Back to Basics

Sometimes when our world starts to spin out of control, it becomes overwhelming quickly. The chaos that surrounds us consumes us, making it had to find the light. Maybe we feel out of control. Perhaps we think we have no control. All in all, these troubled feelings make it harder to find some clarity or focus.

I have realized that when these feelings emerge the best thing to do is press the “reset” button and get back to the basics. As an athlete, I found that the tennis court was where I could let these stresses of life go while focusing on the tennis ball. The tennis court became my reset button. Sometimes it was merely walking on the court while other times it was crushing the ball cross-court or down the line. Either way, I would escape my stresses and reset.

After my tennis career, it became harder to reset. As time has gone on, my body started to break down, and the shots that I used to hit weren’t as sharp. Mentally this became more frustrating and contradicting to the whole point of resetting. I had to find a new way to relieve my stresses and find clarity.

Even though I’m not on the court as much, the same court mentality applies to life off the court. I have found that when things aren’t working the best thing to do is break things down. Get back to basics. I have found my new way of navigating when things get rough by limiting my social responsibilities and go inward. I increase my meditation, journaling, and walks through the woods.

Sometimes if things are just too overwhelming, the thought of doing anything becomes difficult. At that point, I have to start forcing myself with small chores like drink an extra glass of water, or take the dog for an extra mile walk, etc. Slowly building up to the tasks that I know give my brain some clarity.

The whole idea is to simplify things. Whatever the stresses might be, break them down and evaluate them piece by piece. Instead of looking at the chaos as a whole, take each scenario and look at it under the microscope. It is in the silos that you can find some clarity. As soon as you come to the point of frustration, STOP. Take a step back and reevaluate. The goal is to find the quiet side.

When our worlds become chaotic, it is imperative to find the quiet side, even if it is for just 5 minutes. When I am on the go, and I don’t think I have the time to find that “quiet time,” I use my daily shower as my “reset.” I allow the water to wash all my worries away. I focus on the water landing on my skin while taking a few deep breaths. This simple exercise gives my brain a moment to catch up and find a moment of peace. Remember, start small and get back to the basics.