Mindfulness Blog for Educators: Riding the Rollercoaster of Life.

We can ride the rollercoaster of life with kindness and curiosity. We make mistakes. We also kick ass and do great things for others. This is being human and being whole. We live a fulfilled life when we lean into all that life has to offer.

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I admit it. This past month has been a roller coaster ride down for me. Things are heavy now. I tend to have high energy and attract to people.

Not now. My battery is going out. A deeper, dark mood has crept in and is trying to settle in my body and brain. This is one of those times.

I count my blessings. My recent practice of moderation has helped me avoid deeper dives that lead to bad habits. I also realize that 3-4 times a year, I really wear out and need to be filled up.

It has taken me time to embrace these cycles of energy and motivation.

The more manic side of my personality adds playfulness and connections to my life. I engage more fully in my "projects" and the people around me.

Moments of feeling the blues can also settle in without notice. I become more reserved and pull away from things. It is interesting to be aware and pay attention to "how it feels" to be blue and emotionally low.

This journey of being human and being whole asks us to be vulnerable. It also requires courage to explore how things really are and not the way we want them to be.

And with that, the cloud is lifting. I sense this in the ability to write these words now.

And the reassurance that feeling stuff inside me is okay and doable in small chunks. I can acknowledge the downers of daily life and this world.

It is hard to be sad... to feel scared... to wonder how things are going to work out...

I also know that the light continues to shine within and beyond me. My mindfulness practice reminds me and guides me into knowing this will be so. I am allowed to not always be upbeat. I don't have to be perfect. My mood and spirit will rise again and again.

"Life is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s the way it is. The way you deal with it is what makes the difference." – Virginia Satir

Life is hard and overwhelms us at times. It will always be this way. The heaviness of our world is still tapping at the door at this very moment.

And, I have so much to be grateful for now and into the future.

Up and down we go. Doing the best we can to be kind and curious.

Being whole. Being human. And living a fulfilled life and all it has to offer.

Amy and I offer some short practices to help you explore your rollercoaster ride. Be safe. Do what is comfortable for you. Stop if it is too much.

Practice #1 - Notice the Breath. Notice the Body.

Our body provides us with real-time clues on how difficult and joyful life situations might be impacting us. In topic 5 of the Mindful Educator Resource Guide, we offer a practice to help you acknowledge and respond to what you are facing during the day.

When you are feeling anxious or irritated, you can take three deep breaths. Take a moment then to check in with your body. Where are you noticing tightness or perhaps pain? This could be your jaw, back, or even neck/shoulders.

Now, you can bring a happy thought to mind. This could be about a person, pet, or place you find joy. Take three more slow, deep breaths. Now, take a moment to check in with your body.

Where in your body do you feel "happy" or "joy"? Your face, chest, or stomach might be spots to check out.

How does breathing slow and noticing the body make you feel?

Practice #2 - Curiosity and Kindness Towards Self

Being a human is big stuff. Writing can help us gain insight into our authentic and real selves and how we are currently experiencing life. This practice invites you to be curious and kind versus judgmental towards yourself.

Take a moment to read the prompts below. Pick 1-2 ideas that you want to explore. Write out some thoughts in a journal or on a piece of paper.

• How do your moods go? Are you up? Feel down? When? Where? Why?

• Are there cycles of energy and emotions you could track that occur during the week, month, or year? What might they look like and sound like?

• Where in your body do you feel waves of high energy and fatigue? Happiness and sadness? What thoughts are you telling yourself during these times?

Jump on the Rollercoaster with Us

Mindfulness invites us to experience our whole life.

We can ride the rollercoaster of life with kindness and curiosity.

We make mistakes.

We also kick ass and do great things for others.

This is being human and being whole. We live a fulfilled life when we lean into all that life has to offer.

We are so grateful you are on this journey with us.

Let's keep going...

Greg and Amy

Visit us at www.servewithwisdom.com

Check out our Mindful Educator Resource Guide. Click Here.