I have found that my routine has become second nature.

It allows me to do the things I need to do, even when I don't "want" to.

It gives me space to take care of myself without having to force or push.

When I complete it, it's like clockwork, and my mind is able to stay in the moment.

I had to start with tiny changes to my day-to-day to create a sustainable routine.

It started with drinking a glass of water every morning.

By holding myself accountable to something small, I was able to build self-trust and follow-through, & eventually add more challenging tasks to my routine.

For me, it was letting go of the illusion of control. I felt that being present would put me at risk in the future because I wasn't anticipating everything that could go wrong.

I stopped knocking things over, I got my work done, and I actually enjoyed the task. Not to mention, the outcome of it was excellent.

Our minds are so used to scarcity that it's become the baseline assumption behind our ways of operating.

Slowing down is how we interrupt that impulse.

I pulled myself out of the story I had created about needing to rush and needing to hit an imaginary deadline.

I stopped moving erratically, and starting to slow my pace and complete each action mindfully.

And guess what?

After collecting myself, I stared at the task in front of me and reflected:

This time will pass anyway, at the same rate, no matter what.

I can focus on all that could go wrong, or I could remain present.

Even if something does go wrong, so what? Would it be world ending?

I stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. I accepted that I was losing control in the moment, and then I breathed into the feeling again.

I caught myself overthinking, rushing, and focusing on the future. I was manufacturing scarcity, and therefore, stress.

It was overwhelming.