NOTE: This post was apropro for the winter holidays but is even more important as we deal with C-Virus19. Repeated here with only two changes — the title, and “give a hug” has become “give yourself a hug.”
Feeling Fine for the Holidays
1. Twirl a sprig of rosemary.
2. Smile at yourself in the mirror.
Don’t just check to make sure there’s no piece of spinach or something between your teeth. Give yourself a big, teeth-showing grin. We all have heard that it takes more muscles to frown than it takes to smile, so give those glowering muscles a rest. Plus, smiling may actually help one release happiness-producing endorphins, remind us of pleasant memories, and even reduce pain. Now go out there and infect everyone you see with smile syndrome (smiling is contagious you know).
3. Practice your power pose.
Amy Cuddy promoted the power pose in her TED Talk titled, “Your body language may shape who you are.” To do this, simply stand with your feet a shoulder-width apart, place your hands on your hips, hold your head up and look straight ahead. The media has dubbed this the “Superwoman pose,” so you should get the idea. Cuddy’s research shows that standing like this for at least two minutes will actually change the chemistry in your body, making you feel more powerful and success-worthy.
4. Find a Doterra Representative.
Doterra’s Peppermint beadlets are amazing. They’re as tiny as the head of a pin and contain peppermint essential oil. Pop one or two of these in your mouth, experience the explosion of peppermint taste and go on about your business. In just a few minutes you’ll realize that your shoulders are no longer attached to your ears, your teeth aren’t clenched, and your hands are open and swaying as you walk, not bundled into fists. Yes, just amazing.
5. Give someone a hug. Give yourself a hug.
Studies have shown that a kind gentle touch can actually lower one’s blood pressure. I’d say get a massage, but you might not have now is not the time. Just hug yourself! someone. They’ll hug you back. You’re good to go. You’ll be surprised how good it feels!
6. Take a walk with a rock.
A walk in fresh air—even a short one—will help you refocus. But while you walk, pick up a tiny stone and put it in your pocket, telling yourself that every time you touch it, you’ll be reminded to stop and simply breathe. Carry it with you throughout the holidays. Of course, any pebble you find on the ground will work perfectly, but for an extra calming experience, you may want to order stones from Amazon or Etsy. Rose quartz, blue lace agate and Amazonite have traditionally been thought to influence a calm state. Tiny gift idea — pick up extras for your co-workers and family members!
7. Give someone a compliment.
It makes a person feel good to make another person feel good. Enough said.
8. Place your hands just so.
Ancient Indian traditions have it that holding your hands and arms in certain poses will take you into a specific state of mind. These poses are called mudras. You might recognize the “chin” mudras often used by meditators sitting cross-legged, where the hands rest on the knees and the thumbs form a loop with the pointer fingers while other fingers remain straight out. The author of Healing Mudras Yoga for Your Hands, Sabrina Mesko recommends the following mudra for preventing stress: sit with your back straight; bring your hands together palms up and fingers outstretched; lightly nestle the left hand in on top of the right hand in front of your belly. Breath consciously and hold for three minutes.
9. Laugh.
Just start laughing. Laugh hard. Laugh loudly. Once you get started, you will find that it’s easy to keep it up. Give it a big guffaw. You’ll be breathing, you’ll be releasing endorphins, you’ll feel better. (Note: perhaps you should only do this in the privacy of your car.)
10. Pat yourself on the back.
Literally. Just reach over your shoulder and give yourself a good pat, reaching as far down your back as possible. Then do it with the other hand. Then pat yourself by reaching around behind your back, once with each hand. Then do a routine: over shoulder left, over-shoulder right, behind back left, behind back right. Repeat! Not quite yoga, but it’s close. You stretched, breathed (hopefully) and maybe even giggled (you did look pretty silly you know).
11. Pay attention to your feet.
Just take a few minutes and commune with your toes (and your arches and your ankles). Twist, stretch, flex. Your feet will thank you.
12. Flirt with a ficus.
You may have read a lot recently about how plants “exhale” oxygen and help purify the air. But just talking to a plant – complimenting it on its gorgeous greenness or its new leaves—may leave you feeling better. Plants like to be petted and even slightly shaken. And if you feel ridiculous doing this and start laughing, all the better.
There! I hope you feel better and have a stress-free holiday.
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
John Muir
Moon Time
Today — Wednesday, December 11, 2019, the moon is 100% of full.
Your thoughts?