We are all feeling the ups and downs of the world right now because the world is heavy right now. We continue to see black men shot by police officers. We are facing a pandemic, unemployment, and uncertainty of the future – to name a few. It can feel like a roller coaster of emotions. Some days we have it together and some days, we are feeling low, anxious or down – unsure how to hold it all. It is healthy to be with our feelings, even the down ones.
Be with your Feelings. If you are feeling down, take a moment to become aware of the feeling. Can you identify it? What is the emotion you are feeling? Next, can you feel where it is in your body? Where are you feeling this emotion the most? The stomach, the head, the heart, the shoulders? If you are finding it difficult to identify the emotion and where you are feeling it, sit down in a comfortable chair for a few moments. Set a timer for five or ten minutes. Then let your eyes soften. Be with your breath. Feel your inhale. Feel your exhale. Sometimes sitting quietly can help us open up to our emotions and feelings.
Rebalance. If you are looking to rebalance yourself, here are five things you can do.
- Nature. Go for a walk in a park, forest, up a mountain or hill, near water – whatever nature you can get to. Vitamin N (Nature) can help our bodies, minds and souls find our natural state of being. Nature can bring about a sense of calmness to the mind and body. Taking a walk in nature is called forest bathing (or as it is known: Shinrin-yoku (森林浴)). This concept originated in Japan in the early 1980s.
- Music. It can serve as an emotional outlet or provide emotional support. Listen to one of your favorite artists or tune into something new. Better yet, put on your earphones and go for a walk listening to some tunes.
- Journal. Writing is an excellent therapeutic outlet. Often times everything we are thinking is in our heads and continues to stay up there -continuously whirling around. It can be transformative to put your thoughts down into words.
- Bath. Whether a hot bath or cold bath (depending on the climate where you live), soaking in water helps calm the body and mind. Staying put in one place for 5 or 15 minutes is a way to pause. You can meditate, listen to music, light a candle, or read. A bath is one way to pause and reset.
- Meditate. If you feel your body or mind restless, then you are needing a pause or a meditation. Sit or lay down. If it helpful set a timer.
These are my top five ways to balance and reset. Give them a try and let me know you are feeling.