Choosing is Not Ignoring
You don’t need to shut down your emotions, you need them to lift you higher. Make happiness a choice.
“The real power lies in what we give our attention to.”
With the 2nd surge in coronavirus cases, new lockdown measures, and the ground beneath our feet constantly shifting, one can easily lose sight of joy, hope, and happiness.
This year, no doubt has tempted our resilience, patience, and trust. Regardless of where you stand on personal politics and current issues, there’s no denying that the events of today have taken a mighty toll on our mental wellbeing.
When the world feels like it’s spiraling out of control and all semblance of normalcy seems to be lost, holding onto positive feelings can be an arduous task.
Any kind of challenging time can make us feel down and blue, resulting in symptoms of stress, anxiety, and other mood-related issues. You can become unproductive, feel demotivated, or lose your “spark.”
What can you do about it?
Do you ever notice how some peeps always seem to have their chins up, even on the worst of days? It’s a valuable trait, and it’s one that most people have to learn with time. It’s all about changing your mindset and keeping healthy habits.
Being able to find those moments of positive in a sea of negativity is a rare skill – and one worth honing, for sure! Here is my best advice to help you find your joy, even in difficult times.
Pay Attention To The Little Things
Turn your focus onto small little moments that make your day brighter. Look for small things, like the taste of your morning coffee, a scent you like, the precious private moments you share with a loved one.
When you pay attention to and make a note of small things like this, you’ll be able to see the joy in so many places that you previously couldn’t.
Walk, March, Run, Jump, Hop, Skip, Tap
It can feel challenging to get moving when you’re dealing with challenging times, but a lack of physical activity will only worsen the cycle. Completely ignoring exercise will make you feel more sluggish and tired while also furthering your poor mood. So Walk, March, Run, Jump, Hop, Skip, Tap, or roll out that yoga mat.
Stay Grateful
Gratitude can have potent effects on the mind. When you actively seek out things to be thankful for, you’re able to keep a more positive attitude, reducing your risk of developing chronic stress, and anxiety-related problems.
Keep a gratitude journal and record at least three things you’re grateful for every night.
Laughter Is Contagious
Laughter isn’t just contagious. It’s also influential. Even if you don’t feel like laughing, the act of doing so anyway releases endorphins, which are positive hormones. This is because the body can’t actually discern real laughs from fake laughs, so you get the boost from fake laughter, too.
Forest bathing
Yes. You read that right.
Known officially as Shinrin-yoku or taking in the forest atmosphere. Since its development in the 1980s, it has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. The aim of forest bathing? To slow down, take in your surroundings using all your senses and tune into the natural world.
As the world rages on, inside my home, I greet the late autumn dawn. I watch my girl perform her new dance routine. I soak in the soothing sounds of crackling wood. And that’s what gives me hope and energy.
There are things we can do, in every circumstance, even the most terrible ones. Happiness is possible. You just have to seek it out. Ultimately, the effort will be well worth it.
Biggest hug to you! Stay Healthy, Stay Safe, Stay Sane. 💛
~ @louiseheite, Founder, LifeActivated, Coaching High-Achievers
One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever.