Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hi everyone, I'm Cass and this is the Mind Your Being podcast. A space where we'll explore health and what it really means to care for our whole being, our physical, mental and emotional health. Each episode you'll hear from leading health and wellness experts or everyday people who share powerful insights and lived experience.
And sometimes it'll be just me sharing thoughts, tools and reflections from my own journey. More than anything, I want you to feel supported, encouraged and empowered to make informed health choices that feel right for you. If this sounds good to you, please enjoy. Welcome to Mind Your Being.
Whether you're a new listener or a regular listener, thank you for taking time out of your day or your evening to listen to this episode. I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that we have some regular listeners on the podcast. So from the data that I received from my podcast host, I can see that regulars are tuning in from all around Australia, from all the states. So thank you.
My hometown in Wollongong, quite a few there. Thank you so much. And I just wanted to mention a couple of other locations that are popping up early when an episode is released. And one of them is Nelson in the Nelson region in New Zealand. Another is Usama in Helsinki and also Jordan in Minnesota. Thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to listen.
Please reach out on social media or through the website. to let me know any feedback or any potential topics or guests that you'd like to hear on the podcast. I love the idea that you're listening from all around the world and I hope the podcast is living up to your expectations.
I hope to keep bringing you interesting and relatable episodes and it makes me so happy to think that we're starting a little Mind Your Being community. So thank you. So today's episode's just me. It's not going to be a very long one.
I'm going to be talking about something that a lot of us in midlife can relate to, how midlife is such a busy time and whether we're managing our lives at the expense of actually experiencing our lives. And toward the end of this episode, I'm going to offer a short meditation. It's an invitation for us all to just take a moment to slow down and reflect on the present moment.
So the reason I thought I'd talk about this today is because there's a couple of phrases that I'm hearing quite regularly lately. Things like, oh, I can't believe how fast this year is going, or every year it seems to go faster and faster. Where does the time go? I've even caught myself saying it too.
So I'm recording this toward the end of February, but Christmas actually feels like it was six months ago. There's something interesting about the way we experience time. When life feels novel and you have a lot of new experiences going on, time doesn't seem to pass as quickly.
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Chapter 2: What does it mean to manage life instead of experiencing it?
Our identity can start to feel uncertain. It's a time that involves a lot of change and transition. And time certainly seems to feel accelerated. And often we delay joy without meaning to. And time feels fast when we're constantly on autopilot. Busyness can become a celebrated distraction from actually being and connecting with others. Thriving is not constant productivity.
And I'm not encouraging you to change your whole life. I'm encouraging you to step into your life right here, right now. And I'd love to close with a short reflection, a few minutes of meditation just for you. If you're driving right now, best to do this meditation when you're off the road. Otherwise, find a comfortable position, whether you're seated or laying down.
eyes closed or your gaze softened, let's begin. Take a slow breath in through your nose to the count of one, two, three and gently exhale through your mouth to the count of one, two, three. Take another slow breath in through your nose, two, three, four, and breathe out and gently exhale through your mouth, slowing your breathing down.
Each time, taking a slow inhale and breathing out with a slow exhale. Allow your shoulders to drop slightly, relaxing your nervous system by gently lengthening your breath. Notice that you are here, not yesterday, not two years from now. You're here in the present moment. There's nothing to do here. Just let your breathing settle into its own natural rhythm.
There is nothing you need to fix in this moment, nothing you need to solve, nothing you need to optimize. Notice the feeling of the air on your skin. Notice the sounds around you, the quiet movement of your breath. If your mind drifts away to your to-do list, that's okay. Don't try to change your thoughts.
Just allow the thoughts to come and gently return to your breath. So breathing in, and slowly breathing out.
In this moment, bring your awareness to today, not the whole year, not the future, just today, just to this present moment.
Take another slow breath in and a long, slow breath out.
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Chapter 3: Why does time seem to speed up in midlife?
There is nowhere else you need to be right now. No better version of you required. Just this right now, in this season, you're doing the best you can. I know at times life can feel like it's rushing by, but just know you can always come back to your breath.
You can always check in with yourself and come back to the present moment. Take a few small moments of rest. All you need to do is notice. Take a deep breath in and slowly let your breath out. Become aware of the ground beneath you, the steadiness of the present moment.
Even in times of change, even in times of busyness or uncertainty, you always have your breath and you always have the present moment.
Okay, as we start to gently come out of the meditation, maybe wriggle your fingers and toes, open your eyes when it feels comfortable. come back to the awakened present moment.
And as you move forward the rest of your week, I just want to encourage you to take some time out when you can for a small practice of awareness, not perfectly, just gently, because this is your life and you are living it here right now and you don't want to miss it. Okay, we've come to the close of this episode.
I hope you can take some time out for yourself this week too to do something just for yourself at some point. Until next time, take care and mind your being. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Mind Your Being podcast. If you enjoyed it or found it helpful, please follow the show wherever you get your podcasts and share it with a friend who might enjoy it too.
If you have a moment, please leave a quick review. It really helps others discover the podcast. Thanks again for being here. Take care and until next time, mind your being.
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