You're Just Right
It's time for this week's Bloom. What did you think of The Seed on Monday? Did you have any reaction? Take a sec to look at it again:
"Where do you feel incomplete?
Do you feel not good enough, like you don't belong
or you're incapable?
Do you feel like you have to be perfect?
It's important to find a way to turn all that around
and let go of it because it's not true."
When I first started putting out a newsletter (as it was called a looooong time ago), I would find quotes from other people that I liked or that sparked something in me. Then, I would "comment" on their quote. Over time, I realized that I had a lot of observations of my own. Usually, it was about something I was noticing or experiencing and that continues until today. Whatever I put out there is often what I'm mulling over or going through. Ever since March, 2020, life has felt like it got hit by a big wave and gone tumbling head over teakettle. If you've ever been in the ocean and had that happen to you, you know how disorienting that can be. Even once you know you're going to be ok, you feel a little wary, keeping an eye on the surf, trying to make sure you don't get knocked over again. When we feel like we've lost control and we're desperate to get it back, it can be pretty stressful. Sometimes we start to beat ourselves up and say things like, "If I had been paying attention that wouldn't have happened.", in other words, if I could be perfect. Or, we might go so far as to stop going places, like the beach, because we don't belong there -- we're incapable of handling that kind of situation. If you're feeling like this pandemic just packed a really big punch, but it shouldn't be so hard and you're asking questions like, "Why am I not handling this better (perfectly)?", I'm here to say that you need to turn that all around. We all do, especially us nurses, caregivers, and healthcare providers. This has been a tough time.
If you don't know how to turn things around and you feel like you're flailing, you've got company. One of the best things you can do is come clean. I will if you will ... these last 26 months have not been easy. I have had to pull out every tool and skill I've learned to not feel like a ball of anxiety and I've never been so grateful for everything I've absorbed from countless teachers. If I can do it, anyone can. Here are a few things I've learned to get you started:
Get out of your head -- your thoughts are mostly a lot of made-up stories
Get into your body and move it. Go for a walk or watch a dance video on YouTube and dance along
Slow down. Make a "to-do" list: delegate what you can, get rid of things that don't really matter, and focus on the essentials
Journal everyday for a specific amount of time ... 15 or 30 minutes. You can write about goals or dreams and make sure you are clear and have fun with it.
Be grateful. Write down 3 to 10 things you are grateful for at the end of the day.
This is only a few of the many things you can do on your way to feeling more centered, relaxed, happier and so much better. And that is what I wish for you. I have so many other strategies in my goody bag. If you'd like to see about getting some for yourself, email me and we can "discuss". Let's turn things around.
Sparkles and Love,
