Today I want to invite you to take even a few moments outside, in green space.
Wherever you are in the world just go outside. Look around you and allow your eyes to rest on some green – grass, a tree, a plant. If you are in urban, desert or another environment devoid of green look up, and notice instead the colour in the sky.
Is it possible for you just now to really rest in this colour, allow it in? Can you receive the beauty, the care and the nourishment that is wrapped in this gift of colour?
Can you soften your focus and rest in this outdoor space for about 60 seconds?
The ancient wisdom traditions have known for thousands of years, and neuroscience is now able to evidence in fascinating new ways, how this how this 60 seconds can have many positive physiological effects including:
• Relaxing the body
• Lowering blood pressure
• Improving sleep patterns
• Slowing the breath and moving us effortlessly into the rest and digestive
( parasympathetic nervous system.)
This is free effective medicine which I hope you will enjoy today and in the days and weeks ahead. When we are in a time of stress or depletion the hardest thing is to take the initial step to actually go outside.
Blue Monday
Today January 17th is often referred to as ‘Blue Monday’, the mythical most miserable day of the year. The term was coined by a travel company who used a series of calculations- weather, daylight average, finances and the demise of the glow (imagined or otherwise) of the Christmas season.
I personally do not believe that these are sound calculations. I think we can be ‘down’, or ‘blue’ at anytime of the year. I am writing this today to remind every woman reading this that this is part of being human. There is nothing particularly wrong with us when we hit a slump, feel lethargic, sad or lack drive, energy and joy. Please realise that I am not talking about medical conditions here. I am reminding us of the ebb and flow of life, that we know in ourselves and we see reflected around us in nature.
Maybe you are feeling a slump right now,
Maybe you are inclined to judge yourself when you hit a slump,
Maybe you push through and do not allow yourself to notice, to ‘give in’, to allow yourself to recognise feelings of depletion, tiredness, sadness…..
The beginning place of health, happiness, inner peace and clarity begins with allowing ourselves to notice, as best we can without judgement. Then comes care, and responding with skill.
Burnout is unmanaged stress. It always sneaks up on us. If you have some awareness of the cost of unmanaged stress may I invite you to make 2022 the year you stop the slide?
Take a moment
• Notice
• Recognise that being tired, stressed, blue, low, lethargic, overwhelmed or stressed is part of being human
• Be kind to yourself
• Know that our culture, our cult of busy-ness, our impossible false perfectionism in the online space is not supportive of real human flourishing.
Take Action
One microstep at a time, consistency and accountability with a trusted friend or a coach or teacher will bring into new habit energy which will support you in the difficult days and delight you in the flow days so you will be living from a place of deep calm, clarity, focus and happiness irrespective of the particular internal or external weather of your life.
How to Banish Burnout and Blossom Masterclass Jan 27th
Join my powerful free masterclass for heart centred women leaders How to Banish Burnout and Blossom on Jan 27th
https://mindfulwithdee.kartra.com/page/banish-burnout-masterclass
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