As life becomes more complex and hectic, we are more likely to react to things, carry unhealthy attitudes and experience stress at home and in the workplace. We feel tightness and rigidness that makes us more susceptible to breaking. We are blocked from doing the work we want to do and being the people we want to be in our lives.

Doing and being are two different things but they are inter-related. When we can step out of our busy lives for a moment and just settle on being, we have the opportunity to reset our clocks and reboot our systems. The more time we put to being and settling, quieting the cacophony of thoughts, the more we are able to proceed gracefully to the doing.

A retreat, whether it’s a walk around the block or ten days in Bali, can open things up so that we appreciate the world around us in new ways. Openness helps us imagine what is possible and tolerate the viewpoints of others around us as we go about the doings of our lives.

Openness is a good predictor of creativity. Openness stimulates brain activity that might be stuck. For now, try this:

Close the door. Stand or sit up straight. Let your breath exhale and relax.

Now breath in threw your nose on the count of six. Hold for one count.

Exhale with a “Haaaa” sound, as loud as you want, as if you are fogging a mirror.

Repeat ten times. You’re welcome.