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2023-2024 were rather challenging years for me, hence a big interruption in my blog posting! I’ve managed to stay relatively calm through it all thanks to all my yoga, meditation, and nature! It pays to build a consistent yoga, meditation, and nature practice! When you’re faced with something challenging, you have all the tools you need to get through it in as peaceful a way as possible! It prepares you for life’s challenges, like this one…
Tripping on a Root Can Change Your Life
At the beginning of June 2023, I went for a lovely little stand-up paddle board in Banff, Alberta, and it was short and sweet. Since it was still early in the afternoon when I finished, I went for a short hike in the area after that- I made it a fairly easy one since I had already done an hour of SUP.
When I was mere steps away from my destination, the view opened up through the trees finally, so I stopped to take my first photo. Checking over my shoulder I could see the destination not far off. Excited, I looked down at my camera to shut it off after taking my photo - the photo you see above - while taking two excited steps towards my destination. And WHAM-O! I stepped on a slanted root, rolled my ankle, and fell hard to my left with a big pack on my back. I heard the crack when I landed, and knew that couldn’t be good.
Being the tough one I usually am, I stood up and even thought of continuing on to my destination, but knowing about the crack, I figured I should probably head back. I sat on a rock and assessed the pain and the situation for a few minutes and gathered myself, allowing some others to pass and saying hello to them as they went by like nothing was wrong. I really didn’t want to admit my defeat!
Thankfully I had my poles and I continued down back to my car, very slowly. It took me a very long time. A kind girl wanted to make sure I got out okay, so she waited for me at the end and hiked up the trail a bit to see if I was okay. I didn’t even mention the crack, but was grateful for her care and concern, as she, too, was a solo hiker.
Casually, I even drove to Canmore for coffee before making my way home! Ha! Knowing I’d have to go to Emergency likely, I called 811 to ask for advice, as I had never broken anything in my life before and didn’t really know what to do. Based on what I said, she told me I could go to Urgent Care/Emerg as going to the doc the next day might take longer. So I decided to sleep on it, and the next day could barely walk. A good, kind friend agreed to skip his workout to take me to Emerg so I wouldn’t have to figure out how to get a taxi. I knew I’d likely be in a cast and had to let work know that I’d have to be away.
Little did I know that surgery could be a possibility, so I got X-rayed and CT-scanned and told finally at the end of the day that they weren’t going to do surgery. Thank goodness! I didn’t want that, that’s for sure!
I had no idea how horrible being in a cast and even more so, coming out of the cast, would turn out to be, or how long the recovery process would be. The Physio said it would take 9 months to a year and a half! I’m currently at about 1 year and 5 months in, but my life returned to normal much sooner, thank goodness!
Not to mention the fact that it was my driving foot, and there’d be no way I could make it to work like this, in a big cast up to my knee and crutches that were killing me. I had no idea I would be off work for 2 months, and was granted consent to work from home. I had no idea I’d still be recovering months and months and months later.
Lesson 1: The Ability To Ask For Help: Giving and Receiving are Both Necessary
I’m not someone who likes to ask others for help. I’m little Ms. Independent normally. But I can’t say I wanted to spend my Summer on my couch in the house during the hot months with no contact with others, and not being able to do any of my regular physical activities. I decided it’s a good skill to have - Being able to ask for help when you need it. I don’t like to bother others, but helping is a two-way process of giving and receiving. It’s always better to give, but the ability to receive helps the giver feel needed, just as accepting help helps you. If you aren’t able to receive help, you’ll never be able to turn around and give back to others.
Lesson 2: You Find Out Who Your Helpers Are and Then You Become a Helper Too
I know we all have a good idea of who our “real” friends are. But when something bad happens like this, you find out who is there for you, and who isn’t. Who offers to help, and who doesn’t. Who offers and then shows up to help, and who only offers, but doesn’t show up.
Not only do you find out who your true friends are, you may also realize that you were never there for anyone when they needed help. Sometimes until you’ve been in another person’s shoes, you don’t understand how hard it is to get by on your own when you need the help. So you offer condolences, but no real gesture of friendship to spend time together, or help out.
Being injured is never a good thing, but it made me realize how little effort I have made with my life being so good most of the time, to help others in need. Now I want to help those who helped me, and I sure won’t forget it. Not to mention, it’s good to be a good person in general, being as kind and helpful to others as possible. We are stewards - here to help each other and guide each other along the path of life.
Lesson 3: You Realize What and Who You’re Grateful For
Thank goodness work was so accommodating to my injury, and allowed me to work from home when that isn’t allowed generally. I am grateful for my leaders in making this a smooth process with uninterrupted pay. I felt so guilty that I was away for 2 months and all the paperwork and trouble my leaders had to go through to get me approved for all this, as well as visits to the doctor and physio and paperwork on their end.
Thank goodness too for the friends and family who showed up for me without complaint to take me here or there and help me pick up parcels and keep my vehicle rolling so it wouldn’t be sitting for 2 months before a big vacation to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Sedona in the Fall months. They also took me out for coffee and ice cream to keep me company during the Summer months when normally I am so active on my feet.
It also could have been a lot worse, so I’m grateful for my strong, healthy, mostly healed body that got me through this trauma. I have since made a full return to hiking up and down steep mountains, and my other regular activities. I realize how lucky I was, and am!
Lesson 4: You Start to Reflect On and Examine Your Roots
Tripping on a root is supposedly symbolic of a need to stop in your tracks and re-evaluate where you’re at, and if you’re really on the right path. I thought I was making strides with making new friends, and then BAM, I’m woman down, and no longer able to spend that time in nature with the new friends, hoping they’d still be there for me when this was all over.
I was on the hike by myself and enjoying being present in nature, looking forward to so many hikes and Summer activities. I was in my element. If I was on the wrong path, it may be just in terms of doing so much of what I love alone. Perhaps being alone is not the way. While I was making new friends, I still enjoy my solitude in nature, but maybe it’s the Universe’s way of telling me I need to spend more time with others and less time alone.
Tripping on a root is also symbolic of the Mother bond, and that maybe something is off-kilter in that relationship that needs healing. So I thought of my roots, my family, and what needs to be healed there. I thought of how my Mum also broke her ankle around the same time in her life, and finally I was empathetic about how she felt unsupported by her family at that time, and now I finally get how she needed our help more. That new empathy was healing in itself and I told my Mum I finally understand, 25-30 years later! I hope she found some peace in that as well.
But that wasn’t the only roots I needed to examine. I thought of my parents, and grandparents, and great-grandparents. I thought of my siblings, and the traumas my family has suffered in the past. I realized I know very little about my own family history.
Realizing I needed to examine my roots more, I finally picked up a book that a friend recommended to me a while back called, “It Didn’t Start With You - How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How To End the Cycle” by Mark Wolynn. What a book! Even when starting to read it, I was thinking about my parents mostly and the traumas they had been through, and how that may have affected me and my siblings.
The book then mentioned being adopted, which I am! Up until this point, I was only thinking of my adoptive parents and family, never even considering up to this point that my biological roots have an impact on my genes, which in turn affects my patterns, habits, etc. So I looked into those roots too, which in itself was healing.
Lesson 5: Your Time To Help Will Present Itself
I felt that in my time spent in hospital in the Emergency and then again in the cast clinic that it was foreshadowing things to come. Sure enough in Feb. 2024, my Dad had to go to Emergency, and spent 4 long, torturous months in 2 different hospitals with multiple life-threatening things going on. They have now been resolved, but not so much that he can go home. My time to help after all the years of my parents helping me had come. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help out and visit, and bring treats and care, which is another healing of sorts, strengthening our family relationships in the hospitals and care home. The cycle and circle of life is happening, and it hasn’t been easy, but it has offered some healing.
It’s never too late to be a good friend and a good family member. It’s never too late to heal the past, or change and become a better version of yourself.
Lesson 6: You Slow Down and Move More Carefully and Mindfully
I’ve taken a lot of pride in my ability to be so sure-footed and agile in the mountains and in my activities. Now I have certainly slowed down, been watching my step, and been more mindful of my safety on the mountain as I get older and a little more off-balance.
It has been a welcome relief to run shorter distances, to carefully make my way down a steep slope rather running careless and carefree. I’ve not stressed so much about missing a workout during my weeks, and have welcomed slower yoga and meditation. Our bodies age and change, and there comes a time when you must slow down, be more present, be more aware, and be more careful. Just as nature has its cycles of birth, life, death, and rebirth, we move through the same cycle. Being aware of our impermanence helps us slow down and enjoy life and adventures at a slower, easier pace with more ease and presence.
Lesson 7: You Think About Your Own Mortality
As I’ve watched my parents age, I have thought about death more, including my own. I’ve witnessed the enduring power of attorney role, and what’s involved, and I’ve bought my own will kit that I’ve been working through. It’s not a nice or easy thing to think about, but you may as well while you are dealing with the realities of losing your parents and loved ones. It will help them out in the end if you offer a plan for yourself and express your wishes.
Such a great time to be pondering this as the Autumn comes to an end and we go into the darkness of November. A place to let go, evaluate and reevaluate where you’re at and where you’re going, and a time to be still and listen to the guidance of your soul and where it wants to take you in the coming year.
