Coming back to self

I’m frazzled.

I’m in a spiral.

I’m overwhelmed.

I’m not sure how to fix the problem.

I’m about to quit.

I’m about to blow my top.

Me: “I don’t know how to get out of this.”  

Shantell: “I’m not sure how to help you, other than just being here.” 

Sounds dramatic but it’s not really.  I was golfing.  

The first 9 holes were horrendous, frustrating, embarrassing and I had just paid to play 9 more holes. 

So I did the only other thing I could think to do.  Inhale for 5 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds, in for 5, out for 5 for about 5 or 6 cycles and I immediately get everything in side of me settle.  

Boy, I wish I would have tried that 2.5 hours ago.  Better late than never I guess, right?!?

I teach this stuff all the time but even in my overwhelm I can forget.

At the end of the round Shantell looks at me and says, “Way to come back to yourself buddy.”  

That’s exactly what needed to happen, to come back to me, not worry about the last shot, the next one, not the ball or my club, not the people behind me, nor in front of me, not the score, just me.  

So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, panicked, irritated, just try to come back to your breath and see what happens.  

Create a coherent breath, let the length of in the inhale match the exhale or let the exhale be longer than the inhale.  It will help lower your heart rate and help you come back to you.  

I constantly remind myself that I have more power than I think I do.  I have to power and the responsibility to respond and act instead of react.  

The same power that lives in me, lives in you.