
So the space storm has passed and after bearing my soul (sorry family) in everybody hurts part 1 I am, thank the lord feeling more myself again. The nice ever so smiley cheerleader self. Yipheeee!
I was inspired this very morning by a lovely little post on Instagram. (I know I’m fickle) It said, “you must love her on her bad days when she is moody and irritated, just as much as you love her when everything is going well.” And what occurred to me is that actually, you should love her more. Most problems or should I say how we handle those problems, our responses are forged from a place of fear. Fear makes us crazy. We become irrational, hysterical emotional wrecks. We get sucked into the vortex of worst-case scenarios; the end of the world is nigh kind of thoughts! Usually what happens next is your nearest and dearest will pick up on all that angst and unless they have the patience of a saint they’ll soon be either running for cover bored by your melodramatics or trying to win the gold medal in who has got the crappiest life. The kids all start kicking off, even the dog gets unsettled! Negativity it’s contagious. You’ve got a headache? I’ve got a migraine. We all have different pain levels. Misery can be a competitive sport.
The child that just failed their exams, do they need a lecture or do they really need a hug? Do any of us really need a lecture on a bad day? And yet I am the queen of giving sermons (must stop that) our responses often come from a good place, but sound bad. We can sound more like a harsh judgemental critic. Coming from a place of love when it’s mingled with fear it gets lost in translation. So the shy, the needy, the unconfident, the people pleasers, the sensitives the crazies amongst us maybe we just need to be loved more on some days. That’s all. We choose love.
The second thing that occurred to me is in my recent rant I offered no practical advice on how to shift the dark moods! So…
Try Yoga, you are so busy trying to bend your body into strange shapes and breathe (special yogi breathing) your mind has no time for messing with you.
Exercise, move. Walk, run, dance. Join a netball team if that’s your thing. Ride a bike, a horse. Find something you like, do it with people.
Learn to meditate, or sitting in silence just for a bit. It’s so nice.
Find your oldest friends and check in. They know you, they love you.
Make new friends.
Talk.
Read something positive and inspiring or just any words (think all that time outside the library made me appreciate books).
Take your mind to another world.
Watch your favourite TV program (Nashville has been replaced by This is us) why do I like programmes that make me cry?
Bringing me nicely on to, have a good cry.
It’s cleansing and it isn’t a crime.
Don’t forget to Laugh. It’s the best medicine. Smiling makes you happy it’s a scientific fact.
Everyone has a favourite funny film, watch yours.
Love your people. Show them how to love you back. Ask them for help if you have to. Vulnerability also isn’t a crime.
Volunteer. Do something good for someone. There’s always going to be someone somewhere in need. Bringing me on to
Gratitude. We always have something to be thankful for. It’s an obvious one and it’s so bloody simple we forget to do it. It’s a powerful tool on the road to contentment.
Be honest.
And only wear yoga Leggs of course.
If that fails, eat chocolate and drink wine.
Amanda x
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