Where Did the Time Go? Awareness and Pacing Life.

I am surprised that nearly a month has gone by since my last blog entry! What have I been doing with my time!?! To be absolutely honest, I can't say that I know. Sure, there are specific moments and conversations that I can recall if pressed, but for the most part, it’s been quite a blur. This can potentially cause some anxiety (for someone without good organization skills), especially with today's barrage of communications (did I respond to that person? Is there something I am missing).

Life and reality have presented some very interesting situations this past month which has made time fly by very quickly. Earlier last month, I had made a resolution to slow down and focus on some key projects that I have been developing. However, looking back, things seemed to just come up which required my presence and projects that previously seem to have stalled all the sudden took on new initiative.

I have discovered some interesting ways in which my body and sub-conscious communicate with me. I have a recurring dream that my teeth break up and fall out. I recall experiencing anxiety in this dream and trying to repair that which is lost. Interestingly enough, my experience thus far has shown that this dream for me is an indication that I am developing a cavity or need to see the dentist as either my teeth will get sensitive or my gums get sore shortly after these dreams occur. It sounds pretty simple and I am sure that Jungians would have a different interpretation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream), but my interpretation has been working for me. In a similar but less causally explainable fashion, “reality” communicates in interesting ways as well. I interpret when I carelessly lose things (e.g., my phone, mp3 player, sunglasses, etc.) as a “slow down, I’m doing too much.” While there is no direct causal link between some of these observations and my mental state, I have been conditioned from my past to take notice when these signs appear.

In general, anything that gets one to slow down and explore how you feel and what/why you are doing things in a deep way is a good thing. Here are a few other “triggers” for me:

Take Notice:
Synchronicities and coincidences
Light bulbs going out when I am nearby
Meaningful connections with others

Slow down:
Losing something (e.g., phone, mp3 player, sun glasses)
Accident
Not in gratitude

The interesting thing is to see how you feel about the incident and situation vs. going into thought. It is very easy to get spun out trying to come up with causal explanations (especially when you lose something! Guilt, “if only I had…,” shoulda, coulda, woulda, etc.). Rather than that, try accepting the situation the best you can and re-align what you are doing with what is happening to you internally. Usually a “that’s interesting” followed by a check on my mental and emotional state (am I still centered), how I am breathing, and taking some time for myself to reflect and explore.