It’s been a long time since I wrote a blog post, as I’ve been challenged in many ways with these 2 major life events. I’m happy to have finally returned to this space, if even for a moment, with an offering of my lessons. I hope they will help you through something difficult you may be dealing with. Lessons are typically universal, so I hope you’ve found at least a few nuggets of goodness and wisdom here.
Once again, thank goodness for even the briefest of moments that I get to spend in beautiful nature, taking in the colours of the season, being mindful and present, and recharging my batteries as I deal with the natural cycles of life. Nature is always the best healer!
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Summer Solstice is once again approaching, and usually it’s a time of year that I love to celebrate in the sunshine. This year is different though, as I’m nursing an injury that has me sidelined for the entire summer, before summer is even officially here! This photo of a moody sky is basically how I feel going into the Solstice. Usually I am bursting with energy and aliveness at the thought of kayaking, hiking, and other fun adventures. How do you cope when summer is here, and you can’t participate in it? How do you cope when your days, life, mind, body, or spirit don’t feel so sunny?
\nUnexpected accidents like this can really put a damper on your mood. You may even fall into a depressive state, and it could be for any number of reasons. If you are house-bound and unable to participate fully in life, the Summer Solstice may not seem like a time of celebration for you. There are ways to find the joy and beauty in even the smallest, simplest things though! Have faith and hope, because I’m going to show you how to find joy when you may be feeling grief – whatever kind of grief you may be experiencing.
\nWhat To Expect on the Summer Solstice
\nMany mark June 21st as the official start of Summer. It’s the longest day and shortest night, and while many people are excited about the possibilities that the warmer months hold, the days also get shorter from this point onwards.
\nFor this reason, it’s important to practice present-moment awareness on the Summer Solstice and rest as much as possible before we go crazy with our Summer fun! In my case, and perhaps yours if you’re stuck too, I will rest in healing, and learn the lessons that come from it. What better place to do this than out in nature, where Mother Nature is calling us to receive her healing benefits in this peak moment of light.
\nSummer Solstice Presence in Nature
\nHow to be present in nature you ask? I am house-bound for while, but I can at least go out on the patio and enjoy the lovely birds singing me their healing song. If you have a yard, or even just a patch of grass to go sit outside, then please do so on the Summer Solstice! Not only will you get a healing breath of fresh air, but you will notice things by sitting and opening your senses to what’s around you.
\nThings You Can Sense in Nature
\nMaybe you see different shapes in the clouds in the sky, or a Peregrine Falcon swooping overhead. It could be that you live in a bird jungle like I do, and you notice different bird calls, and figure out what kind of birds are singing to you. You feel the breeze on your skin, the scent of Cherry trees or Lilacs, or touch the bark on a tree outside your home. It is here that you don’t have to do anything, just BE…And speaking of bees, they are fun to watch too! Remember to send your blessings to the bees if you see any on the Summer Solstice as they flit around your garden or potted flowers!
\nWhen we are in tune with our senses, we are being fully present. We often lose that presence when we’re caught up in the hustle and bustle of the working world, or even while socializing with others, or parenting. When you really look at a flower blooming, the wonders of life are revealed to you. In these simple moments, we experience the little joys that really are big joys if we are grateful for these gifts. Even noticing the spiders, the bugs, or the length of the blades of Summer grass can bring pleasure to your senses on Summer Solstice day!
\nMaking a Commitment To Be Present
\nI started exercising regularly back in my 30’s, and I found that without consistent effort, a good level of fitness was never going to happen. As with anything, it takes practice, and doing things over and over until they become habitual. Then you really feel like fitness is your way of life and you make it a part of your daily routine.
\nThe same goes for being present. You can’t just practice presence once or twice, you have to make a commitment to making time for it on a regular basis. What better time to start than at the Summer Solstice!
\nNaturally this means doing something you love, not something you hate. Imagine doing something over and over that you hate? That will only result in you giving up and saying you just can’t do it. Try modifying your present-moment awareness by doing/being something that brings you joy, and then it will be easy to incorporate it into your life.
\nYou can start slowly and build up, just like exercise. Take a five minute morning break to step outside and walk barefoot on the grass or gaze up at the sky. Then slowly build up to 10 or 20 minutes per day, maybe admiring the shapes and colours of the flowers. This will surely put your mind-body-spirit at ease, and you will start to feel more joy instead of suffering from your injury or inability to go anywhere. Ask yourself what brings you joy, and then follow through with finding more moments like that, particularly at the powerful time of Summer Solstice.
\nRemembering To Embrace Your Inner Child
\nPart of being able to handle a more gloomy Summer Solstice is being able to know and embrace your inner child. By that I mean, find some playfulness in your days!
\nWhen was the last time you painted a picture like you once did as a child? Have you danced in your living room lately to some music that brings you alive? I’m not going to dance around on my crutches personally, but earlier this year, I went to some amazing ecstatic dances that introduced me to some great new tunes! I did dance around the living room for days! It brings me great joy, and loosens up the tension!
\nIt’s also a relief to find things or people that make you laugh! Nothing like a good belly laugh, or even just an LOL!
\nFeeling like a little kid again can bring you that burst of energy that has always been inside you but has perhaps been repressed a bit. Letting loose a little every once in a while can bring you that spark you need to enjoy Summer Solstice even when you’re stuck or feeling gloomy.
\nTry these Mindfulness Activities For the Solstice To Enliven Your Spirit
\nLearn the Lessons That Arise From Discomfort
\nIt’s hard sometimes to embrace the lessons that arise from pain, brokenness, and discomfort, but when we look for the deeper meaning behind the events that take place in our lives, we may find nuggets of goodness and healing.
\nI have a broken ankle, so most people jump to the conclusion that I need to slow down. While that may be true to a certain extent, I don’t exercise 24/7 and spend quite a bit of time resting in quiet yoga and meditation in the many hours that I am not moving. I know what my body is capable of, and it may seem a lot to others, but it’s hardly anything to an elite athlete.
\nI feel my lesson is in being in a position that I need to ask for help and graciously receive it so that I can better step up and be helpful to those in my life who need and are going to need my care. I have always been independent, and don’t like being in this position of needing assistance. But now that I know what it feels like, I can heal that part of me, and step up when it’s my turn to serve others.
\nOf course there may be other, more obvious lessons, like “Don’t look at the phone when you’re walking”. It’s a good lesson, especially as I get older and more off balance. But the deeper meaning to be of service is what’s coming up for me, and I need to pay close attention to that.
\nWhatever your case may be, remember to look for the deeper “why” in “Why did this happen to me?” You will find great healing in the answers.
\nLight a Candle For Summer Solstice Evening
\nThe Summer Solstice is all about light, so why not light a candle in the evening in honour of the occasion? The flame represents the sun, and our own inner fire. Place your hand over the flame and feel its warmth. The heat from the flame is the same heat that provides us with our life force energy. Let it remind you of your own power and creative energy. You have so much to be grateful for, so embrace this new season that is upon us, and find ways to be joyful even in the darkness. You can do it with a simple thing like lighting a candle in the dark.
\nThese are just a few ways you can begin to climb out of the depths of your despair. When all seems hopeless, remember there are so many things to be grateful for and so much beauty in the world. When you stop to be present and appreciate the small, beautiful things, you allow yourself the freedom to come up from the mud and blossom into the beautiful flower that you are.
\nLee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report.
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Oh my goodness, sometimes life just throws a wrench into everything, right!? It seems like every which way you turn, there’s some sort of road block or hurdle to jump over. That’s how I feel with technology, and my behind-the-scenes website issues! It also applies to many other life changes. How do we overcome obstacles in a healthy way without losing our minds, throwing our hands in the air, and saying to heck with it!
It’s a given that everything in life and technology is going to change at some point, and we have to learn to roll with the changes. But sometimes don’t you feel like management just wants to change things up only to show the higher powers-that-be that they are improving processes and being more efficient? Don’t you find, too, that really they’re only making things more difficult? My philosophy is often, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” That’s not a popular quote for managers trying to make things easier for all. So we just have to learn that overcoming obstacles and jumping hurdles can be done instead of crashing into them! Here are a few ways to do that…
Overcoming Obstacles By Taking Space
Okay, it’s not always easy to overcome obstacles gracefully. I tend to get so frustrated that I might even snap or snarl at other people. I get tired, and feel like I need a break, and that’s exactly it. I do need a break! Taking breaks and breathers are so very important to your wellbeing. If something is frustrating, like figuring out how to set up this cool new feature that is supposed to save me time and energy but is only creating a big headache, I need to step away from it for a while! Overcoming obstacles can’t be done when you’re in a snit!
Meditate To Create That Space
Meditation is a good, healthy way to clear the mind-space, re-energize yourself and allow your mind to rest from its overthinking and over-analyzing. How do you make this thing work that isn’t working? Head outside for some fresh air, and sit peacefully in nature’s care! The best creative energy comes from creating space in your mind-body-spirit. If you’re tired and getting angry, the solution is not going to come to you.
