Get Centered And Reach For Your Goals

Getting poised to reach for your goals is essential if you want to create a life you love. And getting centered is a practical way to do that. Are you seriously ready to reach for your goals? If so, let’s talk about why centering yourself can give you a firm foundation to reach from.

Most of us have a lot going on in our lives. When we operate from a place of frustration and overwhelm, which seems to be the norm for many of us, accomplishing our goals can be intimidating and scary. 

Why is being centered important?

Being in a state of frustration and overwhelm activates your fight, flight, or freeze response system. This system is related to a part of the brain called the amygdala, which shuts down your brain’s frontal lobe. That’s an issue because the frontal lobe is the problem-solving part of your brain that allows you to operate with clear judgment and reason. Get more in-depth information about the amygdala and how it hijacks the frontal lobe during times of stress in this article on Simply Psychology.

It’s impossible to reach for your goals with gusto when the problem-solving part of your brain has been hijacked. Getting centered is a way to take back control.

What does it mean to be centered?

Being centered means being in the eye of the storm. It means calming your mind and body so that the amygdala will relinquish control of your higher cognitive functions, allowing you to think more clearly.

Someone who is centered can come up with solutions to unexpected challenges more readily (because they have access to their higher cognitive functions). Being centered is the opposite of being frazzled and scattered. It doesn’t mean that everything in your life lines up perfectly. It just means you have the faculties to deal with the demands of life more effectively and efficiently.

People who are centered don’t lose their cool. They roll with the punches. And while they may not finish everything on their to-do list every day, they certainly get more done than those who do not make an effort to center themselves. They also experience a much more pleasant flow in their lives, and are less likely to feel like they’ve been hit by a mack truck at the end of the day.

How can getting centered help you reach for your goals?

Operating from a place of centeredness gives you the clarity to achieve your goals more efficiently and effectively. Whether it’s getting everything on your to-do list accomplished or a bigger goal of what to do with your life, getting centered is the best place to start because it puts you in a calm, focused, receptive state of mind where you can discern the answers you seek. That’s way better than the scattered state of the spinning-out-of-control amygdala-operated brain.

For instance, a centered state of mind can help you determine what makes the most sense to do right now. It’s easier to break overwhelming tasks down into smaller pieces. It’s also easier to discern what things don’t require your attention right now so you don’t feel overloaded with unnecessary information. You will discover creative solutions from a centered state of mind that will not be available from a stressed-out brain.

How can you center yourself?

There’s more than one way to center yourself, and different methods may work better for different people. I recommend testing things out to see what makes you feel more centered, calm, and focused and less stressed, frazzled, and overwhelmed. Here are some things you can start with if you’re unsure where to begin:

Take deep breaths. Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the opposite of the sympathetic nervous system, which is controlled by the amygdala). This automatically sends a message to the brain that you are safe and that there is no need to feel threatened. Taking deep breaths also supplies the brain with more oxygen, facilitating clearer thinking.

Use a calming mantra. This can be any word or phrase that helps to instill a sense of calm. It’s a way to remind your brain that you are not in danger, which tells the amygdala to concede control of your frontal love. Phrases like “I’m going to be okay,” “I can handle this,” “open and receive,” or “one step at a time” are some examples. Say your mantra out loud or inside your head when you want to feel more centered.

Put your feet on the ground. Literally. When you put your bare feet on the earth, you pick up healing, negatively-charged ions that benefit the body beyond just giving you a sense of calm. Even if you don’t believe the science behind it, you can probably agree that putting your bare feet in a clump of cool grass or soft sand can give you a moment to relax and center yourself.

Conclusion

Accomplishing any goal, big or small, is more straightforward when you are in a calm, receptive state of mind. That’s why centering yourself is one of the first things to consider when you are ready to reach for your goals.

Being centered allows the higher, problem-solving part of your brain to operate more effectively, which helps to keep you out of the spinning, frustrated, overwhelmed state that many people often experience.

Take the time to discover what actions you can take daily to center yourself so you can overcome everyday challenges and meet your goals with more ease.