5 Ways SPACE is an Unexpected Gift

The Unexpected Gift of Space

I had some space in my schedule this week. Not the kind I planned for, but the kind life hands you when you get sick or when plans shift dramatically and everything you thought was neatly lined up suddenly… isn’t. And the interesting thing is, the universe clearly knew I’d need it. My schedule just happened to have gaps where there are usually appointments, classes, commitments. A little extra room I didn’t intentionally create, but somehow arrived at the exact right moment.

I even had to cancel a couple yoga classes, which is something I never love doing. Disappointing people is a total bummer. Honestly, not that long ago, I would’ve spiraled into guilt, over-apologized, and mentally replayed it for days. Now? The guilt is still there, but it’s quieter. Softer. It doesn’t take over. I can feel both things at once: I care deeply about being reliable for my students, and I can also honor my body and what it needs. And that space between those truths… that’s growth I’m proud of.

This unexpected spaciousness ended up feeling like a gift.

I didn’t always view space this way. Space used to feel uncomfortable, even threatening. Empty time meant unproductive time. It meant fewer work hours and less income. It meant being alone when I craved connection. It meant facing all the “shoulds” I wasn’t doing. And, on a deeper level, space often poked at my sense of worth. Those open blocks of time whispered, “You’re not doing enough.” And sometimes, “You’re not enough.”

Adrenaline was my old comfort zone. My nervous system thrived on rush, urgency, the next thing.

Then I found an affirmation that hit me right in the center of my chest:

I do enough. I have enough. I am enough.

That one simple phrase softened something inside me. Over time, it became the boundary I needed but didn’t know how to set. It became permission to shut the laptop even when the to-do list wasn’t done. To leave the laundry half-folded overnight. To push tasks to another time. It became a quiet nudge that said:

Enough is enough.

Being early to anything is still a work in progress. (Ask my Type A husband, lol.) As a recovering procrastinator, building space into my day feels unnatural, but it’s also been wildly supportive. Space gives me a moment to ground before walking into a crowded class. It gives me time to send that text while I’m still in the car before stepping into a home filled with needs and noise. It lets me transition with ease.

Space in time.
Space in the body.
Space in the mind.
Space in the breath.
It all matters.

For so long, extra time made me squirm. I overscheduled everything. I packed my days hour-to-hour, leaving no wiggle room. And here’s the ironic part: overscheduling created the very stress I was trying to outrun. My nervous system got stuck in crisis mode, and my schedule reflected that loop. When I began healing my nervous system, my presence changed. My capacity changed. My relationship with time changed.

And from that healing, I learned something simple and surprisingly profound:

Space is a gift.

Here are five ways I’ve learned to embrace it:

1. Space in the body creates space in the mind.

Yoga literally creates more room in my tissues. When my hips soften, I feel grounded. When my ribs open, I breathe more fully. When my neck and shoulders release, my mind clears. Physical space = emotional space & capacity.

2. Space in the day means life isn’t a crisis.

When sh*t happens (and it always does), it doesn’t drop me into panic. There's room to adapt. To breathe. To use P.E.A.C.E. — pause, exhale, acknowledge, choose, engage. Plans can shift without the entire day unraveling. And self care isn’t the first thing to get cut.

3. Space softens the mental load.

Do one less thing.
Schedule one less commitment.
Write things down to offload the pressure.
Delegate one task that’s eating brain space.
Keep one day each week with no plans.

4. Space makes room for spontaneity.

With space, I get to choose my weekend plans based on how my body feels, not just what the calendar demands. I get to honor my self care boundaries. And I say YES to more joy because I actually have room for it.

5. Space invites joy to rise.

Space isn’t empty. It’s alive. Restful, creative, playful, grounding, and deeply meaningful. It’s where the little things can finally be seen and felt.

If any of this resonates, consider it your gentle reminder:

Carve out space in your body, your mind, your breath, and your schedule. Not a whole day. Not a dramatic overhaul. Just a little openness.

If you want help practicing this, join me for a yoga class or a workshop. And if you’re feeling ready to explore the deeper roots of why space feels uncomfortable — to rewrite the stories, calm the nervous system, and rediscover what brings you joy — I’d be honored to support you.

Let’s connect for 1:1 Restorative Self Care Coaching and help you reclaim the space your life is craving.