Operation “Things I Can Control”: How I Recentered After a Wild Week

It made perfect sense that last week marked the end of eclipse season!

I’m not sure if you felt it, but it was a wild week with so many things that truly felt “out of control.”

I was quickly reminded that life is all about changing, pivoting, and focusing only on what you can control.

The hardest part of that can often be staying grounded in the face of change and the unknown. Actually leaning into what you know comforts you and helps you stay “you” when your thoughts, fears, and emotions begin to take over.

I feel like I’m coming out of an emotional fog and I’m starting to see clearly again. Here’s what helped…

• Teaching yoga always grounds me (ha!). Spending time in the mindful energy that students create—slowing down to notice what we need and breathing instead of worrying—is the most magical and grounding practice in the world. I had the opportunity to teach three back-to-back classes on Saturday. It was the first time I had ever done it, and the universe just knew what I needed!

• Spending time in community. We were invited to teach at an event, Vibe & Thrive, on Saturday, and it was incredibly “cup-filling” to meet new friends who share so many of the same interests: health, wellness, and community—LIFE!

• I had a massage scheduled on Friday with The Valley Massage and Skincare located inside The Zen Den of Gilbert. It’s hard to describe how amazing, relaxing, and soul-nourishing it was! You can bet I’ll be scheduling many more.

• On Sunday, I had a class scheduled, but my students didn’t show up. I took it as a sign to stretch, clean the studio, then go home and rest. A day spent in bed watching trash TV just feels so luxurious to me.

• This morning, when I woke up, I was still struggling a bit, so I did a 10-minute meditation I found on YouTube to clear some of that energy while sitting in my car waiting for an appointment. When I walked in, the waiting room was full and bustling, but I was ready to take on anything at that point. I was relaxed and centered—and even took the opportunity to give myself some Reiki as I waited to be called.

As I’m reading this and listing out the things I did to help myself feel better, I’m chuckling a bit: I had been beating myself up for not going to the gym last week. Turns out, the gym isn’t what I needed. It was all these other things that bring me joy, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to reflect on them here.

Today I head back to the gym after a week’s hiatus, and I can’t wait to move some more of this stuck energy. Do you ever feel like, “I don’t want to go to the gym,” but then you do—and you feel amazing? For me, it’s pretty much every time. But today is phase two of operation “things I can control.”

I can control what I do to help myself feel better in my mind and body. I can avoid input about things I can’t control. I can include practices that improve my mood and emotions. And I can strengthen my body so that I’m physically ready for anything. So here we go!

My final thoughts are this: my practices may not be ideal for you. Maybe yoga, massages, and meditations aren’t in your routine—and that’s okay. But find your practices. Find what helps you stay present, what lights you up, and what brings you joy. We need more of that in the world.

XOXO,Darien

P.S. Many of you reached out about my recent podcast at Podworks Studios with my friend Elisa Lane. If you want to catch the full 10 minutes of it, here’s the link—enjoy: https://youtu.be/VflVu6xOZDM?si=SCQ1cCou7dtJch1C

P.P.S. If yoga, massages, and meditation are your jam, I encourage you to visit our website at thezendengilbert.com and schedule something today to help you lean into what you need!