REIMAGINE
“When you change the way you look at things,
the things you look at change.”
— Wayne Dyer
Just before writing this, I felt a sense of overwhelm creeping up on me.
Nothing extraordinary happened; it was just this sense of having many tabs open in my mind, and my body got the gist of it. My heart was beating a bit faster and my brain felt as if a pack of cotton wool balls took up space inside it. My mind was EVERYWHERE, and NOWHERE at the same time.
This past two weeks I have enjoyed creating an "anchor word", or word of intent, every day for my beloved Online Yoga Group. I chose "INTENT" as this month's topic. Because this day was not an Online Yoga Day, choosing my "Word Friend" (thank you for that term - you know who you are...) had not happened yet. I tried to find words to choose from, but that also did not work, as my mind was already too frazzled.
I asked my husband, who is in with me on the "Intention Word" Project (you will learn more about it in the coming weeks here), to give me a choice of words.
He came up with:
ENCOURAGE | EXPLORE | REIMAGINE | ACT | ILLUMINATE
I knew exactly which one was right for me: REIMAGINE.
I picked the word spontaneously, without evaluation or speculation, which one I "should" take.
My word friend "REIMAGINE" was immediately helping me. It took the pressure away that the thoughts and scenarios in my mind were facts. They were not.
Just because I did not have matching bedding for our family visitors this weekend does not mean they will have bad dreams.
Just because I had to say "Sorry, today's class is already full", does not mean those people who missed out will have an awful day.
Just because I had not yet finished a task for a work project does not mean I would have to close my business, or my clients are running away
Just because I hurt my leg while running on the beach the other day does not mean I cannot teach an enjoyable yoga class.
Just because ...
My mind initially made those scenarios somehow daunting, resulting in me getting frazzled and less than productive.
REIMAGINE brought me back to my best self.
I LET GO of unrealistic expectation of myself and created ACTION by messaging our visitors that if they want a certain duvet size, to bring their own or try the size I put on
I fully EMBRACED: "Who knows what is good or what is bad?" because who knows what beautiful things those yoginis encountered instead of being in class, or what mishap they might have avoided. The class was full. Full stop.
I took ONE SMALL AND DO-ABLE STEP and created space in my calendar for next week to finish that work project.
I ADJUSTED my yoga class to accommodate my leg, embraced vulnerability and sat with my legs stretched out in meditation - just as I recommend to my students - to sit with as much comfort as possible.
I thought of "REIMAGINE", whenever challenges came my way and I adjusted, let go, embraced or took do-able action, instead of dwelling in scenarios that might never eventuate...
Now, I am even grateful for my experience this morning. What else would have had to write about otherwise? ;) Who knows what is good, or what is bad?
This experience helped me creating a new way of thinking - instead of: "It has to be this way, surely.", to the possibility that things can be DIFFERENT. I can train my mind to go off its previously frequently trodden path and choose new ways: I can REIMAGINE my reality.
What may you need to REIMAGINE today to make your life that little bit more easeful for yourself?
My invitation to you this week:
Whenever you feel frazzled or upset or bored or whatever else mildly unpleasant emotion signals to you, REIMAGINE the scenario that your mind had just came up with.
HOW ELSE could the outcome of this situation be?
What would happen if you EMBRACE whatever is just happening (if you cannot change it) and instead you become curious about it?
REIMAGINE your scenario - and notice how it feels
This is your time.
You are worth it.
With a reimagined and now exciting outlook on the day to come.
Yours
Mel