“I stopped sending paragraphs, stopped begging, I stopped telling people how to treat me, and started walking away, blocking, and distancing myself. Life may be lonely, but it’s become peaceful. Sometimes being alone in life is better than being surrounded by half-ass people.” – Unknown
Is this something you need to take to heart, or apply in your own life?
Put self-love and self-care at the top of your list of priorities.
“It takes a great effort to free yourself from memory.” Flashbacks are a bit like waking nightmares. They are powerful, terrifying, repeated episodes where the person re-lives a traumatic incident. They occur suddenly, and feel uncontrollable. And the responses they evoke are so vivid and real that it feels like the experience is happening again […]
“Make today a beautiful day. A beautiful day that you’ve created just for you.” Today … Take a few moments to quieten your heart, and to remind yourself again that it’s good to be alive. And to remind yourself, again, that there’s a place down deep inside where you’re grounded, calm and settled. Where you […]
· Daydream – Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a dream location. Breathe slowly and deeply. Whether it’s a beach, a mountaintop, a hushed forest or a favourite room from your past, let the comforting environment wrap you in a sensation of peace and tranquility.
· “Collect” positive emotional moments – Make it a point to recall times when you have experienced pleasure, comfort, tenderness, confidence, or other positive emotions.
· Learn ways to cope with negative thoughts – Negative thoughts can be insistent and loud. Learn to interrupt them. Don’t try to block them (that never works), but don’t let them take over. Try distracting yourself or comforting yourself, if you can’t solve the problem right away.
· Do one thing at a time – For example, when you are out for a walk or spending time with friends, turn off your cell phone and stop making that mental “to do” list. Take in all the sights, sounds and smells you encounter.
· Exercise – Regular physical activity improves psychological well-being and can reduce depression and anxiety. Joining an exercise group or a gym can also reduce loneliness, since it connects you with a new set of people sharing a common goal.
· Enjoy hobbies – Taking up a hobby brings balance to your life by allowing you to do something you enjoy because you want to do it, free of the pressure of everyday tasks. It also keeps your brain active.
· Set personal goals – Goals don’t have to be ambitious. You might decide to finish that book you started three years ago; to take a walk around the block every day; to learn to knit or play bridge; to call your friends instead of waiting for the phone to ring. Whatever goal you set, reaching it will build confidence and a sense of satisfaction.
· Keep a journal (or even talk to the wall!) – Expressing yourself after a stressful day can help you gain perspective, release tension and even boost your body’s resistance to illness.
· Share humour – Life often gets too serious, so when you hear or see something that makes you smile or laugh, share it with someone you know. A little humour can go a long way to keeping us mentally fit!
· Volunteer – Volunteering is called the “win-win” activity because helping others makes us feel good about ourselves. At the same time, it widens our social network, provides us with new learning experiences and can bring balance to our lives.
· Treat yourself well – Cook yourself a good meal. Have a bubble bath. See a movie. Call a friend or relative you haven’t talked to in ages. Sit on a park bench and breathe in the fragrance of flowers and grass. Whatever it is, do it just for you.
“You have no future in the past. Let it go, and move on.” – Unknown Definitely true. Easy to say. Difficult to do. Don’t rush the process. Give it time.
“Soon, when all is going well, you’re going to look back on this period of your life and be glad you never gave up.” When we’re in the midst of awful, desperate times it can be so easy to lose our motivation. The struggle can feel endless. Unrelenting. Too ferocious. And when the war drags […]
“I have a gaping, bleeding hole in my soul.” 1. What happened to you mattered. It really, really mattered. 2. It wasn’t your fault, and you didn’t ask for it. This is one situation where you truly are a victim. 3. You’re no longer the person you used to be. You’re a shell of […]
“I pray you heal from all the things no-one ever apologized for.” We all carry hurts and wounds from our past. And some of these wounds are very deep and painful. Damage it is hard to recover from. My prayer for you is that you find the help you need to heal from these wounds, […]
Coaching Skills International 