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Tag: meditation

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Mindset/Strenghts Resilience Self Care

Find Inner Peace – Get Back To Nature

person holding dandelion flower

Do you ever feel disconnected? Maybe you’re so preoccupied with everything in your daily existence that you hardly even have time to realize what’s going on around you. 

Perhaps the only moment you observe nature is when the weather meddles with your to-do list. Perhaps you can’t recall the last time you were inclined to simply inhale and sit outdoors.

There is indeed a great deal of proof that spending time in nature has a considerable beneficial influence on both mental and physical health. Strolling in a green space has been demonstrated to help with mental health issues such as depression and ADHD. 

According to VeryWellMind, “On days when you’re struggling with negative thoughts about your body, many different coping mechanisms can help. But new research suggests in order to soothe those feelings, you should get outside and spend time in nature. Negative body image is a risk factor for behaviors like disordered eating, which can have disastrous consequences for one’s body, mind, and relationships. Nowadays, it can be harder to avoid negative body thoughts when navigating social media.”

Time spent in nature is a wonderful way to focus oneself in addition to treating particular mental health challenges and enhancing mental and physical wellbeing. 

For some of us, it is the start of a meditation practice or a heightened spiritual understanding of how we are all related. For others, it is simply a fantastic method to relieve tension. 

Here are a few excellent techniques to get started bonding with the natural world around you, no matter where you want your time outside to take you.

woman in black bikini bottom standing on beach during daytime

#1 Slow down to the speed of nature

Walking slowly causes you to breathe more slowly, making you feel instantaneously more relaxed. Slow down and start seeing the environment around you. It may be a speck of lichen in a crack in the sidewalk or a tree you’ve never spotted before. Look around you carefully and deliberately to see what you discover as you sink into this more natural rhythm of being.

#2 Experiment with barefoot breathing

We people are the only animals that put a shoe between our feet and the Spirit of the Earth. The act of taking off your shoes and standing barefoot on the ground satisfies a primitive urge for connectivity. 

Find a peaceful spot outside—a park nook, a quiet spot in your garden, or your favorite wild location. Shut your eyes and take 100 deep, soft breaths while feeling the sunlight on your face, the breeze on your body, and the warm heart of the ground via the soles of your feet.

#3 Dine outside

Take your lunch or a book outside to enjoy on a park seat or picnic blanket. While you dine or read, take in the fresh air and natural sunlight (or both).

woman in blue outfit using blue smartphone while sitting on grass

#4 Give a tree a hug

Which words come to mind when you think about trees? Sturdy? High? Statuesque? Tenacious? Primitive? The world’s oldest trees have been alive for thousands of years, and we rely on them to create the oxygen we need to live. 

Although the term “tree-hugger” is sometimes used ironically, hugging a tree is an easy method to boost your energy levels by mopping up all that energy and oxygen-rich deliciousness! Close your eyes and press your cheek on the trunk. Feel the bark on your flesh as you spread your arms to embrace the tree.

#5 Visit a greenhouse of a flower shop

Soak in the aroma of green vegetation and a plethora of flowers. Step into a flower shop’s refrigerated department, which is brimming with freshly cut bouquets, close your eyes and soak up the brilliant fragrance. 

Give heed to the tiny weeds and wildflowers that sprout up in sidewalk cracks. Consider the persistence and perseverance of that small creature to take root and flourish in such a challenging environment whenever you observe this. Take a moment to send your best wishes and consider how you could connect to that type of strength.

It is so easy to get caught up in this fast paced world and forget to take time to smell the roses. Next time you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed or just plain grumpy, make a determined effort to step in God’s garden of nature to get grounded and re-energised again.

And remember – if you need some support at any time, I’d love to help. You can book a free call with me here:)

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Mindset/Strenghts Personal Growth

6 Effective Ways To Change Your Attitude Towards The Positive

two women using laptops

Your attitude dictates how you live your life, how you treat others, how others treat you, and a whole lot more. It can help you be successful at home and work. At the same, you’ll enjoy a sense of inner peace and confidence.

If you’re looking for ways to get back your optimism, you’ve come to the right place. Check out these six effective ways to change your attitude towards the positive.

Have the Desire to Change

Change may be scary, but you can’t improve without change. So, if you want to have a more positive attitude, you have to embrace change and all the good that can come of it.

You’ll find you’re becoming a calmer, more accepting person. Your self-confidence will also get a nice boost because you’re not easily fazed.

Personal growth is a slow and steady process. Yet, it goes hand-in-hand with change and all the good that can come of it.

Find a New Vantage Point

Everything in life has both a good side and a bad. They’re always there, co-existing. Which one you see depends on your perspective.

The next time something happens, try to look at it from more than one angle. If there are other people involved, try to picture it from their point of view.

Being aware of other people’s vantage points gives clarity and puts things in their right place. It also makes you see both the good and bad in everything. To develop a more positive attitude, all you need to do is to direct more of your energy to the good, no matter how small.