Overcoming obstacles is done by creating space, and you will feel so much better, being able to come back refreshed and recharged! I had a great break today at an outdoor yoga class in the warm sunshine. The slower pace and stretches felt so good for the soul!
However, after the class, I was only able to continue working on this problem for a short while before feeling frustrated again. So obviously I haven’t taken enough space! It’s important to pay attention to what you need, and what your body is asking for. The more frustrated you are, the more space you need!
Overcoming Obstacles By Letting It All Out
By “letting it all out” I am talking about your frustration, your anger, and your feelings of defeat. When you’re feeling like you’ve hit a major roadblock, just acknowledge how you feel instead of trying to suppress it. When you suppress your feelings, they build and build inside of you until one day you just explode. This can be very harmful to others and to yourself. If you need to cry, let the tears fall! If this problem you can’t fix makes you want to quit, just notice how you feel about overcoming obstacles, and allow yourself to feel what you feel.
Ways To Let It All Out
Perhaps you share your feelings with a good friend, write them down, or even dance around the living room in the way that your feelings call you to move. Just let the feelings move through you. As the saying goes, “the way out is through”…So make sure you let it all out in a way that works for you. Nature is always my go-to for overcoming obstacles!
Ask For Some Assistance
I admit these technical problems I’ve been having this past year are really starting to wear on me. Sometimes all it takes to relieve the pressure of having to overcome obstacles is to simply ask the support people that are there for you to help. They are usually quite friendly and supportive, and will go out of their way to help you fix what needs fixing. Sometimes they can help you see things in a new light, or will give you one little hint that was the piece of information you needed. A little help can go a long way! It’s good to remember you’re never alone in your struggles. Help is just an email, text, or phone call away.
Overcoming Obstacles With Positivity and Words of Affirmation
I know when you’re feeling so stuck in rut, it’s hard to be positive and hard to think of overcoming obstacles. But speaking words of affirmation to yourself really has a positive effect on your ability to problem-solve. Words of affirmation are brief, positive expressions you can tell yourself that will empower you to be better, do better, and find the solutions you need to effectively jump all the hurdles. An example is something like, “I can do this”, “I believe in myself”, “I will find the solution”.
If you are looking for some great positive affirmations, and also a way to be mindful and zone out in a beautiful space, I invite you to try my Mindful Nature Affirmations Colouring Pages! Studies have shown that mindful colouring is very beneficial to your mental health, and you don’t even need to be a kid to reap the benefits!
Overcoming Obstacles By Being of Service
I know you’re probably thinking that you have enough to worry about trying to figure out your own problems, and how can you possibly be of service to others? Well first of all, keeping that positive mindset is important, as well as the clear mind I was talking about. When you can do that, and open your heart to the idea of helping someone else who is in need, you end up feeling even better about yourself! The solutions to your problems will come to you in a creative, inspirational burst, and overcoming obstacles will be way easier!
Check out the different ways you can Be of Service To Others and Fulfill Your Life Purpose. Being of service doesn’t have to be difficult, or even time-consuming! A simple smile, a healing touch or word can make a huge difference in someone’s day or even life! Kindness is never forgotten!
Believe me, I know it’s aggravating when you can’t figure out how to overcome obstacles, but with a little patience, kindness, and tolerance, and some good mindful space, you will get through it! We shall overcome!
Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report.
![\"\"](\"https://mindfulnaturenut.com/media/posts/4/IMG_9541.JPG\")
Have you ever tried ecstatic dance as a way to heal your soul in nature? It doesn’t have to be out in nature of course, it’s just a great place to feel free, let loose, shake your body, and feel exuberant! I’ve been doing a little dancing myself lately, indoors during the colder season. Believe me, I’ve found it very happiness-inducing!
Dancing outdoors in nature can be an amazing experience too! Just look at this space at Mt. Hoffman in the Sheep River, Alberta! What a perfect ledge to heal your soul by dancing to the sound of music in your head! Yes, please leave the boom box at home so you don’t disturb everyone else’s peace! The bears don’t respond to radios and boom boxes anyways! They understand to move away only when you clap or yell out with your own loud voice! Practising in a city park is a more appropriate place for either live music, radio, or recorded music, providing dance tunes that you can groove to in a natural setting.
What Is Ecstatic Dance?
Ecstatic dance is a way of freely moving your body to the beat of your own drum! You don’t need a drum, you just have to move however your body wishes to move! Dance like no one is watching, and often in ecstatic dance, no one IS watching! Most people have their eyes closed so they can feel the music, and allow their bodies to move in whatever way feels natural! You don’t even need a dance partner because this practice is about you and your body, not about the others around you!
With ease and flow, you move to the groove of your body, the earth, the winds, or whatever music is provided, often by a drummer or DJ. There are no right or wrong moves, which makes it perfect for ages and abilities. In fact, if your body is telling you to stand still and sway to the music, do that! If you want to get on the floor and do a little break dance, or curl up in a tiny ball, do that! Do what your body is asking, even if all that means is laying on the floor, absorbing the sound of the music!
Why Get Into Ecstatic Dance?
Life can be overly serious and stressful at times, and the news these days is quite depressing! We are over-worked, under-valued, and we need to let loose like a little kid in a candy store every once in a while! When was the last time you felt really joyful and free? Gave out a little scream? Are you trapped in a cycle of negative thinking? Then maybe ecstatic dance is for you! Who doesn’t want to feel lighter and more joyful?
Ecstatic dance can send you into a trance-like state that can be quite beautiful and elating. There are no rules, and you can’t do it wrong. This is a form of moving meditation, and when done outdoors, you can really get into a blissful state!
Click Here To Arouse Your Childhood Innocence and Be More Playful
What Does Ecstatic Dance Heal?
Studies have shown that ecstatic dance can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. It allows old wounds and traumas to be released in a healthy manner. You may shed tears, scream out loud, and let out those pent up emotions without warning! There are no drugs or alcohol involved, only yoga mats, water, and good vibes – Maybe cacao if you’re lucky!
If you’re someone who has trouble with communication, moving your body in community with others needing the same form of expression can be very healing. You may find that afterwards, you can express yourself both in body and in voice. It may even empower you to speak your truth!
Benefits of Ecstatic Dance
Dance is a great way to make new connections with others, even if it’s just sharing a dance space and moving together. You may also enjoy a sharing circle where you state one word you feel, or maybe just a dance gesture that represents how you feel. You don’t need to say anything, you can just express gratitude for the facilitator and those you have shared the space with.
As well as making new connections with like-minded souls, ecstatic dance can take you to an altered state of meditation. You may realize that you are finally able to release your past, and dance forward into a new present moment. I have found it extra special whenever dance is accompanied by drumming. It really enhances the experience of being in trance-like state through the rhythmic heart-beat of the drum.
With dancing, you can release so much negativity, anxiety, and stress just by allowing the blood to flow and circulate as you move in whatever way your body is asking for. Again, that might even mean standing still or laying down to absorb the sounds.
Don’t forget that dancing releases endorphins, those yummy feel-good hormones! Who doesn’t need more of that? Not to mention, you’ll get a great physical workout!
When you get into this wonderful state while dancing, you are an open vessel, ready to receive more light, intuitive wisdom, and creativity, and give back to others with compassion, love, kindness, and generosity.
How To Dance Ecstatically
As mentioned, there are no rules to this type of dance. You simply breathe, and go with the flow. Follow the rhythm of the drum beats, and sounds you hear. Be playful as you do this. For example, if you are on a mountain like the one in the photo, you might twirl around and sing, “The hills are alive with the sound of music!” I do this often, as it just feels so right on a big open ledge like this one, twirling around in happiness at being healthy and alive in beautiful nature!
Remember, this is not a choreographed dance. All you need is to be present in your body. This can mean jumping up and down, shaking, busting a move in the centre of a circle, twirling, screaming, moaning, rolling on the floor, laughing, or crying! This is your opportunity to get out of your regular routine and shake things up a bit! Sometimes that’s all you need to make a necessary change, an important decision, or to start a new creative endeavour.
Allowing Ecstatic Dance To Lead You Home
As you can see, this is really fun! Having fun is vital to our happiness! Dance is a healing power, releasing what no longer serves us, allowing ourselves to let go of something or someone we need to move away from. It’s a moving meditation that can lead you back home to who you really are deep in your heart.
When you dance or practice yoga, meditation, and sound healing out in nature, did you know that the sound frequency of nature and the universe is 432 hertz? That makes being out in nature extra healing! If you can’t be outside though, you may want to try these Healing Frequency Audios that will help raise your vibration to a higher frequency! Let go of that negativity and be the ray of light you are meant to be through sound and dance!
Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report.
![\"\"](\"https://mindfulnaturenut.com/media/posts/5/IMG_6613.jpg\")
Do you ever have those days or weeks where it seems like there’s a Full Moon, or a planet in Retrograde, and you just feel so irritated by everyone and everything in your path? Well, it was one of those weeks for me. I don’t know how many times I asked myself, “Why am I irritable?” It’s a great question to explore so that you can get to the root of what’s underneath that hint of irritation, frustration, or anger. It’s not a place we want to stay in for very long if we can help it!
