Acronyms That Help Guide Your Body, Mind & S.O.U.L

What can we repeat to ourselves when we need some guidance?

Acronyms are abbreviations of terms spelled out into letters. We already use quite a few of them on a regular basis, such as “LOL” or “ASAP” and we know what we’re abbreviating.

Did you know? There are many useful ones you can recite for stress, peace, pain, pace, presence, and overall healing. Whenever challenging situations or feelings arise, you can use any one of these acronyms to help guide your way. Unlike mantras or affirmations, which are words or phrases to reinforce a feeling or belief, the acronym spells out actionable steps you can take for the challenging situation or emotion being experienced.

Here are some examples I like to use for myself, my clients, and now you.

How to do it: say the word, then break down each letter, and work through it.

-P.A.I.N:

P= Pause: reflect and focus on the present moment.

A= Awareness: what are you aware of in your body, environment, or about the situation?

I= Integrate: what tool, resource, research, or practice can you integrate?

N= New pathways: when a new pattern is created, neuroplasticity is possible.

-S.T.O.P:

S= Stop: once again, the pause is necessary.

T= Take 3 deep breaths.

O= Observe: your breath and sensations that arise in your body. Can you identify them?

P= Proceed: only once you’re ready, with awareness and compassion.

-R.A.I.N:

R= Recognize: call out what is happening in your body, mind, or situation.

A= Allow: let the experience unfold or be, just as it is. Any resisting or wishing otherwise is wishing things would be different rather than as they are.

I= Investigate: how does this make you feel? What is the next step you can take?

N= Nurture: practice being easier on yourself, talk to yourself like you would talk to a friend, this enhances self-compassion.

-S.O.U.L:

S= Stillness: reclaim the present moment.

O= Oneness: release the illusion of separateness, we are all one.

U= Universe: life force energy flows through all our cells.

L= Love: the highest vibration.

As you may have noticed, pausing often comes up as the first step. Stopping to reflect is very important because we cannot focus, relax, or heal in the same state that caused the stress to begin with.

Another important step is to allow and accept what is with ease. Letting go of control enhances our capabilities to navigate where we really need to go next.

Lastly, once peace, self-compassion, and love are felt, and a calmer state is achieved, can we then proceed with a new reaction. If you change your reaction, you change the chemistry in your body, your mind, and your soul’s blueprint.

I hope these acronyms can help guide your journey to peace.