Develop Good Habits

Negative thoughts and beliefs lead to negative habits. A habit is simply a learned behavior that, over time, becomes reflexive. So, start doing more of the good habits and less of the bad ones.

To break the cycle, start to develop one good habit at a time. For example, start with taking a 10-minute walk during your lunchtime.

woman walking while holding smartphone

Add 10 minutes each week, and you’ll be surprised at how easy it’s become. You may even find yourself waiting in anticipation for your daily walks.

Other good habits to try could be:

  • Get quality sleep each night
  • Cut back on processed food, alcohol, or smoking
  • Manage money more wisely
  • Take some time to re-energize and de-stress
  • Give back to your community
  • Practice self-reflection through meditation, journaling, or prayer
  • Find a hobby that indulges your creative side

Spend Time with Positive People

People are different, they have their good and bad days. Yet, positive people always find a way to see the silver lining.

No matter what situation you’re in, positive people find a way to lift your mood. Their can-do attitude will remind you of your accomplishments and life lessons.

They’ll tell you how strong and resilient you are. Then, they’ll remind you that with every down, there’s always an up.

Hanging out with people who have a positive attitude can help you see things in a brighter light. It’s a scientific fact that, after a while, you’ll start to think and act like them. You’ll start to be more optimistic and self-assured.

Focus on Solutions

We, humans, tend to dwell on negative situations. We talk about them and dissect them like bugs under the microscope until we’re tired and overwhelmed. Where does that get us? Nowhere.

brown tree

Rather than spending so much time and energy focusing on the problem, try to focus more on the solution. Brainstorm one, or ten, ways to solve a certain prickly situation.

It could get difficult in the beginning. Let’s be honest, it’s easier to complain than to actively come up with solutions and implement them. Yet, if you really put your mind to it and you stick it out, those ideas will be flying out faster than you can write them down.

Encourage yourself to stay positive and hopeful. Soon, your automatic response will be to focus on finding a solution, rather than complaining about the problem.

Live in the Present

Did you know that your past and future are like your guiding stars? The past holds all your life lessons that have helped shape the person you’ve become. Then, there’s the future where all your goals and dreams are lying in wait. While they’re important, they’re both out of your control.

The only thing you can control is the present moment. You can either make it the best it can be or you can let it pass you by and spend the rest of your life feeling regret.

One great way you can live in the present is to practice mindfulness. Sit somewhere quiet for a couple of minutes. Let your eyes wander to absorb everything going on around you. Whatever it is you’re seeing, take a few seconds to look at every detail.

Mindfulness meditation doesn’t just reduce stress by allowing you to live in the moment. It also teaches you to be grateful for everything you have and everything you’ve accomplished.

Categories
Personal Growth

5 Ways to Address Inner Conflict

Is inner conflict holding you back? When we struggle with inner conflict, it is basically a battle between our emotions and thoughts. If a situation doesn’t turn out how we expected, it can release feelings of anger, stress, fear, and frustration. 

There are many different types of inner conflict. You may know you need to end a relationship, but you keep talking yourself out of it. You may know you need to adopt a healthier diet but eating the foods you love is the only thing that gives you pleasure right now. Whatever the inner conflict is, it could be holding you back from a happy, healthy life. Discover 5 ways to address inner conflicts to be happier and more fulfilled.

1. Identify and confront inner conflicts.

You’re going to find it hard to address your inner conflict if you aren’t fully aware of it. However, identifying and being aware of inner conflict isn’t always easy. After all, it is much easier to ignore confrontation and the things that make us uncomfortable. 

The trouble is, when you ignore your inner conflicts, they simply get worse over time. So, start by writing down what you want and the things that are holding you back. Then, delve into your inner conflict and try and understand where it comes from. For example, is it coming from a place of fear or comfort? Often, we stay stuck in routines because it is our mind’s way of protecting us. 

2.Balance your rationale and emotions.

To address inner conflict, you need to be able to balance rationale and emotion. If you tend to focus more on your emotional needs and desires, your rational thinking will be compromised. Similarly, if you were to focus only on being rational, your emotional needs would suffer. To make the best choices, learn how to balance reasons and emotions.

3. Avoid making rash decisions

When you are going through an emotional time, be sure not to make any rash decisions. Think about what is best for you, without forgetting about the impact your decision will have on others. 

It’s easy to make rash decisions when you are dealing with inner conflict. However, staying calm and really thinking things through is going to lead to the best decisions.

4. Think about what you really want

What is it you really want? Often our inner conflict comes from not doing the things we desire. If you are trying to please everyone else, you are only going to end up feeling miserable. So, if you feel like you aren’t being true to yourself, take a step back. Think about what you truly want and then focus your energy on that.

5. Practice meditation

Finally, meditation is a great way to address inner conflict. It gives you the peace and mental clarity to reflect on your life and the things you need to change. It may take a while to get used to it, but you’ll find great beginner videos online to help.

These are some of the best ways to address inner conflict. If you want to live a happy and fulfilled life, dealing with your inner critic is essential.

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