Exploring the Question, “Why am I so Irritable?”
How Well and How Much Sleep Am I Getting?
There are many different reasons we might be having an off week. The first thing I look at is how much sleep I’ve been getting. I’ve often mentioned how my stompy neighbours upstairs have wrecked havoc on my mood and sleep patterns. While I’ve found an okay solution that allows me to mostly get a decent sleep, I still find myself struggling with the night owls above. This makes me irritable and grouchy, and then it kind of rubs off on those around me too. Poor sleep, or inadequate sleep, can really disrupt one’s mood or day. So if you’re not getting enough, pay attention to why that might be, and look for solutions to resolve it.
Better Sleep Tips
Yoga and Meditation
One thing that has helped me sleep is a regular practice of yoga and meditation. This doesn’t have to take a lot of time. It can mean putting your feet up the wall before bed for a few minutes. Also, shutting down your technology early, closing your eyes, and taking some deep breaths in, and longer breaths out, can help prepare you for sleep. It doesn’t have to be a long, difficult, or elaborate process!
Diet and Exercise
You may want to look at your diet – What and when are you eating and drinking liquids during your day or evening? The later you eat and drink, the harder it is to sleep. How much caffeine have you had, and what is the state of your health and fitness? Reducing your caffeine intake by early afternoon should help you have a better sleep. Regular exercise also helps!
Blackout Curtains
I have also found some great black-out curtains so the lights from the street don’t shine in, and often wear sound cancelling headphones if the night owls are keeping me up and irritated! Investing in some of these curtains can really tell your system that it’s night-time and will allow you to sleep better and longer.
Time of Eating and Pre-Bedtime Routines
There are many ways you can improve your sleep, including eating earlier in the evening so you’re not trying to digest something at bedtime. Also, a practice of Yoga Nidra before bed can be helpful too. I’ve been taking a wonderful class on that. Laying on the floor under a blanket and listening to the instructor’s chimes, chants, and voice as we go through visualizations and the sensations in our body can do wonders for our sleep.
Do I Feel Lonely and Isolated?
Sometimes when we ask ourselves, “Why am I irritable?”, we discover that it’s because deep down, we are lonely and isolated. It may be time to reconnect to your friends, family, and community if you haven’t gone out much for a while. The pandemic had many of us isolated and alone. Also, as we age, we tend to lose friendships and connections we once had. If there’s someone who lights you up who you haven’t reached out to for a while, maybe think of giving them a call, sending a message, or getting together for a walk or coffee.
Another great way to connect with others is by joining a Meetup group of people who love doing what you love to do. I’ve participated in many of these events myself and met some wonderful acquaintances as well as new friends. Connecting with like-minded people can really reduce feelings of isolation.
Is There Too Much Stress in My Life?
Naturally, when we’re stressed out, we can feel extra irritable and snap at family, colleagues, or friends. When the demands on us are too much, we can’t take anymore stimulation, increased workload, or extra noise. Again, adequate rest and sleep, as well as regular exercise, a healthy diet, good connections, and yoga and meditation can help.
Oh, but I haven’t mentioned nature therapy yet as a number one way to reduce stress! Just look at my photo of skiing in Kananaskis! What I like about this is the pristine, open area of beautiful snow, and also the peaceful mountain scenery. Nature will provide a very sacred place to absorb the healing energies of Mother Earth! Immerse yourselves in the Evergreens, and clear your mind, making it like a vast open sky or blanket of snow. There’s no better way to reduce stress!
Could There Be a Medical Reason Why You’re Feeling Irritable?
Sometimes it’s more than just the daily annoyances and build up of tiredness that can cause our irritability. There may be an underlying health issue that we’re unaware of. Make sure you consult with your primary health care practitioner if you have any concerns.
Some underlying health issues might be Seasonal Affective Disorder, pain or disease, depression, side-effects of medications, PMS, peri-menopause, or menopause, etc. Oh, and don’t forget aging can make us grouchy too. When we can’t do the things we once could, it can really put a dent in our quality of life. Look for ways to deal with all of life’s changes, expected, or unexpected. Meditation, yoga, and reading uplifting spiritual words really helps me.
Click Here To Develop Patience, Kindness, and Tolerance
After You Figure Out the Answer To “Why Am I Irritable?”…
What next? Knowing why you’re irritable is a good step to finding a solution to ease those feelings.
Practice Gratitude
My first recommendation is always to look for the good, and practice gratitude…
When you wake up in the morning, don’t groan that you have to get up for another work day. Give yourself a few minutes to wake up and think of a few things you’re grateful for. A good place to start is being grateful that you woke up! Each day is a precious gift you don’t want to waste!
“I’m grateful that the sun is shining”…”I’m grateful that I have my evenings and weekends free to do whatever I want”…”I’m grateful for my fur friend who gives me unconditional love and licks!”…”I’m grateful for Spring flowers that are soon to blossom”…There are so many things to be grateful for, and the more we focus on that, the less power these irritated feelings will have over us.
Set Your Intentions and Remember Positive Affirmations
My favourite class that I took this winter to keep me in a healthy mindset was a class on “Sankalpa” – the Sanskrit word for “Intentions”. For one week, we would set an intention for our week, and keep it in mind whenever our thoughts, feelings, or emotions turned irritable, frustrated, or negative.
The Sankalpa is always in the present-tense and always positive. Maybe you set an intention such as, “I invite love in”…See this Sankalpa written across your mind whenever you feel irritable. Then see and feel it in each part of your being…I found this really shifted my mental state from irritable to something more positive.
Don’t Be an Over-Achiever or Try to be Everything to Everyone
It’s natural to want to do things to the best of our ability, but sometimes we go overboard with that and it only causes more irritability. If we try to reach for goals that are manageable, we have a better chance of staying within our own boundaries and limits. If we reach for too much, we may get burnt out in our efforts to be and do everything. Taking baby steps to our goals is definitely the way to go!
Vibe Higher Through Self-Care
Think about what lights you up and brings you joy and feelings of bliss. This is what you need to do more of! Raising our vibrations through self-care means taking adequate rest when you recognize that your body is tired. Honour the messages from your body. The body will give you signals that you are exhausted and need to slow down a little.
Ways to self-care include things like taking yourself out for a walk in nature to absorb its healing benefits. Maybe you allow yourself an ice-cream treat, take a bubble bath, go on a road-trip, or buy yourself some flowers to brighten your space! This can also mean connecting with good friends, going out for live music, or dancing! Whatever brings you joy, do that!
When we vibe higher, everyone around us feels that, and irritable feelings fall away…
Practice Altruism
Some of us feel the best when we set our own needs aside and focus more on the welfare of others, or causes that are important to us. Maybe you want to adopt or foster a pet or child who needs a good home. It could be that you live by the ocean and want to protect its waters and marine-life from toxic algae blooms. Perhaps all it would take to reduce your irritability is simply helping a parent, or being kind to a stranger.
Remember that doing something for others is not for the purpose of making ourselves feel better or inflating our own egos. Rather, in the process of caring about the welfare of another, it reduces our own self-focus – often the cause of our suffering.
Staying Calm & Collected
Why am I irritable? Remember to ask yourself this whenever you notice it because the answers are the key to your letting go of these negative thoughts and feelings. It’s so important to do your best to stay calm and collected. For example, try being patient when the driver in front of you is driving too slowly.
I was on my way to work this week and tend to speed up quite a bit in order to get to work on time. But I saw a colleague driving the speed limit in the slow lane. I zoomed past them in the fast lane a few lanes over, but then noticed that we both arrived to work at the same time! So my irritability over the slow traffic really did me no good in the end! Practice being calm and collected in these and other trying situations, and you will be on your way to a more mindful, healthy life!
Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report.Do you ever have those days or weeks where it seems like there’s a Full Moon, or a planet in Retrograde, and you just feel so irritated by everyone and everything in your path? Well, it was one of those weeks for me. I don’t know how many times I asked myself, “Why am I irritable?” It’s a great question to explore so that you can get to the root of what’s underneath that hint of irritation, frustration, or anger. It’s not a place we want to stay in for very long if we can help it!
Exploring the Question, “Why am I so Irritable?”
\nHow Well and How Much Sleep Am I Getting?
\nThere are many different reasons we might be having an off week. The first thing I look at is how much sleep I’ve been getting. I’ve often mentioned how my stompy neighbours upstairs have wrecked havoc on my mood and sleep patterns. While I’ve found an okay solution that allows me to mostly get a decent sleep, I still find myself struggling with the night owls above. This makes me irritable and grouchy, and then it kind of rubs off on those around me too. Poor sleep, or inadequate sleep, can really disrupt one’s mood or day. So if you’re not getting enough, pay attention to why that might be, and look for solutions to resolve it.
\nBetter Sleep Tips
\nYoga and Meditation
\nOne thing that has helped me sleep is a regular practice of yoga and meditation. This doesn’t have to take a lot of time. It can mean putting your feet up the wall before bed for a few minutes. Also, shutting down your technology early, closing your eyes, and taking some deep breaths in, and longer breaths out, can help prepare you for sleep. It doesn’t have to be a long, difficult, or elaborate process!
