“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from
your own actions.” ~Dalai Lama
Postholiday blues can find their way into our lives, perhaps just from the lack of balance that is a result of having more than usual on our plates. Even if you are feeling pretty OK right now, everyone can benefit from a few good suggestions. These come from Belinda Munoz, who has her list (See “50+ Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues”) broken down into categories. Just her headings will give you some great ideas so you can start 2012 off very well.
Under “Solo,” she has such things as pray or meditate, take a nap, practice yoga, or do any kind of exercise. Actually, exercise has been shown to be clinically effective for both preventing and treating depression.
Getting “Social” includes breaking out a cookbook and inviting a friend or two over to try a new recipe. If you live alone, organize a food share event with several others. Each participant makes a “family-sized” dish and everyone brings freezer-to-oven containers and takes home healthy meals for a month!
“Lose Yourself” by laughing it up at an improv or comedy club, or just do something silly and let go of any self-conscious feelings. Have you ever heard of Patch Adams, M.D., the Medical doctor, Clown, Performer, Social Activist, Founder and Director of the Gesundheit Institute, a holistic medical community? This one might open up a whole new career for you…
Get out of doors. If it is winter, make a snow angel. Tune in to a nature channel. Play an audio with nature sounds. Get up early enough to see the sun rise. Go outside and look up at the stars. Nature has a way of changing us from the inside out. As William Blake (“Auguries of Innocence”) wrote:
To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
Whenever you are doing creative projects—taking photos, drawing, writing a poem or a short story, playing a musical instrument or singing, even listening to music—you are stimulating whole brain activity. This is why meditation is so restorative. And these things are fun. Choose your favorites.
Suggestions for taking care of yourself include a couple of my favorites: manicure or pedicure, vacation, smoothie, haircut. I would add: schedule a pajama day, make a pot of chicken soup, and let a baby kiss your face.
Brenda finishes her list with “get educated.” The New Year is a great time to learn something worthwhile. Let me know if you would like to schedule the two-hour “Imagine Healing” workshop at your church, workplace, or with a group of family and friends. With Skype and Facetime as options, I can be anywhere you are, and since 25 to 30 million Americans will undergo surgery with anesthesia each year, the time is right for this one for sure. Send email to debra@scs-matters.com. Professional trainings (CE credits are available for massage therapists) in conducting the sessions for someone else are also available.
Get busy and do something for others might go hand-in-hand. One other resource mentioned getting back on a budget. Well, make sure you are making good choices in every area of your life.
This week, notice that the things you would do to treat a problem, will most often prevent a problem. Let yourself be inspired. Inspired people are inspiring. The world can use more of that, you know.
This week’s health tip originally appeared online January 2, 2013, then at https://scs-matters.com/low-downs/
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Tips from 5 April 2010 to 6 August 2012 are here: Archived Tips
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Rev.Debra Basham
Voice: (269) 921-2217 Email: debra@scs-matters.com https://scs-matters.com http://ImagineHealing.info http://SurgicalSupport.info Small Changes … Infinite Results™
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” ~Mother Teresa |