Stepping Away

We all have heard step back, see the bigger picture, get above the situation and even have used this to our learning. I do believe there is greater power and use of this tool if we did it more frequently, as a practice or a habit. I also consider this is why for greater health, a happier life, to take adventure, vacations, breaks, weekend retreats, all are necessary. They naturally put us in that perspective. When in a new environment, we are very present, very in the moment as we move about. Our daily grind isn't with us. All part of this stepping away technique.

I just returned from a week adventure in the Rocky Mountains. Reacquainting myself with my regular life, I am refreshed, shifted, see it all a bit differently than when I left. The benefit of stepping away or stepping back or stepping out of the scene. All becomes anew. We often try to do this while in our daily situations and it can be challenging. It can be done by going on to something else, going outside, doing something physical, taking a break. I think Einstein was very clear about doing this when he hit a wall.

Of course going away for the week is not an option often. Yet, from this expanded view I noticed that I could do this in many smaller ways to keep things fresh. We know this. I share things we know. I just experiment with making them practises in our life to notice if they are greater tools of awareness. This one I believe so important. We don't use it enough so I am writing to remind mostly myself, the power of this.

Being away, all is new and present. The coffee in the morning, even if I do my same routine, has a fresh feel and a good newness. Of course a different view out the window helps but often looking out the window with different eyes could change our regular world too. Being open to no real plan was liberating. After a bit of this, we are happy to return home to a routine. Just stepping out of it was freeing and even reminding of how too much freedom is not good either.

Before I left I had some dilemmas. They were grating on me, grinding my mind. Stepping into this new environment, really partaking of the presence and experience, my mind was easy to stop and drop these worries and ideas. They seemed senseless and useless while I was away. Another great reason we have greater health when we relax, take care of ourselves by playing and adventuring. Being back home, they still have this more distant feel. I don't really care and they are put in perspective. They were nothing so large or important. We let things get so big in our minds.

In dropping things, routine, ideas, problems, issues, we get a chance to expand ourselves. Then when we pick them up again, our expanded view sees them differently. They can resolve themselves often just for the stepping away. They lose importance. They lose potency. Life went on and quite well without it. The freedom gave them all new meaning. Fresh eyes are seeing them. We get balance, openness and centering from stepping away or taking a retreat. All seems clearer upon return.

I know this is why more relaxation, more vacation, more downtime in life, more pleasure is so healing to us. The step away effect. It re-catagorizes our world. It solves our dilemmas. It rejuvenates us, renews our view of our own world. Its health and healing while we relax and remember presence. Why we chose to work and work and do and do, not allowing this healing oxytocin state? We are so programed to accomplish. It is a shame for it kills our health. It kills so much fun and joy that is around us. We could consider using this step away as important for balance and recentering.

Being in the mountains, you are stilled to just sit and look, observe, absorb the beauty. It is awe inspiring to those of us not used to the largeness of canyons and mountains. It slows you down. It silences you. You breath into the beauty, deeply, consciously. It connects you easily to the earth. I realized that too was an important part of stepping away. We don't have to move so much and so fast. If I have a problem, it is not always about doing something to resolve it. More often, it involves observation and then striking when the conditions right. Not this ceaseless doing.

We are so trained to be accomplishing, having things, getting places, desiring more and more. This has it's place but from this step away I choose to remember to bring in more stillness. Not mental rattle and sitting there. Mental quiet of observation of people, situations, issues and look for the process rather than my mind created way of doing. There is a greater picture to all we are part of. We get caught in wanting our way, our desire of what is happening. This step away gave me the power of watching, calmly resting and allowing the unfoldment before me of what is. Not pushing forward with what I want. Being harmoniously connected to things on a greater scale.

Stepping away is such a worthy practice in small and large ways. Especially if you are stuck. The reset, rejuvenation, the movement in something else often resolves the issues. If not, when you do return to it, you have a clearer head and larger view. We do find ourselves in so many patterns and routines that do stifle us. It is good to break out, even to where we can't wait to get back to them, for our perspective will add newness and greater presence to our daily lives.

A healthy, healing, honorable tool of self awareness I will practice more of!

Know thyself, Heal thyself

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Lyn Hicks, Health and Beauty Mentor