\nDiet and Exercise
\nYou may want to look at your diet – What and when are you eating and drinking liquids during your day or evening? The later you eat and drink, the harder it is to sleep. How much caffeine have you had, and what is the state of your health and fitness? Reducing your caffeine intake by early afternoon should help you have a better sleep. Regular exercise also helps!
\nBlackout Curtains
\nI have also found some great black-out curtains so the lights from the street don’t shine in, and often wear sound cancelling headphones if the night owls are keeping me up and irritated! Investing in some of these curtains can really tell your system that it’s night-time and will allow you to sleep better and longer.
\nTime of Eating and Pre-Bedtime Routines
\nThere are many ways you can improve your sleep, including eating earlier in the evening so you’re not trying to digest something at bedtime. Also, a practice of Yoga Nidra before bed can be helpful too. I’ve been taking a wonderful class on that. Laying on the floor under a blanket and listening to the instructor’s chimes, chants, and voice as we go through visualizations and the sensations in our body can do wonders for our sleep.
\nDo I Feel Lonely and Isolated?
\nSometimes when we ask ourselves, “Why am I irritable?”, we discover that it’s because deep down, we are lonely and isolated. It may be time to reconnect to your friends, family, and community if you haven’t gone out much for a while. The pandemic had many of us isolated and alone. Also, as we age, we tend to lose friendships and connections we once had. If there’s someone who lights you up who you haven’t reached out to for a while, maybe think of giving them a call, sending a message, or getting together for a walk or coffee.
\nAnother great way to connect with others is by joining a Meetup group of people who love doing what you love to do. I’ve participated in many of these events myself and met some wonderful acquaintances as well as new friends. Connecting with like-minded people can really reduce feelings of isolation.
\nIs There Too Much Stress in My Life?
\nNaturally, when we’re stressed out, we can feel extra irritable and snap at family, colleagues, or friends. When the demands on us are too much, we can’t take anymore stimulation, increased workload, or extra noise. Again, adequate rest and sleep, as well as regular exercise, a healthy diet, good connections, and yoga and meditation can help.
\nOh, but I haven’t mentioned nature therapy yet as a number one way to reduce stress! Just look at my photo of skiing in Kananaskis! What I like about this is the pristine, open area of beautiful snow, and also the peaceful mountain scenery. Nature will provide a very sacred place to absorb the healing energies of Mother Earth! Immerse yourselves in the Evergreens, and clear your mind, making it like a vast open sky or blanket of snow. There’s no better way to reduce stress!
\nCould There Be a Medical Reason Why You’re Feeling Irritable?
\nSometimes it’s more than just the daily annoyances and build up of tiredness that can cause our irritability. There may be an underlying health issue that we’re unaware of. Make sure you consult with your primary health care practitioner if you have any concerns.
\nSome underlying health issues might be Seasonal Affective Disorder, pain or disease, depression, side-effects of medications, PMS, peri-menopause, or menopause, etc. Oh, and don’t forget aging can make us grouchy too. When we can’t do the things we once could, it can really put a dent in our quality of life. Look for ways to deal with all of life’s changes, expected, or unexpected. Meditation, yoga, and reading uplifting spiritual words really helps me.
\nClick Here To Develop Patience, Kindness, and Tolerance
\nAfter You Figure Out the Answer To “Why Am I Irritable?”…
\nWhat next? Knowing why you’re irritable is a good step to finding a solution to ease those feelings.
\nPractice Gratitude
\nMy first recommendation is always to look for the good, and practice gratitude…
\nWhen you wake up in the morning, don’t groan that you have to get up for another work day. Give yourself a few minutes to wake up and think of a few things you’re grateful for. A good place to start is being grateful that you woke up! Each day is a precious gift you don’t want to waste!
\n“I’m grateful that the sun is shining”…”I’m grateful that I have my evenings and weekends free to do whatever I want”…”I’m grateful for my fur friend who gives me unconditional love and licks!”…”I’m grateful for Spring flowers that are soon to blossom”…There are so many things to be grateful for, and the more we focus on that, the less power these irritated feelings will have over us.
\nSet Your Intentions and Remember Positive Affirmations
\nMy favourite class that I took this winter to keep me in a healthy mindset was a class on “Sankalpa” – the Sanskrit word for “Intentions”. For one week, we would set an intention for our week, and keep it in mind whenever our thoughts, feelings, or emotions turned irritable, frustrated, or negative.
\nThe Sankalpa is always in the present-tense and always positive. Maybe you set an intention such as, “I invite love in”…See this Sankalpa written across your mind whenever you feel irritable. Then see and feel it in each part of your being…I found this really shifted my mental state from irritable to something more positive.
\nDon’t Be an Over-Achiever or Try to be Everything to Everyone
\nIt’s natural to want to do things to the best of our ability, but sometimes we go overboard with that and it only causes more irritability. If we try to reach for goals that are manageable, we have a better chance of staying within our own boundaries and limits. If we reach for too much, we may get burnt out in our efforts to be and do everything. Taking baby steps to our goals is definitely the way to go!
\nVibe Higher Through Self-Care
\nThink about what lights you up and brings you joy and feelings of bliss. This is what you need to do more of! Raising our vibrations through self-care means taking adequate rest when you recognize that your body is tired. Honour the messages from your body. The body will give you signals that you are exhausted and need to slow down a little.
\nWays to self-care include things like taking yourself out for a walk in nature to absorb its healing benefits. Maybe you allow yourself an ice-cream treat, take a bubble bath, go on a road-trip, or buy yourself some flowers to brighten your space! This can also mean connecting with good friends, going out for live music, or dancing! Whatever brings you joy, do that!
\nWhen we vibe higher, everyone around us feels that, and irritable feelings fall away…
\nPractice Altruism
\nSome of us feel the best when we set our own needs aside and focus more on the welfare of others, or causes that are important to us. Maybe you want to adopt or foster a pet or child who needs a good home. It could be that you live by the ocean and want to protect its waters and marine-life from toxic algae blooms. Perhaps all it would take to reduce your irritability is simply helping a parent, or being kind to a stranger.
\nRemember that doing something for others is not for the purpose of making ourselves feel better or inflating our own egos. Rather, in the process of caring about the welfare of another, it reduces our own self-focus – often the cause of our suffering.
\nStaying Calm & Collected
\nWhy am I irritable? Remember to ask yourself this whenever you notice it because the answers are the key to your letting go of these negative thoughts and feelings. It’s so important to do your best to stay calm and collected. For example, try being patient when the driver in front of you is driving too slowly.
\nI was on my way to work this week and tend to speed up quite a bit in order to get to work on time. But I saw a colleague driving the speed limit in the slow lane. I zoomed past them in the fast lane a few lanes over, but then noticed that we both arrived to work at the same time! So my irritability over the slow traffic really did me no good in the end! Practice being calm and collected in these and other trying situations, and you will be on your way to a more mindful, healthy life!
\n\n
Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report.
\nDo you ever have those days or weeks where it seems like there’s a Full Moon, or a planet in Retrograde, and you just feel so irritated by everyone and everything in your path? Well, it was one of those weeks for me. I don’t know how many times I asked myself, “Why am I irritable?” It’s a great question to explore so that you can get to the root of what’s underneath that hint of irritation, frustration, or anger. It’s not a place we want to stay in for very long if we can help it!
Exploring the Question, “Why am I so Irritable?”
How Well and How Much Sleep Am I Getting?
There are many different reasons we might be having an off week. The first thing I look at is how much sleep I’ve been getting. I’ve often mentioned how my stompy neighbours upstairs have wrecked havoc on my mood and sleep patterns. While I’ve found an okay solution that allows me to mostly get a decent sleep, I still find myself struggling with the night owls above. This makes me irritable and grouchy, and then it kind of rubs off on those around me too. Poor sleep, or inadequate sleep, can really disrupt one’s mood or day. So if you’re not getting enough, pay attention to why that might be, and look for solutions to resolve it.
Better Sleep Tips
Yoga and Meditation
One thing that has helped me sleep is a regular practice of yoga and meditation. This doesn’t have to take a lot of time. It can mean putting your feet up the wall before bed for a few minutes. Also, shutting down your technology early, closing your eyes, and taking some deep breaths in, and longer breaths out, can help prepare you for sleep. It doesn’t have to be a long, difficult, or elaborate process!
Diet and Exercise
You may want to look at your diet – What and when are you eating and drinking liquids during your day or evening? The later you eat and drink, the harder it is to sleep. How much caffeine have you had, and what is the state of your health and fitness? Reducing your caffeine intake by early afternoon should help you have a better sleep. Regular exercise also helps!
Blackout Curtains
I have also found some great black-out curtains so the lights from the street don’t shine in, and often wear sound cancelling headphones if the night owls are keeping me up and irritated! Investing in some of these curtains can really tell your system that it’s night-time and will allow you to sleep better and longer.
Time of Eating and Pre-Bedtime Routines
There are many ways you can improve your sleep, including eating earlier in the evening so you’re not trying to digest something at bedtime. Also, a practice of Yoga Nidra before bed can be helpful too. I’ve been taking a wonderful class on that. Laying on the floor under a blanket and listening to the instructor’s chimes, chants, and voice as we go through visualizations and the sensations in our body can do wonders for our sleep.
