When your brain won't shut up
(and why I like surfing so much)
As I write this I’m remembering the last time I went surfing.
I say surfing, it’s more ‘practicing to surf’ than actual surfing.
You know those people you see weaving and dancing amongst the waves, yeah that’s not me. I’m over there, in the shallower water, taking AGES to paddle out and, quite often, getting pushed back by the waves before I’m even ready to try and catch one…
and yet… I love it.
I love doing something physical that’s not as structured as my regular training sessions.
I love being out in nature.
I love being a beginner and getting that feeling of deep satisfaction each time I get up on my board and start to make it go where I want it to go.
I love figuring it out as I go.
And…. I love that my brain shuts up.
My brain is quite chatty. It’s got less so over the years (It used to be shouty as all heck) but it still sometimes has a tendency to wind itself up into a frenzy. Don’t get me wrong, I love my brain, my brain is EXCELLENT. I mean, it’s kept me alive every day so far. (High five brain!)
AND,
Sometimes I’d like it to be quiet. I’d like it to shhh a bit so that I can hear my body. My body is trying to tell me stuff all the time but sometimes can’t get a word in edgeways once my brain gets going.
When I’m surfing, it’s like the volume on my brain gets turned down.
There’s a few other times this happens and many of them are when I’m moving – running, cycling, doing yoga, swimming, hiking and…. then there’s breathwork.
I can’t always get out for a surf (or a run, or a swim etc) so my regular-ish practice of breathwork meditation gives me that little pocket of space and peace and quiet.
I lie down, I breathe. My brain is quiet(er) and I’m in my body.
I can hear the messages my body is trying to tell me – usually that it’s tired or that it wants to move and play. AND I can hear my intuition, my gut feeling, my inner knowing.
I’ve been doing breathwork for maybe 5 or more years now. The more I do it, the less shouty my brain gets and the more I can heard my inner knowing.
That nudge towards going to Mexico, that BIG prod about when it was time to move back to Australia, that resounding “Yes” to finally formalising my coaching qualification, that all came from my inner knowing.
If you’d like to experience some of that – to be able to tap into your inner knowing as you figure out what’s right for you then consider joining me for the ‘Create A Life You Actually Want To Get Out Of Bed For’ retreat. It’s on Aug 31st – Sept 3rd at Aireys Inlet in Victoria.
You’ll be using your old friend Brain AND, you’ll be connecting with your much quieter (but always there) Inner Knowing through breathwork meditation.
Curious to find out more? You can read more HERE and even book in a chat to talk through any questions you may have.
‘Create A Life You Actually Want To Get Out Of Bed For’ retreat.