Srsly? 🤔
Sorry for the vowel boycott in that subject line - I’m trying to make a point, which is this:
Less is More
Not too long ago, I received an email with the following header:
12 Essential Mindfulness Practices for Cultivating Inner Peace
TWELVE?!
I must do 12 more things to have inner peace?
(I’m sure the author intended to offer helpful tips and strategies. Intent counts for something, after all.)
In my younger days (and by younger I mean last year), I might have done the following:
✅ Become filled with enthusiasm, resolved to tackle every tip 🤩
✅ Created a chart with checkboxes (to signal my accomplishments!) 🏆
✅ Ditched the whole thing within 2 days 🗑️
✅ Felt bad about not following through ☹️
✅
PretendedDecided inner peace was overrated 🤥
Fortunately, last year was a pivotal one. I’ve written before about my deep dive into becoming a Certified Trauma-Informed Coach. In the future I’ll share more about what I learned and how I’m applying it. For now, here are three key lessons:
Key Lesson #1
It’s important to separate a traumatic event from trauma. The event is what happened; trauma is the impact the event left in the person’s body. It’s the residual unprocessed hurt, shock, or stress.
Most experts who study trauma agree on one thing: trauma lives in the body. While it also has mental, emotional, and behavioral manifestations, unprocessed trauma remains frozen in the body - limiting creativity, engagement in life, relationship flow, etc.
This is why we can’t just think our way to recovery.
Key Lesson #2
Replace the word “trauma” with the more accurate phrase “hurt” and you can see how we all have at least some of it – be it from decades or hours ago.
Key Lesson #3
A super common trauma symptom is this: going fast and hard in life. As in “Do more, try harder, get it all done, and hurry up already!!” It's that pushy, nagging sense of urgency, or feeling like you’re always behind.
One of the most effective remedies is to slow down - especially by taking a purposeful inhale followed by a longer exhale.
Consciously slowing down your breathing brings awareness back to your body, reduces stress, and regulates your nervous system….all creating a more peaceful state.
So, in the spirit of Less is More, try this:
One Inner Peace Practice (yes, just one!)
Inhale to the count of 5 and exhale to the count of 10. Repeat 3 times.
BONUS Science-Nerd Practice 🙋🏼♀️
Hummmmmm. Hum anything - you can even make up a tune! I learned this from renowned Neuroscientist Stephen Porges (author of the Polyvagal Theory) who says humming releases nitric oxide which, among many other things, lowers blood pressure, elevates mood, and boosts immune function. 🎶🎶
Your turn! Share your favorite inner peace practice by clicking on the poll below:
And now….my all-time favorite
Quote this Genius:
For fast-acting relief, try slowing down. – Lily Tomlin, comedian, actor
With love & inner peace,
Michelle
