"30 Seconds of Grace" by Sarah Grattan
"Grace is the beauty of form under the influence of freedom."
- Friedrich Schiller
30 Seconds of Grace is a simple life pause......
As I sat at my desk this morning, ready to settle into the creation of this blog for my new website, my gaze wandered past the screen to the green of the poplar trees swaying gently at the end of my garden. In that quiet moment, I felt a subtle shift in my breath, synchronising with the rhythm of nature unfolding before me and the focus of my eyes soften.
As I continued to softly gaze without direct attention to any one part of the garden, I held the question; what message could I share with you today, to infuse your day with a little more softness no matter what you're doing? And in response to my silent inquiry, the words "30 Seconds of Grace" floated into my consciousness.
You see, living inside our heads, where a continuous stream of thoughts flows while the outside world carries on, can often feel bewildering and overwhelming. Sometimes, we find ourselves caught in a loop of thoughts, circling endlessly and intensifying our anxiety. In those moments, well-meaning advice to "calm down" or "stop" only adds to the chaos, as if we hadn't considered it already. But what if there was a simple yet powerful way to press pause and find peace amidst the mental noise?
Cue "30 Seconds of Grace" – a practice of giving ourselves a brief but intentional pause. Here's how it works: Take a deep breath in through your nose, and exhale slowly through your mouth, as if gently blowing out candles on a birthday cake. Repeat this four times, making your exhale as long as possible. While you do this, shift your focus to nature – it could be a plant, a tree, the sky, a flower, clouds, a river, the ocean, or even a humble dandelion. Just allow your gaze to rest there for the duration of the four breaths. Then, simply resume whatever you were doing before.
It's deceptively simple, yet remarkably effective. By integrating these 30-second pauses into your day, you create moments of grace amidst the chaos of life. Notice what changes – perhaps your thoughts feel less frantic, your body more relaxed, or your perspective subtly shifted. The beauty lies in its simplicity and accessibility – anyone can practice it, anytime, anywhere.
So, give yourself the gift of "30 Seconds of Grace" throughout your day. Whether you're grappling with uncontrolled thoughts, worries, or sadness, these pauses can offer a gentle anchor amidst the storm. And as you make it a habit, observe the ripple effect it has on your well-being, inner peace and life.
If you feel you would like to know more and work with me on a 1:1 basis, please book a free 30 minute Discovery Call here.
Let's embrace this practice together and cultivate moments of grace amidst the hustle and bustle of life and let me know how you get on by joining my new and growing free community and write your discoveries there.
With love,
Sarah Grattan
Yoga Health and Wellness™
