Pause
Contemplative Exercises to Reset and Ground Yourself in the Present Moment
We are here to pause. A pause can reset our day, it can bring perspective and peace. Pausing allows our bodies to catch up and alert us to what we are thinking, feeling and experiencing. A pause may last 30 seconds or 30 minutes. The ability to pause is a practice that we can intentionally work on. Stopping for a moment does not slow you down, but is rather the fuel you need to move forward with purpose and clarity.
Below are a few resources to guide you as you pause this month.
Listen
Cozy Summer Instrumentals
See
Etinas– Eduardo Kobra– Street Art, Rio De Janerio
Write
What does belonging mean to you?
Move
Go for a walk, notice 5 small things and 5 big things.
Lectio
For Belonging
May you listen to your longing to be free.
May the frames of your belonging be generous enough for your dreams.
May you arise each day with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart.
May you find a harmony between your soul and your life.
May the sanctuary of your soul never become haunted.
May you know the eternal longing that lives at the heart of time.
May there be kindness in your gaze when you look within.
May you never place walls between the light and yourself.
May you allow the wild beauty of the invisible world to gather you, mind you, and embrace you in belonging.
*Lectio Divinia is the practice of slow reading. This ancient practice is used to allow the mind to notice certain words or feelings as the text is read multiple times.
Basic Technique:
Be silent for a few moments to clear your thoughts. Slowly read the passage. Observe what stands out to you, journaling can be helpful. After a pause (1-2minutes), read the passage again. Continue this pattern 2-3 times.
Breath Prayer*
Inhale: I pause
Exhale: To listen.
Inhale: I pause
Exhale: To be embraced.
*Breath prayers combine deep breathing with prayers of meditation to help calm your body while focusing your mind.
The deep breathing can help calm the physical symptoms of anxiety, while prayer helps to center our thoughts on the present moment.
Basic Technique:
Start by taking long deep breaths. Inhale, hold for 3 seconds. Exhale, hold for three seconds.
After your body is used to this rhythm, incorporate the given words on each inhale and exhale.
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