Staying Centered

We often hear how we should “stay centered”. What does it mean exactly to be centered and how do I stay there? As we all know our lives can become pretty hectic. Whether you are a busy mom or dad, a busy professional, a busy teen, etc. we all have things in our lives that keep us occupied. Being centered as we go about our daily tasks can bring a great sense of relief and purpose to our day.

What does it mean?

The dictionary defines centered as a) a point of origin from which ideas, influences, etc. emanate. b) a place of concentrated activity, influence or importance c) headquarters, the hub.

I would define it as the hub of our self. Being centered is a state of being. Making sure we are taking care of ourselves in body, mind, and spirit. We are establishing a spot that we can start from or come back to that will create and receive our best experience.

Finding that state of being centered requires awareness:

• Awareness of our thoughts - are they positive?
• Awareness of our vision for the life we want - am I making decisions to support the life I desire?
• Awareness of our breath - Am I breathing deeply and slowly?
• Awareness of our selves - I am being present in the moment now?

We can use our awareness as a tool to come back to our center, our optimal state of being. If we treat being centered as a foundation to return to during the day as things get hectic or overwhelming we will start to feel more secure and balanced. When we gain conscious control of our thoughts and our breathing we are able to make decisions and take actions from a place of true choice and not simply from habit.

How do I stay centered?

• Be aware of the power of your thoughts whether they are negative or positive.
• Take time each day to focus on your breathing. Breath in deeply, hold your breath for seven counts and exhale slowly.
• Practice quieting your mind on a daily basis. Even just a few minutes of meditation each day can bring us a sense of calmness that we can then use to enter into our next task.

Getting centered and staying there is a practice. Practice it a bit each day and you will quickly feel the benefits of approaching your day from an optimal state of being.