How Do I Know If I’m Doing Well?

How do we know what “better” looks like? Our brains spend so much energy focusing on the negative….what we “should” have said, “could” have done, “would” like to accomplish. How do we help our mind, body, and spirit to connect with the positives in the present moment? How do we know when we are using our hard-learned strategies? How do we know when we are being our Authentic Self?

In her book, “Getting Past Your Past”, Francine Shapiro lays out a Personal Table to help us evaluate each day. Did I make time to relax today? How did I move my body? When stress arose, what techniques did I practice to find myself again? The complete list is in the visuals accompanying this post. For me, the final question on the table, “Do I have a sense of well-being?” has been an important over-arching principle in evaluating my sense of myself. Yes, there are many stressors to focus on….my brain is an expert on focusing on MORE and LESS: More money in the bank, Less inches on the waist, More time to connect, Less demands in the day, More peacefulness in the world, Less struggle and strain.

These issues can seem insurmountable. They overwhelm our system and drain our mental and physical battery. But Francine Shapiro reminds us that we have choices in the chaos. We have practices and techniques that help us stay present, find a sense of peace and calm, and access our skills and supports.

If you evaluated the last 24 hours, what number would you give yourself on the 1-10 scale? (10 = I am living as my authentic self, grounded and connected, and 1 = I am struggling in all areas of my well-being.) Is there something you’d like to try to tomorrow that would improve your number? Is there something you’re doing well that you need to acknowledge within yourself? Do you simply need to pause and savor the moment of wellness you’re currently enjoying?

With you on this journey of daily practice, ~ Kim @ kima

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Covid-19 and Our Broken Circles