It?s no secret that Chris and I have ever-growing hectic schedules. With all the traveling, parenting, transforming, training, and book writing (just to name a few) keeping our schedules cram packed, it can be a challenge to find time to enjoy life and, more importantly, enjoy time with each other.
You know, I realized awhile back that if we didn?t create time to spend with each other and appreciate life, it?s just not going to happen. Sometimes you just have to take what life hands you and make it work. That?s exactly what we do.
How do we do it?
We make ?work? time ?family? time! For example ? today Chris and I had a meeting at 8:30 am in Manhattan Beach. After our 10:30 am meeting ended and before our 2 pm meeting in Malibu started, we decided to make a pit stop at the beach to enjoy time with each other. We had a blast, enjoyed each other?s company, de-stressed, and got to write this blog together! In my eyes, there is nothing better than time with my man and my family?even if only for 10 minutes between two meetings. 🙂
Our topic of conversation at the beach today: the four emotions that can heal stress altogether. Yes, there are four, and you should give ?em a try?they work! And can you see how discussing these four topics can bring us closer together and more aware of our own relationship?
1. Caring and compassion
2. Forgiveness
3. Non-judgementalness (I think we made that word up) or unconditional acceptance and love
4. Appreciation and gratitude
Second, we plan ahead things we can do together when we?re apart. It?s not as complicated as it sounds. We simply plan meals and?exercise routines that we?ll both enjoy even if we?re on two different sides of the continent. When we get some time late in the evening for a phone call we compare our workouts or our meals. If nothing else, it makes us feel closer together and like?we’ve?shared a part of our day with each other.
Third, we consciously practice the four emotions listed above. We incorporate each one into our daily lives and, like I said, they work!
Finally, we take time for ourselves. Although it?s important to make the time we have together count, we also recognize that?we’ve?got to keep our own souls happy and healthy. Whether it?s yoga, working out, meditation, cooking, writing, playing with the kids, or simply relaxing, we make sure that we take care of ourselves so we can take care of each other.
Moral of the story ? make time to take time for you and what matters most. In that time, heal your stress by practicing the four emotions above.