Do I Feel Lonely and Isolated?
Sometimes when we ask ourselves, “Why am I irritable?”, we discover that it’s because deep down, we are lonely and isolated. It may be time to reconnect to your friends, family, and community if you haven’t gone out much for a while. The pandemic had many of us isolated and alone. Also, as we age, we tend to lose friendships and connections we once had. If there’s someone who lights you up who you haven’t reached out to for a while, maybe think of giving them a call, sending a message, or getting together for a walk or coffee.
Another great way to connect with others is by joining a Meetup group of people who love doing what you love to do. I’ve participated in many of these events myself and met some wonderful acquaintances as well as new friends. Connecting with like-minded people can really reduce feelings of isolation.
Is There Too Much Stress in My Life?
Naturally, when we’re stressed out, we can feel extra irritable and snap at family, colleagues, or friends. When the demands on us are too much, we can’t take anymore stimulation, increased workload, or extra noise. Again, adequate rest and sleep, as well as regular exercise, a healthy diet, good connections, and yoga and meditation can help.
Oh, but I haven’t mentioned nature therapy yet as a number one way to reduce stress! Just look at my photo of skiing in Kananaskis! What I like about this is the pristine, open area of beautiful snow, and also the peaceful mountain scenery. Nature will provide a very sacred place to absorb the healing energies of Mother Earth! Immerse yourselves in the Evergreens, and clear your mind, making it like a vast open sky or blanket of snow. There’s no better way to reduce stress!
Could There Be a Medical Reason Why You’re Feeling Irritable?
Sometimes it’s more than just the daily annoyances and build up of tiredness that can cause our irritability. There may be an underlying health issue that we’re unaware of. Make sure you consult with your primary health care practitioner if you have any concerns.
Some underlying health issues might be Seasonal Affective Disorder, pain or disease, depression, side-effects of medications, PMS, peri-menopause, or menopause, etc. Oh, and don’t forget aging can make us grouchy too. When we can’t do the things we once could, it can really put a dent in our quality of life. Look for ways to deal with all of life’s changes, expected, or unexpected. Meditation, yoga, and reading uplifting spiritual words really helps me.
Click Here To Develop Patience, Kindness, and Tolerance
After You Figure Out the Answer To “Why Am I Irritable?”…
What next? Knowing why you’re irritable is a good step to finding a solution to ease those feelings.
Practice Gratitude
My first recommendation is always to look for the good, and practice gratitude…
When you wake up in the morning, don’t groan that you have to get up for another work day. Give yourself a few minutes to wake up and think of a few things you’re grateful for. A good place to start is being grateful that you woke up! Each day is a precious gift you don’t want to waste!
“I’m grateful that the sun is shining”…”I’m grateful that I have my evenings and weekends free to do whatever I want”…”I’m grateful for my fur friend who gives me unconditional love and licks!”…”I’m grateful for Spring flowers that are soon to blossom”…There are so many things to be grateful for, and the more we focus on that, the less power these irritated feelings will have over us.
Set Your Intentions and Remember Positive Affirmations
My favourite class that I took this winter to keep me in a healthy mindset was a class on “Sankalpa” – the Sanskrit word for “Intentions”. For one week, we would set an intention for our week, and keep it in mind whenever our thoughts, feelings, or emotions turned irritable, frustrated, or negative.
The Sankalpa is always in the present-tense and always positive. Maybe you set an intention such as, “I invite love in”…See this Sankalpa written across your mind whenever you feel irritable. Then see and feel it in each part of your being…I found this really shifted my mental state from irritable to something more positive.
Don’t Be an Over-Achiever or Try to be Everything to Everyone
It’s natural to want to do things to the best of our ability, but sometimes we go overboard with that and it only causes more irritability. If we try to reach for goals that are manageable, we have a better chance of staying within our own boundaries and limits. If we reach for too much, we may get burnt out in our efforts to be and do everything. Taking baby steps to our goals is definitely the way to go!
Vibe Higher Through Self-Care
Think about what lights you up and brings you joy and feelings of bliss. This is what you need to do more of! Raising our vibrations through self-care means taking adequate rest when you recognize that your body is tired. Honour the messages from your body. The body will give you signals that you are exhausted and need to slow down a little.
Ways to self-care include things like taking yourself out for a walk in nature to absorb its healing benefits. Maybe you allow yourself an ice-cream treat, take a bubble bath, go on a road-trip, or buy yourself some flowers to brighten your space! This can also mean connecting with good friends, going out for live music, or dancing! Whatever brings you joy, do that!
When we vibe higher, everyone around us feels that, and irritable feelings fall away…
Practice Altruism
Some of us feel the best when we set our own needs aside and focus more on the welfare of others, or causes that are important to us. Maybe you want to adopt or foster a pet or child who needs a good home. It could be that you live by the ocean and want to protect its waters and marine-life from toxic algae blooms. Perhaps all it would take to reduce your irritability is simply helping a parent, or being kind to a stranger.
Remember that doing something for others is not for the purpose of making ourselves feel better or inflating our own egos. Rather, in the process of caring about the welfare of another, it reduces our own self-focus – often the cause of our suffering.
Staying Calm & Collected
Why am I irritable? Remember to ask yourself this whenever you notice it because the answers are the key to your letting go of these negative thoughts and feelings. It’s so important to do your best to stay calm and collected. For example, try being patient when the driver in front of you is driving too slowly.
I was on my way to work this week and tend to speed up quite a bit in order to get to work on time. But I saw a colleague driving the speed limit in the slow lane. I zoomed past them in the fast lane a few lanes over, but then noticed that we both arrived to work at the same time! So my irritability over the slow traffic really did me no good in the end! Practice being calm and collected in these and other trying situations, and you will be on your way to a more mindful, healthy life!
Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report.
![\"\"](\"https://mindfulnaturenut.com/media/posts/6/IMG_6335.jpg\")
We’re approaching that time of year when the darkness, peace, and hibernation period of winter are coming to end, and Spring is on its way! Finding balance between the darkness and light can be a bit challenging for some. That’s because Spring brings melting, slush, ice, activity, creativity, and new growth.
But before this, we need to take care of ourselves over the winter, and let go of some things so there is room for that new growth. Sometimes when Spring comes, we leap out into new adventures without having taken the time to replenish our reserves during the winter months. Not everyone takes this important time to find balance, but it’s so necessary!
The Effects of Not Being Balanced
The cold and dark winter can make some depressed or grouchy. The negative mood takes over the inner exploration of mind, body, and spirit. Ideally we want to find inner peace and be able to thrive in the darkness.
I personally love the winter darkness. It provides extra downtime and reflective time rather than being busy all the time. I’ve spent an amazing winter season doing plenty of yoga, meditation, sound healing, breath work, and dance. While that sounds pretty busy, I’ve really started to feel the benefits of slowing down. in these practices! Not only has my mind become more clear, but I have taken more space away from social media. My tolerance for it has lessened, and I have been able to let go of negative thoughts that don’t serve rather than ruminating.
Finding balance so that you can thrive in both the darkness and the light can be tricky, especially if you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. I have more difficulty returning to the light simply because I enjoy the slower, quieter times of winter. The snow isn’t melted until late April. So when the extra light comes early with the time change, I’m still in hibernation mode!
It can be easier with a few of these tips. I hope they help you as they have helped me…
Click Here To Fast Track To Balancing Mood Swings
Finding Balance Through Meditation in Nature
Join a Meditation Group With a Weekly Focus
Of course, as a Mindful Nature Nut, I find great balance being out in glorious nature! One way I have been connecting more with nature lately is by joining a nature meditation group. We are asked to focus on a particular meditation each week of the year.
I’m finding balance simply by having a weekly focus. For instance, one of the practices is to just arrive where you are out in nature. Being present with the sights, sounds, smells, and the feel of the earth, air or water, wherever you happen to be. The more we can bring ourselves back to the focus for the week, the more in tune we are with the present moment. This creates so much stillness when our minds go crazy with thoughts.
Do Something Active, While Also Taking Time To Sit in Nature
As you can see in my photo, I’ve been out skiing a lot this winter too. While it is an active sport, rather than a restful hibernation, I did take some time to sit against a tree to meditate. It was away from the ski trail, allowing me to be present with the Raven and bird song. I felt a poof of snow fall on my nose, which brought a smile to my face!
The next section is on different types of yoga that we can do indoors. But one of the most healing and pleasant experiences for me is riding my bike to yoga in the park. Practising Vinyasa Flow amongst the beautiful old trees and flowers while gazing up at the sky is so amazing! You hear all the birds sing in the park, and it’s a wonderful way to stay balanced.
Finding Balance Through Yoga Practices
Bikram Yoga
In the winter months, I like to practice Bikram yoga (hot yoga) because there’s nothing sweeter than arriving on your mat in the dimly lit studio, where it’s hot like Mexico. During the practice, you work up a big sweat. It’s dripping off of you as if you’re out on a hot, sunny beach sweating buckets before you jump into the cool ocean.
