find comfort?
As women, we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, of our family, of our community. We hold for ourselves, and other women, we hold for ourselves, and our family. With all that responsibility, when do we or can we take care of ourselves?
Women spend 3 times as many hours on unpaid domestic labor as men. In other parts of the world, the world, every day, women and girls spend 200 million hours on water collection. That is the equivalent of 22,800 years of missed opportunities every day, roughly the equivalent of the period of time from the Stone Age to today.
When it comes to feeding their families, women shoulder that burden too. Women actually grow between 60-80% of the world’s staple crops. On top of that, women are almost entirely responsible for buying and preparing this food.
With all that women do to support their families, as well as our communities and the world, no wonder we are so tired. This came to mind recently, when I read a quote from Brene Brown. In her book, Dare to Lead, she says: " Integrity is Choosing courage over comfort. "
I totally agree that Integrity is choosing courage over the comfort of staying small.
But in a perverse way, on this day, I took issue with the word ‘comfort.’ You may consider it with me.
What is comfort? Do we have time for comfort? Where? And How? I looked up the word ‘comfort.’ I found it defined as a state of physical ease. With this thought, I began thinking of balance, of comfort, of wellness.
This was brought home in a recent conversation with a work colleague. Shannon is a young mother, 35, a rising leader, and she was telling me she was breaking out in hives. She has a 3-year-old toddler, a new house, a loving husband and a burgeoning career in state government. I was asking about breaks, about stretching. I was sharing that I am in the habit of doing a little bit of stretch every day and a yoga practice a few times a week. She chuckled. First thing I do is make sure I get Kimmy up before dad wakes up. I was startled.
She admits she has no time for a morning stretch for minutes even. No space, not much room for herself.
So, I wondered, if we cannot do even five minutes of stretch in the morning, if our children, the house, the job, the husband consume us, where will we get our energy, replenish our own life force. If we do not stand for ourselves, where will we get the energy from to continue in our work for others.
No matter who we are, it is important to keep ourselves grounded, connected to the earth, to ourselves and to the heart of our creativity. We can only do this if we relax or find a space for ourselves.
We may not be engaging in regular exercise such as at least 75 minutes of strength training, or walking. Maybe we are not sleeping 7 hours per night, or even 7 hours straight. Is there any anything we can squeeze in?
How about 5 minutes, or 3 minutes?
Maybe there IS something we can do? And it is as simple as breathing.
Have you ever heard of box breathing? It is a favorite life hack for me. I pull it out of my pocket, regularly. I invite you to try that now. It is called Box Breathing because it has ‘four sides.” Like a box with four sides, this exercise is done to the count of four.
Steps for box breathing:
Sit, or stand with intention.
Breathe in slowly to the count of 4,
Hold for 4,
Breath out slowly to the count of 4,
Hold for 4.
Repeat 4 times.
The benefits of box breathing are derived from distracting your mind as you count to four.
As you breathe slowly, you are calming your nervous system and decreasing stress in your body. Box breathing is a simple yet powerful relaxation technique that can help return your breathing pattern to a relaxed rhythm. It can clear and calm your mind, improving your focus. We can start with box breathing.
For more support, encouragement and empowerment, stay tuned to Zoe Network.
And if you feel called to something greater, something you cannot quite put your finger on is making you wonder what else is there, I invite you to connect with me to explore what is emerging in your heart.
Learn more: www.aroigcoaching.com
Annabella Roig, MS, MPH
August 26, 2024
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