Favorite?

What’s your favorite word?

I’m the kind of person who changes out favorite things often. It’s partly why I don’t have a tattoo. I can never settle on one favorite ‘anything’ for life.

I also have a tendency to become temporarily obsessed with things and they become my favorite ‘everything’ for a period of time. I always move on, and sometimes hardly recognize the person I used to be (who loved unicorns for example). While I’m obsessed, I can’t seem to shut up about it. I read Anna Karenina a few years ago and people who knew me then might roll their eyes a little if the book comes up in conversation. Even now.

My favorite word for the moment is regulation.

I like that it’s one simple word that says it all. Abraham Hicks calls it ‘being in the vortex.‘ some call it being in a ‘flow state’. Being regulated means being in a calm, confident, relaxed, open, receptive easy going mind space. In this state a person is approachable, teachable, and easy to be with. Heart rate and breathing are steady and slowed. There is a peaceful energy in and around people in this state. When I’m in it I learn faster, enjoy more, try harder, feel more optimistic and generally better than when I’m not.

Regulation’s evil twin ‘dysregulation’ is my second favorite word. Basically the complete opposite, it sums up the feeling of terrible.

Armed with these two terms I don’t need evidence or reasons. I feel no need to explain myself. It’s a term with zero judgement. Either I’m enjoying being in a regulated state or I’m not.

If not, I know some things that will re regulate me.

So much simpler then having my little human brain figure out why or how or what…

Even just working on my book slows down my breathing and sets me back toward regulation. I have to read about Beatrix breathing over and over and over to edit it and somehow the message gets across to my brain. This happened with editing ‘Peaceful Hearts’ as well.

This is why conscious breathing is so powerful. It’s the simplest tool I have. I’ve heard people say they need to do more than take a deep breath to calm down, but have they tried several? It might be simple but it’s not always easy to sit quietly and focus on your own breath for a time. Regular practice makes it easier.

Regulation. It’s worth it. It’s worth trying lots of things. Breathing is just one thing that I’ve found works for me.