Amidst all of the roles and responsibilities, may there be room for you to pursue a space where you do not feel obligated to perform. As you move through each day, considering all of the many things that are asked of you, that is all the more reason to remember: you are free to seek out places where you do not feel like you have to be “on” all the time. Even if it starts small, allow yourself to seek out that space to just be. Whether you need to stretch, not smile, close your eyes, or turn on the music––let this be something you pursue and something you build upon. Let these small practices become something you expand upon in other areas of your life. Create space by asking questions like this:
What kind of music or sounds help me unwind and feel more at ease?
How can I communicate my need for personal space and downtime to those around me?
What small things give me a sense of renewal?
If nothing else, allowing yourself to sit with one of these questions for the day is a way that you are beginning to create space, beyond the obligations and the need to be “on.” Start small and keep seeking space to just be, right here. – Morgan Harper Nichols
