Mind, Body & Soul Sessions (#20)

Top tips to fix your state of mind.

Mend your mood, change your way of thinking, boost your positivity and feel better about yourself with these tips.

Sit still and observe.
During a stressful period, take 5 minutes to sit still and observe your own mind at work. Simply watch your thoughts and feelings without judgment and separate yourself from your negative emotions without suppressing them. View them as an outsider would. No need for judgement, no need to do anything with them, just let them come and go!

Rest and relax.
A lot of people these days are sleep-deprived and overworked. They are exhausted, burned out and moody. Don’t let this happen to you. The next time you feel miserable, moody, cranky or sad and depressed, listen to your body. How tired are you really? Tired!? Start to relax and let go (if only for a couple of minutes). Take a yoga class, visit a sauna, read a book for a couple of minutes, lie down…… just go for it! You will feel better and will work more efficiently.

Be nurturing, be kind.
Sometimes when things are really hard and life really sucks, it’s hard to put on a happy face. Putting on a happy face at these times can be even worse then letting yourself go. At those times, be nice and gentle to yourself and look for the nurturing person inside you. The kind of person who says, “Go ahead, feel what you need to feel, feel your feelings, this isn’t the end of the world. Things will look better in the morning”, “Bad days exists so that you will appreciate the good days even more”. Don’t be too hard on yourself and give yourself permission to go with the flow. Treat yourself to a nice meal, take a nap, give yourself a long hot bath, make some hot chocolate and add some whipped cream.

Make contact with another living being.
No, I am not talking about calling a friend are talking with someone. No, I actually mean make contact…….touch someone in a comforting way. Ask for a hug from a loved one (or a stranger, if you have the guts), get a haircut or a facial, get a massage or take a ballroom dancing class. Pet your dog, rabbit, cat or hamster. Don’t underestimate the power of the physical touch.

List 5 things.
List 5 things you love with all your senses and see how your mood improves by simply writing down 25 answers. Write 5 endings to these sentences:
"I love the sound of…………..”
"I love the sight of…………..”
"I love the smell of…………..”
"I love the feel of…………..”
"I love the taste of…………..”

Consult an elder.
There was a time when you had to visit the “tribal elders” for a piece of wisdom. In this day and age we live in a time where the wisest things ever said, thought, or written are available to all of us. Safe your favourite quotes from wise people in a place where you can see them (often). Write them in your diary, stick them on your refrigerator, keep them on your desktop, or make a welcoming message out of them on your phone. Store books that will lift you spirit on your bedside table, where they are available to be read and reread often. Spend a few minutes with your gathered wisdom when your mood needs lifting.

Collect items that make you laugh.
Collect a stack of items that make you laugh and keep them in your house or workplace. A DVD might do the trick, or a funny picture, stand-up comedy, books, a cartoon, a funny website, or the phone number of your funniest friend. When you are feeling down, spend 15 minutes (or until you can at least crack a smile) with your stack of laughter.

Lend a helping hand.
Feeling powerless/helpless is a main part of depression and anger, but there is no need for that. You might think that the power lies in being able to command others into helping you, but that’s not true. In reality it’s the other way around. People who are helped feel less powerful, while helpers feel more powerful. Helping out others will give your self-esteem a real boost. Start lending a helping hand.

20 things you are grateful for.
Yup, another list thingy. Think of 20 things you are thankful for and name them out loud. After you are done, think of 20 more and never repeat yourself. What? You can’t do it? Sure you can, you just not trying hard enough :) Start with the obvious; for example, give thanks for your ability to feel, smile, smell, love, cry, taste, hear, the sun, seasons, rain, wind, your friends, friendship, family, Snow Patrol, teardrops apples, pictures, music, and art. Oh, hmm…. You are not grateful for those things? Well, if you think you can do this better, come up with your own list then. Go ahead, the possibilities are endless!