Here are a few of my favorite things this week:
Favorite pet picture: Despite diminished sight and hearing and some medical issues, Bubba’s joy is undeniable! He is currently getting some medical care with the Blind Dog Rescue Alliance before he can be adopted.
Favorite book quote: The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art.
Random favorite: Magnum Solace Magnesium Oil Spray
I get restless legs at night when I’m trying to fall asleep sometimes. It was more frequent and more intense when I was pregnant. A bit research led me to realize that I might need a little more magnesium in my life. I was sent a sample of this product to try out and I love it. It makes my body feel so much more calm and my mind becomes more calm as well. (Disclaimer: While I did get a free sample, I don’t sell it nor am I an affiliate at this time.)
What are your favorite things this week? Let me know!
Question
I feel grumpy all the time. I might be depressed. I don’t want to take drugs. What can I do to make myself feel better?
Thank you so much for sharing this question. I’m sure it’s one that many people have these days. If you were dealing with trauma, feeling like harming yourself or someone else, or your mood was getting in the way of your ability to take care of your daily needs (eating, sleeping, washing, etc.), I would suggest you get some appropriate help. But, otherwise, there are many things you can do!
Get the message. In our culture, “depression” is considered a mental illness caused by a chemical imbalance that “requires medication to fix”. What if, instead, it was honored as a message by our body telling us that something isn’t right in our life? Figure out what is not right in your life. Do you have a life purpose or a passion that you’re ignoring? Do you have a relationship to heal or maybe one to end? What need have you been putting off? Honoring the message and addressing it might just be all you need.
Smile. (Don’t roll your eyes - there is science behind this. Neurological pathways are activated by the position of your face. If you activate the muscles associated with anger, you will eventually start to feel angry. If you activate the muscles associated with a real smile, including your mouth and eyes, you will stimulate those good biochemicals that will eventually help you feel happier.) Do this as often as you think about it.
Get some fresh air. Go outdoors somewhere with a lot of trees and breath. Or go to the beach. The middle of the desert works to. If all else fails, just go outside and breathe anywhere with reasonably clean air. (But skip putting on your 2020 fashion headgear.)
Get some sunlight. Skip the sunscreen and go outside. If you’re worried about the sun being too strong, just don’t go a couple of hours either side of noon.
Get good sleep. Check out this article by WellnessMama.com if you need some ideas.
Practice good sleep hygiene. There is plenty of info on this online.
Go on a screen fast. (This one has been huge in our household and the info in the link isn’t just for kids.)
Stop eating sugar and corn syrup. (Sugar is in everything - including the organic nitrate-free bacon in the butcher’s window. This one has been huge for me - I always have sugar cravings and a hard time mastering myself for a day or two after eating something containing sugar. I usually use raw honey or pure maple syrup instead.)
Practice gratitude. Lot’s of people will tell you to keep a gratitude journal. That’s so nice, but you’d probably already be doing it if you had the mental space. Here’s the alternative: Anytime you realize the mood you’re experiencing is not ideal, think of something you’re grateful for. Think of it deeply until it brings tears of gratitude, love, and joy to your eyes. (That may take some practice.) Then take a deep breath and move on.
Master the small stuff. Sometimes it’s the little stuff that grates on us. For example, maybe you’re the type who shuts the cabinet doors and someone in your house leaves them open. Perhaps you’ve talked about it, but still, every time you walk into the kitchen, every cabinet door is open. Rather than getting angry, realize that this person is doing the best they can. They’re not leaving the cabinets open to make you mad. Then just shut the doors yourself. Next time you walk into the kitchen and they’re all open again, laugh out loud (because it is kind of funny, isn’t it), and shut them all again. I know this works - we used to have a hanger “issue” at our place. Now it’s just funny and I rehang them as I see fit.
Get exercise. I’m not talking about running. I actually think that running on concrete can be hard on the body. Just walk and stretch (and breathe) - that’s enough to get things moving. Qi Gong and Tai Chi are great too. People seem to really like yoga as well.
Breathe. We tend to breathe from the tops of our lungs when we’re stressed. It doesn’t provide adequate amounts of oxygen and it makes us more tense. Practice breathing in through your nose deep down into your belly and then out through your mouth. A game changer for me was realizing I could breathe a lot better if I blew out all my air first, until I could blow no more, then I was able to take some good breaths.
Express your creativity. Sometimes we need to create something. We need to write, draw, paint, make music, or dance. It may seem frivolous when you have a family and home to take care of, a job, and/or a million other things you must attend to. But it will refresh your soul in a way that even a nap can’t do.
Do something fun. Just like creativity, we need a little fun sometimes!
Hang out with friends. This one is hard these days, especially if you’re in Southern California. But even a phone call can be uplifting. Beginning a penpal relationship with a friend you’ve been missing can be fun too!
Consult an acupuncturist. I made this confession in last week’s newsletter, but sometimes it’s hard for me to master myself. Then I turn to acupuncture and herbs to help me regain balance.
Ideally, we’d all do all these things all the time. But it’s not necessary. Doing the one or two that you can remember, as often as you remember them, should be a good start. Best wishes to you. I hope you’re feeling lighter soon!
What is your favorite suggestion for feeling better? Did I miss anything?
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