A reminder of the space that exists and can grow between us and our tendencies to react; the space that becomes visible and felt when we slow down, and intentionally take an inhale + an exhale (or several) before we respond, explode in anger, spiral into shame or hopelessness, or grasp onto a situation, ideal or material thing.
We are not our anger, our shame or our attachments; we're not our egos or our impulses. As quick, habitual or automatic as these reactions might be, they're not who we are.
We are the observer, the awareness and the ability to notice, without judgment, our habits and impulses. We are capable of recognizing that space between us and our tendencies, finding air and peace in that space, and then choosing a different response.
This reflection is so meta... i'm sharing it because for me, seeing this piece reinforces this spaciousness between the true me (awareness) and my egoic or habitual patterns of reaction- and perhaps it may for you too. This visual is a product of a meditation practice, of slowing down my sense of time to notice in the micro-moments my emotional or mental reactions, and my ability to observe versus identify with or be overwhelmed by those reactions. At the same time, just when i'm swimming blissfully in the space between, something new (or old) comes out of the cuts to push me back into reactivity, and the journey is the find the space between again within each moment.
Holler if you have a sense of this space between or if this resonates with you 👁✨💥