Energise
Five mindful steps to re-energise our body, mind and soul for that last stretch to December…
Let’s start with a little experiment. Think of a peach. A ripe and juicy one. Now imagine taking a big bite. What is happening to you right now? Salivating, right? But how can that be when there is no peach in your mouth?
The reason for this is very simple. It is called the mindbody connection. This is not an expression reserved for ashrams and swimming with the dolphins. It’s part of the spectacular phenomenon of being human; just by thinking about eating a peach a physical reaction has been triggered, which is based on your previous experience and memory of eating a peach.
What’s the point of the science class? Where the mind and emotions go, our bodies follow. As the year comes to an end, you may be feeling as if you are running on empty, stressed out and slightly frazzled. A small amount of stress is actually good for us, as it motivates us and helps us get the job done.
But too much stress releases all sorts of chemicals in our bodies and we get what’s called a fight-or-flight reaction. If you have to escape the hungry jowls of a lion, this stress response is a good thing. But this very same reaction occurs when you’re stressed out behind a computer, raising kids and trying to pay the bills. We are triggered every day into having a physical reaction way beyond what is normal and healthy. Here are five mindful steps to re-energise yourself and avoid sustained stress reactions:
Be your own best friend: Of course we love our besties and we need healthy relationships around us to feed and nourish us. But try being your own best friend first; be kind to yourself and love yourself truly. Celebrate your own uniqueness; after all, there is no one on Earth quite like you. And that’s pretty cool.
Realise you are not the CEO of the universe: The only thing you can control is yourself. You do not need to solve everyone’s problems, including your child’s long-division homework. Who remembers that stuff anyway?
Less is definitely more: Being happy with one dog does not mean that you will be twice as happy if you get another dog. Minimalism, like the little black dress, will always be in fashion.
Get your hands dirty: Choosing hobbies and leisure activities that are different from your work, is like a control-alt-delete for your brain. It allows creative juices to flow and focus on the present. Sometimes our thoughts and ruminations can be our own worst enemy, so switch off that mind a bit and do something physical that requires you to be focused and fully present in your body. Get in the garden and plant a tree. Being out in the open gives us plenty of fresh air, vitamin D and B12 – a natural stress-reducing cocktail.
Read comic strips: Who doesn’t enjoy a good chuckle? Don’t take life too seriously. We pass this way only once, so we might as well do it with a smile. Laughter releases feel-good hormones in our bodies. That’s why it feels so wonderful to laugh – and it’s contagious too.
