The Zen of Relaxing

Just as the title states that life is a marathon, however, marathons are not designed to be sprinted through. Sprinting is high energy and running at peak performance, its tiring. Marathons are long distance runs that are paced.  Life isn’t something that should be sprinted through. It’s important to take a moment every now and then, slow down, look around, use your senses, think calmly, and just feel present with the moment.

The mind, your tool to help interpret thoughts, feelings, and emotions that we receive and want to receive. But when you keep thinking and step away from actually doing you can get trapped further more leading to procrastination, a sense of incompleteness, and behind the rest. Then comparison comes to mind leading to more negativity.

As an entrepreneur, student, or just human the mind is constantly thinking work, school, innovation, what is next? Not fully indulging yourself in the moment. If you keep thinking about the future how can you enjoy now? If you thinking about wanting more, how can you enjoy what you have now?

What works for me

The greatest thoughts for me come when I take a step back, slow down, and disconnect from the world (cell phone on silent and no laptop) and focus on myself. The latest being when I was on a cruise with my family to the Bahamas. I made an effort to get up earlier than usual and just sit at the top deck of the ship as the sun came up.  The moment was beautiful as I was looking around; people were jogging, a little girl was playing with her toys, and an older couple were utilizing the peaceful moment to do Yoga together. That morning is one that I will never forget. I was completely present with what was going on around me.

Tools to help you get to the present

• Reading a Non-Fiction
• Dedicating a full day of just relaxation to yourself
• Slow soothing music (William Joseph is an artist I enjoy)
• A good comedy
• I tend to stay away from the television at moments like these.

What works for you?