Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) June/July 2018 Aspire Mag Full Issue | Page 82

not always been the “right” ones for me. Whereas the decisions I’ve made from my heart and my gut have always been the “right” ones, resulting in positive life experiences. The first step in listening to and trusting in your body’s wisdom is to become aware of the messages it sends you. Two powerful practices to help you “get out of your head” and “into your body” are: 1) Body scanning; and 2) Mindfulness Walking Meditations. On awakening, instead of “hitting the ground running”, scan your body starting from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Notice any areas of tension or discomfort. Breathe into these and envision the tension or discomfort floating away. do, be kind to yourself and refocus on each of your senses. Notice how calm you feel during and after. KEY #2 – Tap into and Express Your Creative Side The right side of the brain is associated with creativity, intuition, emotion and “big picture” thinking. The left side is associated with structure, logic, language and rational thought. When we take time to tap into our creative side we experience amazing benefits. Try a creative or artistic pursuit you did as a child, or try something you’ve always wanted to do but never took the time for; (e.g. piano lessons, salsa dancing, water color painting), and notice how it makes you feel. Many people when they engage in a creative pursuit feel relaxed, like a child at play, and it takes their mind off work. After engaging in an artistic pursuit, you often are more productive, and more focused. KEY #3 – Consciously Create Right and Left Brain/Body Balance Mindfulness walking meditations are most powerfully done in nature. Instead of walking and brooding about the past or worrying about the future, try to be present and focus on all of your senses. For example, feel the wind on your cheeks, hear the crunch of the leaves underfoot, smell the salt sea air, see the beautiful scenery in front you. When your mind wanders, which it will inevitably 82 www.AspireMAG.net | June / July 2018 The cultures of India and China have recognized the importance of a balanced life for thousands of years. Several proven strategies to help you to create right and left brain/body balance are: 1) Grounding; and 2) Unplugging from technology. At the beginning of each day, and before an important meeting or event, find a quiet space, close your eyes and imagine there