In Bikram yoga, you work through a series of 26 postures and some breath work. All of these are meant to work on all the systems in your body. The respiratory system, lymphatic system, circulatory system, parasympathetic nervous system, digestive system, and so on. While focusing on the postures, you forget the daily chatter in your mind, and all your troubles are put on pause for a few moments.
Yin Yoga
I’ve also been practicing Yin yoga. This is not a hot class, but a warm class involving a good 40 minutes of learning how to breathe properly to calm your nervous system. What a reset for your mind, body, and spirit! For this practice you come into a series of postures. You move to your edge where it’s not painful but slightly uncomfortable. Then you hold for time.
While all the postures are on the floor, they are not as easy as they sound. This teaches you to be comfortable in your discomfort, a great thing to know when life gets challenging. Knowing how to breathe properly is also vital to being able to make it through life’s most difficult situations. These situations normally have your heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels elevated. Through Yin, you teach yourself to be comfortable with discomfort.
Kundalini Yoga
I’ve been practising Kundalini yoga this winter as well. It’s a series of postures, mudras (hand gestures), chanting, breath work, and movement. Usually the classes are accompanied by yogic music and chants, and end with the healing sound of the gong.
This has been one of the most powerful spiritual practices I’ve come across over the past few years. Particularly the breath work that lets out a lot of negative energy, anger, and frustration. As well, I’ve found that it gets the lymphatic fluids moving more in my upper body, which is good for healthy breasts. I’m so used to moving my lower body, so I like this practice to get things flowing in a healthy way in the upper body.
If the class is accompanied by a talk, or some spiritual words of wisdom, I get even greater benefit from it. Nothing like uplifting spiritual words to carry you through your practice and week ahead!
Yoga Nidra
Finally, I’m currently doing a series on Yoga Nidra, which means “sleep”. This is a relaxing practice of laying down on the floor with your head under a pillow and nestled under a cozy, warm blanket. The instructor takes you through a series of visualizations, opposites, and feeling sensations. As well, you will focus on moving light in and through the body. All of this is done as an active meditation, rather than falling asleep.
The benefits of Yoga Nidra are many. It helps with motivation, sleep, self-confidence and compassion. You may feel reduced pain, depression, or anxiety. It allows you to better deal with stress. Whenever you can come back to a visualization that calms you, perhaps walking through a forest, the easier it is to calm your nervous system when you’re faced with a challenging situation.
Finding Balance Through Knowing Your Sankalpa
Another practice I’ve undertaken this winter is a series of Sankalpa meditations, involving light stretching and movement, followed by 18 minutes of silent meditation. “Sankalpa” is the Sanskrit word for “intention”. Again, each week we focus on an intention that comes up for us before, during, or after the practice.
I found it very beneficial to feel into my Sankalpa of the week, and let it guide me through the rest of my week. Whenever a negative thought came up, I’d remember my positive Sankalpa. For instance, “I stand in my own integrity and truth when making decisions.” Setting positive intentions for ourselves really helps in finding balance within!
Finding Balance Through Sound Healing and Breath Work
Another great healing experience for me this winter has been doing breath work combined with sound healing. This was in the form of light yoga music, drumming, crystal bowl sound healings, and the language of light. The breath work session was my first time trying a full hour of intense breathing, and it was intense!
Many of the participants ended up in tears because so much comes up for you when you breathe heavily and constantly for an hour! Your fingers and toes start to get tingly and numb, and you have to shake it out. Sometimes you have to consolidate the energy back into your heart simply by placing your hands over your heart or in prayer.
This was done on the Solstice, and it’s also a great time to let go with breathing on the upcoming Spring Equinox this Monday. When it’s accompanied by wise words from an elder, and the healing frequencies of the crystal bowls being played, it can be a wonderful journey into the soul.
Balancing Through Dance
Sometimes we don’t take enough time to shake our bodies loose of tension through playful dance. You don’t have to join a dance club to do it – You can play some good tunes in your living room and shake it out! I have tried a couple of dance events in town that I’ve really enjoyed this year.
There was a Solstice Tantric dance where we were blindfolded while dancing freely – a practice that allows you to focus within rather than on the others around you.
I also went to a dance where we just moved in whatever way felt right for us for 1.5 hours. These dances often open and close with a beautiful sharing circle of spiritual, high vibe sort of people! Very healing for the soul to move the body freely, dance, play, and have some fun to shake our way into Spring! No dance partner is required, as you are dancing to your own rhythm!
Find Balance Through Reading Uplifting Words
Last but not least, you can really stay balanced in the darkness and the light by reading words that uplift your spirit. The one book I’m slowly making my way through now that has helped keep me in balance on a monthly basis is Asha Frost’s book, “You are the Medicine: 13 Moons of Indigenous Wisdom, Ancestral Connection, and Animal Spirit Guidance”.
Each month, there is a moon and spirit animal with particular meaning that can balance you through the month ahead. For example, the March moon is the Sugar moon, and the spirit animal is the Deer. The Deer embodies the quality of sweetness, gentleness, and invites us to be compassionate with ourselves and others.
It has really helped me to have a phrase, Sankalpa, or uplifting words of affirmation to keep me going through the cold, dark weeks and months of winter. I highly recommend spiritual reading of some sort – or even something that makes you laugh. Laughter is great medicine too!
Closing Words on Finding Balance
As you can see, I’ve had a busy, yet mindful and spacious winter! Self-care is so essential during the darker months, and finding balance will be so much easier for you if you can practice being mindful in nature, practice yoga, meditation, breath work, dance, and sound healing regularly.
Again, the benefit for me has been greater mind clarity and spaciousness. Whenever I go somewhere on vacation, I tend to freeze my social media activity. This is so that I can immerse myself in figuring out where I’m going and how to get there, conditions, and so on. By the time I get home, the last thing I feel like doing is going back to social media.
That’s how I know these meditations have been beneficial. If I don’t feel like being on social media as often, and can let go more quickly of those pesky negative thoughts, then I know I’ve done something right! I hope these tips will help you too!
Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report.
![\"\"](\"https://mindfulnaturenut.com/media/posts/90/IMG_0626.jpg\")
Last week was scatter-brain week, and lately my poor bod has taken a bit of a beating! I was bringing some heavy work home from the office a few weeks ago. While setting it down, I bonked my noogie on the edge of the wall and gave my head a big goose-egg! At the same time, I cracked my neck, which led to a couple weeks of sore head, neck, and shoulders! Feeling a little off balance, I think it’s time to reconnect to Mother Earth for some root chakra grounding! Wasn’t I doing that already?
\nLast weekend I fell too, and nearly skied backwards off a bridge into the creek below! Then the next day, I took one step onto the ice with my skates and went down hard! I bruised my hand, and whiplashed my neck, for another week of neck pain! I realized, again, that I must really be off balance! We all need healthy balance in our lives. Our healing often starts with the root chakra.
\nWhat Is the Root Chakra?
\nThe root chakra is our first chakra – An energy centre that lives at the base of the spine around the tailbone area. From here, energy can travel up the spine to support the other chakras. It’s associated with feelings of safety, protection, balance, and feeling grounded and secure. Our doubts, fears, and anxieties may reside here.
\nIn these times, with financial and other instabilities, it’s no wonder we all may be feeling a little off balance in this area! But we want to keep this chakra in a healthy state of flow, rather than feeling stuck, since all of our energy centres rely on a healthy root chakra.
\nLike the big tree in my photo in Ucluelet, BC, it has roots that go down deep into the earth. With a healthy, grounded base of roots, it allows the tree to grow freely into the infinite vastness of space. We also need to have stable roots in order for us to grow in healthy ways. We, too, can become the boundless, deathless, infinite beings that we are.
\nHow Do We Get Stuck and Off Balance?
\nMy scattered brain the other week was an indication that I am stuck in my head, operating from the mind rather than the heart. When we’re always focused on doing, rather than being the light of our souls, we may find ourselves in a head-heavy state rather than a heart-open state.
\nIn one of the yoga courses I’ve been taking, the instructor refers to focusing on the “seemingly important” things versus the “truly important” things. The seemingly important things are what cause us stress, anxiety, or negativity. For example, the important work you think you need to get done. It is here that you see the world through a narrow lens.
\nWhereas, the truly important things are what matter in your dying days – Love, spirit, connection. You see life through a wider lens, and stressful things become less and less significant. You have a bigger picture view of the past, present, and future.
\nSo one way to get off balance is to focus on the “seemingly important” things in life…
\nHow Does a Healthy Root Chakra Flow?
\nWhen we are balanced, safe, and grounded, life feels a lot easier. We move through our days with ease, grace, and flow. We are calm, and centred in mind-body-spirit. As mentioned above, we connect to the “truly important” things in life, and allow that love and lightness of being to flow naturally through all of our chakras.
