Good morning.
It's Monday, November second.
The clocks went back this weekend.
Your body might still be confused.
That's fine.
It usually catches up by Wednesday.
Monday has a way of starting loud.
Emails stacked up overnight.
Somebody already asking for something.
Before any of that...
let's start a different way.
Sit up in a way that feels easy.
Feet flat, if you can.
Hands resting on your legs.
Let your phone sit face down.
It'll still buzz later.
Six minutes.
Then the week can have you.
We'll breathe in and out through the nose.
Same length both ways.
Like a slow clock ticking.
Breathe in...
two...
three...
four.
And out...
two...
three...
four.
In again...
smooth and even.
Out...
the same smooth pace.
In...
not rushing the top.
And out...
not rushing the bottom.
Notice how this feels.
Not sleepy.
Not buzzing either.
Just even.
That's the kind of energy we want.
Picture an old gas stove.
The kind in your grandma's kitchen.
Under one burner...
there's a tiny blue flame.
It isn't flaring up.
It isn't flickering out.
It just burns.
That's the pilot light.
You have one too.
Quietly on, all day.
It was lit before you woke up.
It'll still be on tonight.
That flame doesn't need coffee.
It doesn't need a pep talk.
It runs on your breath.
Watch it as you breathe in.
It stays the same size.
Watch it as you breathe out.
Still the same.
Steady and warm.
Now think about a busy moment.
Maybe your ten o'clock call.
Or the inbox after lunch.
A door opens somewhere.
A little draft blows in.
The flame leans.
Just a bit.
Then it straightens up again.
On its own.
That's the difference, really.
Wired energy spikes and crashes.
Calm energy leans and comes back.
A pilot light doesn't heat the house.
It just keeps things ready.
Enough to light a burner when needed.
Not so much that you burn out.
If your mind jumps to the to-do list...
let it look.
Then come back to the flame.
It's still there.
Same size as before.
You can carry it into every room today.
Nobody has to see it.
Say these quietly to yourself.
I can move at a steady pace.
My energy lasts when I don't rush it.
Just sit with the flame now.
Awake.
And calm at the same time.
You might have thought...
you had to pick You one.
don't.
Listen to the birds outside.
They're busy.
They're not frantic.
Hopping branch to branch.
Stopping around.
to look Then off again.
Let the small flame keep burning.
You don't have to watch it.
Let the room come back now.
The chair under you.
The light at the window.
Stretch your arms out in front of you.
Lace your fingers.
Push away.
your palms One even breath in...
And one even breath out.
Here's the plan for today.
Between one task and the next...
pause for one breath.
After you send an email.
Before you open the next tab.
In for four.
Out for four.
Then keep going.
That breath checks on your flame.
Keeps it from racing.
Open your eyes when you're ready.
Have a steady Monday.