Embrace Your Destiny: Find Your Mantra

Relaxing after a big walk

 “You’ve Got This!” I had picked up a small interesting looking book on the counter of Elements Spa in Brevard and it flipped open to this mantra. I was struck by its clear message. I thought, “Wonder if I was meant to see this? Why did it open at this page? Wonder what other mantras are in this little book? Maybe I’ll buy it.” I didn’t have time to peruse it further but noted the title was Mantras for Strong Women.

I tucked this mantra away in my mind as I melted into the pleasure of the warm massaging migun bed. The spa music and whimsical ceiling lights were relaxing and intoxicating. “You’ve got this,” kept coursing through my mind attaching to images and possibilities in this phrase. When Sarah started taking my pulses and talking, clarity struck me. The mish-mash of disconnected ideas had taken shape.  “I need to write about this experience.”

Sarah Fields my acupuncturist is always finding something interesting in my pulses. I asked her, “What are my pulses saying today?”

Needles in  the spinal points

She said rather matter of factly, "Your H/W is reversed."
 

“What in the world is the H/W?”

She explained that, “The H/W is Husband/Wife energy flow. When your H/W is flowing backward, then you’re out of balance. Don't worry, I’ll get it going back the right direction.”

“Good! It's been a month since my last treatment and I feel out of balance. I was going to ask you to give attention to the kidney meridian and whatever controls walking.”

As Sarah was placing needles from my little toe up to the top of my head and ears, she explained that we are entering the Solstice time of year. She said, “Solstice is about transitions. Transitions are very important. Every time you start to do something different, you are in a transition. You should take a breath before moving to allow the body to transition.”

Yoga begins with breathing

“Wish I had know this last year around this time. I'm sure it was a miscue on a transition that caused the fall I took when broke my pelvis!”

All this time, Sarah is working on me. She said, “Now, breathe deeply all the way to your toes while I put the needles in. Breathing moves the neurons through the nervous system dissipating any discomfort.”

I’m thinking, “Okay! This is good. Breathe deeply when I feel overwhelmed or stressed. Take a breath before moving. I do this to some degree, but I should be more mindful and intentional. What could be more simple? Maybe this will minimize my risk of falling too.”

Sarah was ready to put the needle into each pinky toe. My left pinky toe was in her sights and having none of it. Involuntarily, my pinky escaped being stuck twice. On the third try, she said, “On the count of three, cough. You won’t feel a thing.” She counted, I coughed and it worked! It didn’t hurt and she had success getting the needle into the pinky toe. The pinky remembered other times it got the needle. It was painful and lasted a while!

Singing Bowl and Mantra

I can always breathe. I can recite the mantra, “You’ve got this, you’ve got this, you’ve got this.” I can use these tools after the calming effects of Hot yoga wear off during the day. Mostly it's the little things that stress me. Now that my weekly schedule is beginning to fill in, I’m finding I have less time for me. For example, if I get busy and don’t stop in time, I may run out of time and miss my end of day treat of soaking in my tub. 

Just breathe and repeat, "You've got this," out loud. This is a simple, easy to remember and a quick ‘get control’ mechanism I can use anytime, anywhere. So, I remind myself often, “You’ve got this. You are in control. Just breathe.”