Last week, I went through my third empty nest episode with my only daughter! While happy that we have been able to help her through life situations, it's still hard not to feel those crazy emotions of loss each time she's off on her next adventure.
The feelings of anxiety, grief, and identity crisis can be experienced with any number of life-changing experiences. For coping, we must find our own ways of getting past these episodes that derail our motivation for finishing projects or taking new adventures.
This was a fun idea from Christopher Robin about doing "nothing" in A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh*, "It means just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering."
So, for this week, here is another way to revive your spirit. Whether you’re in a funk like me about a third empty nest episode, or just not inspired to make strides in your "to do" list, consider doing "nothing!"
Try This: Do Nothing and Listen to Your Heart
When moving through change, listen to your heart for 10 minutes every day using this exercise:
- Place your feet flat on the ground.
- Put your hand over your heart.
- Take a deep breath and ask the question, "Will having a change like (fill in your situation) bring me closer to the dream that I desire or further away?"
- Sit quietly and notice your thoughts.
- Take another deep breath and ask the question again.
- Check your body for reactions.
- Take a final deep breath and notice the answers forming from your heart.
If disruptive experiences or emotional situations have put you off your game, make sure to use exercises like this one or others from the blog to get back on track. For me, it's critical to lift my mood to move forward.
* A.A. Milne Quotes: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/26566-what-i-like-doing-best-is-nothing-how-do-you