Week 18 - Space

​When you let go of what no longer serves you, you create space for something wonderful!
 
Space can be defined as ‘a continuous area of expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied’ or ‘the dimensions of height, depth, and width within which all things exist and move.’
 
I think of space as an opportunity for a new possibility; the silence between two notes that makes music possible; the area we each occupy – not just physically, but energetically.
 
Space to BE!
There is no doubt at all that in the current world, space is a precious commodity. Space to live and breathe, without constant demands from our work, devices, and other people. Space to simply BE! Recreational activities serve to provide us with that space, and yet it can often feel like we are holding a tide back in order to grab even a moment for ourselves. Perhaps this is where boundaries come into play – our need to establish and maintain the frameworks and scaffolding in our lives within which we can restore and recover so that we may venture back into life refreshed. I know from experience, that I need to be intentional about designing spaces in my life for this, because as the saying goes ‘nature abhors a vacuum’ and I have often found that unless I am mindful, the spaces become narrower and narrower until they no longer exist.
 
Sometimes you just need to be alone, that’s ok.  It doesn’t mean anything’s wrong with you, or even that anything’s wrong in your life. Sometimes you need to create the space to soul search, recover, think, rest and just BE.  You don’t have to apologise for needing or taking this space, it’s part of what makes you a happy, healthy person. Author unknown
 
Sometimes in relationships it is important to take some time away from others, as an act of self-love, so that we can return revitalised and ready to be present once more for the relationship and the other person.  I know that I always appreciate my loved ones more after some time apart. A wise teacher of mine once demonstrated that for two people in a partnership it is important that each only occupies 40% of the space, leaving 20% between them so that they could ebb and flow into that space – rather than competing for the space.
 
Holding Space for Another
What does it mean to hold the space for another? Simply being present, without judgement, and without advising them or instructing them. The greatest gift we can give another in their time of need, is permission to simple BE, to feel their feelings, express their innermost thoughts, and to really listen to them while they work through whatever they are handling at the time. The gift of time and presence is beyond value. It provides others the unconditional space they need, in a supported environment, to emote, to say their thoughts out loud, and in the process, to heal and get clarity.
 
Between stimulus and response there is a space – slow down and create space for another choice.
 
Creating the Space for possibilities
The other day I was in a well-be-ing workshop, and one of the activities we were invited to participate in was to do everything 20% slower during morning tea. The two things I noticed during this practice was that when I moved slower I allowed space for others, and that as I slowed down my ‘tea-making’ I made a different choice – instead of reaching for the automatic English Breakfast tea, I became aware that I could make another choice – and chose the Earl Grey tea. It struck me that slowing down provided enough time for my automatic choices and neural pathways to divert to another choice…while this isn’t earth shattering on a small scale, it is an indication of what mindfulness, and allowing space and time can do for our many decisions made in the course of a day, or a week, or a year!
 
In our communications it will provide us with an alternative response rather than the automatic one we give each time.
 
In our response to traffic jams or queuing we are provided with another way to use the space/time that becomes available to us.
 
If we can create space in our workplaces or in our homes by removing clutter – unnecessary items, we create space for things which may serve us well or we create space for peace and for simplicity!
 
This can be broadened to life generally – where can you create space by de-cluttering – physically, socially, mentally, or with commitments?
 
If there is space in our diary, wonderful things can come into being – possibilities that only the Universe, or God, or our imagination can provide for us!
 
Staring into Space – daydreaming
Recent research done in Adelaide by Dr Fiona Kerr and Lekki Maze found that looking up – and out – into space, has the power to change our brain, our body, our productivity, our life and our community! During daydreaming, our brain has the opportunity to become creative, to be inspired, and become better at problem solving.
 
So, for all of us who were told off for daydreaming, take heart! It is good for us all!
 
If you want more information on this there is a free download at:
https://www.lookup.org.au/report
 
Wishing you the space to BE all you want to BE!
 
Spaciously yours!! Gabrielle