\nWays To Get Into This Ideal State:
\nThe owner of my favourite spiritual shop shared a lovely video of some shaman drums and wind chimes to balance the chakras, by Calm Whale. It’s great to tune into some soothing sounds for calming the nerves, and balancing the root chakra. Try this one out: Earth and Air – Shaman Drum Root Chakra Meditation
\nDo a visual meditation where you focus on the root chakra colour of red, and feel your feet firmly on the ground. You can stand in the yoga “Mountain Pose”, and visualize your feet and legs extending down into the earth like red, solid roots. Make sure the roots are stable, but not firmly attached. Remember that unhealthy attachments only lead to suffering.
\nGo out into nature, walk barefoot on the grass or dirt in the garden. Feel the earth on your feet and between your toes.
\nWash Away Your Mind Clutter – When we clean up our living spaces – Our bedrooms, dishes, garbage, or junk drawers, we clear space in our minds too. This helps us stay more calm and give us clarity. Less mind clutter means we can sleep better at night too, and wake up calm the next day.
\nA Few More Ways To Heal the Root Chakra
\nEat root veggies, like carrots, parsnips, or beets. Eating healthy will ultimately lead to feeling better and more grounded.
\nPractice kundalini yoga and breathing exercises to breathe into the energy at the base of your spine. Move that energy upwards through your other chakras for a healthy flow of energy throughout your system.
\nAttract abundance to your life by living in alignment with the truth of your soul. Do what you are passionate about, noticing the present moment, and practising gratitude.
\nConnect with the trees! Lately I’ve been so drawn to really tall, dark Spruce and Evergreens. Sometimes we don’t even notice this beauty, so plentiful before us. But when you really stop and feel the vibrations that the tall trees emit, you start to feel more grounded. This lack of connection we’ve had with others over the past year has made me feel much more connected to nature. These tall trees are like welcoming arms, ready to give me a giant hug (which many of us haven’t felt in a while)! In fact, it helps in your grounding to go ahead and hug a tree! Watch how your energy synchs with the tree, and you will feel grounded in no time!
\nStay Rooted But Not Stuck
\nIn my newsfeed last night, someone asked about one of my favourite books by Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist. I haven’t read the book for maybe 15 or more years. The question was, “Why does Santiago have to transform into wind or he’ll die?”
\nOnly vaguely remembering that part of the book, I was called to respond by saying, “Maybe the wind symbolizes change or transformation, and if Santiago doesn’t change/transform, he will stay the same, and die, without ever having fulfilled his soul’s true destiny”.
\nI thought about my response after, and realized the potency and truth of my statement, which seemed to come out of no where. I am pretty stuck in my ways, and it’s a reminder to be rooted and grounded, but not stuck or attached. We must be able to turn ourselves into the wind – To be flexible, flowing, and resilient. There is a healthy balance even at the root chakra, and when we ground from there, we grow into the vastness of what and who we really are.
\nHopefully this gives you an idea of the importance of the root chakra in supporting our whole energy system. From here, we strike a balance between earth and ether. This will keep us healed and healthy.
\nLee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Have you subscribed yet to receive your Free ‘Natural Mind Healing’ Report + Free Newsletter?
", "author": { "name": "Lee Spirit" }, "tags": [ ], "date_published": "2023-03-08T21:27:00-07:00", "date_modified": "2026-09-14T08:30:51-06:00" }, { "id": "https://mindfulnaturenut.com/how-to-create-a-meditation-space-in-your-mind.html", "url": "https://mindfulnaturenut.com/how-to-create-a-meditation-space-in-your-mind.html", "title": "How To Create a Meditation Space In Your Mind", "summary": "If you have stress and anxiety, or persistent negative thoughts, you’ll want to know how to create a meditation space in your mind. This past week has been about just that for me. My mantra to self has been, “I allow myself to be spacious”.", "content_html": "![\"\"](\"https://mindfulnaturenut.com/media/posts/8/IMG_6139.jpeg\")
If you have stress and anxiety, or persistent negative thoughts, you’ll want to know how to create a meditation space in your mind. This past week has been about just that for me. My mantra to self has been, “I allow myself to be spacious”. Being spacious for me means clearing the clutter in my mind. It might mean taking a social media break more often just to allow some inner space without the distraction of news and entertainment. Perhaps it means being less busy by doing less. There’s nothing like the feeling of “Ahhhh” when you take a breath of fresh air in the outdoors. Ideally, we want our minds to feel clear, spacious, and refreshed.
You can achieve this indoors or out. Many people choose to meditate indoors, which is a great idea if you want to be comfortable. Meditating outdoors is also wonderful. As you can see in my photo, my place of arrival in nature is above a frozen Barrier Lake, a beautiful, spacious lake that I can imagine is the spaciousness in my mind.
Go ahead and set yourself up for meditation, indoors or out, as it’s important to arrive wherever you are. Arriving means noticing what you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch. This is how you come into present moment awareness, which is a great way to begin.
Setting Up Your Physical Space
When you’re ready to create a meditation space, the first thing you will think of is your physical space. You may want to dim the lights, light a candle, burn some sage, palo santo, or incense. It may be comfortable for you to sit on a cushion on the floor, in a chair, or laying flat on a yoga met. Preferably somewhere where you’re not going to fall asleep during your meditation. You may have a special quiet spot inside that you save only for your meditations.
If you’re outdoors, you may bring a chair, yoga block, or mat to sit or lay on that will support you and make you comfortable. Preferably, you would find some beautiful nature to rest beside. Trees, a river, stream, flower garden, forest, and mountains. They are all calling you and inviting you to meditate in their precious engergies. Make sure you are safe from wildlife, and create a meditation space that feels just right for you.
Moving From Physical Space to Mind Space
Once you get your seat set up, indoors or outdoors, you’re ready to arrive in that space, and notice the sensations in your body, and around you. What draws your attention? What birds do you hear chirping? How does the wind feel on your face? Maybe you taste a berry on a bush, or feel the cold snow in your hands. Welcome to your meditation. You have arrived!
After arriving, it’s time to move to your mind space. There’s a lot going on up there in the grey matter of your brain, and you want to calm that down a little. Start by simply noticing your thoughts. Are they racing? Are they scattered? How is the quality of your thoughts? Are they positive, negative, anxious, worried, fearful, resentful, happy, sad? Simply noticing what’s going on in your mind will help you create a meditation space in your mind.
Once you start noticing the mind, it’s easier to take control of those thoughts. If you aren’t aware of them, how can you change them? With an Eagle’s eye view, see your brain space, and look at yourself from a different perspective. That will allow you to work on spaciousness of mind. You can also create spaciousness of heart…
Click Here To Create Space in Your Heart For More Love & Light
Create A Meditation Space of Neutrality
With this new spaciousness of mind and heart, now imagine your thoughts as clouds passing through the sky. Watch them come and go with the wind. Perhaps you imagine yourself as a body of water, like a vast ocean, or a pristine lake. The waves may come and go, but the water is always there in its own unique nature. We, too, will shift and grow with the changing of seasons and circumstances in our lives. Yet, we are still the same being, and have our own unique nature too.
I’ve created a great meditation in nature for this very idea of neutrality. Neutrality means a clear, spacious mind. It’s like a zero point, where the mind and energy centres are neither positive, nor negative. They are just neutral. Calm, relaxed, and balanced. Try it out now:
Click Here To Create A Meditation Space By Feeling Your Body and Mind As a Lake. If you enjoyed that meditation, please subscribe to the channel for my nature meditations! It’s completely free!
When your mind is like a lake, it is vast, open, spacious, and there is room to breathe. Speaking of breath, don’t forget to breathe! That’s a major thing we all do naturally. But when we deepen the breath, in and out, and even hold the breath at the top and bottom of our breaths, it helps neutralize the space in our minds. Knowing how to control your breath when you are stressed or anxious is very important, and it only happens with regular practice and breath work.
Take Time to Rest To Create a Meditation Space
Along with the breath work we can do, it’s also important to rest when our bodies say, “Rest!” I’ve been reading a great book called, “You Are the Medicine: 13 Moons of Indigenous Wisdom, Ancestral Connection, and Animal Spirit Guidance” by Asha Frost. What a beatuiful read on the different moons of the month, and which spirit animal is present during each of the months. For February, it’s the bear spirit that we need to keep in mind.
Bears hibernate in winter, reminding us that we need to listen to the signs our bodies are giving us. When you ache somewhere in the body, it’s time to rest. The bear’s message, as described in this book is, “You are worthy of rest; Listen to the messages from your body; Magic is birthed from the void; The Great Mystery moves through us, even when it appears that nothing is happening”.
These are great ideas to keep in mind as we move and rest during the month of February. It may feel like resting is lazy and that you need to be doing something, or going somewhere. However, there’s so much happening beneath the surface, in the quiet space. So allow yourself the create a meditation space in your mind like this.
I’ve discovered so far this month that when I allow myself to be spacious by disconnecting from social media a little more, and listening to the messages in the silence, I feel much lighter, less irritated, more relaxed, and refreshed. It may take a little practice to step away from your busy way of being. But it’s so worth it when you reach that sense of “Ahhhh!” – Spacious and neutral in the meditation space you’ve created for yourself.
Exercise To Create a Meditation Space in Your Mind
Another way of creating a peaceful meditation space in your mind is to exercise your body, especially in the freshness of the outdoors. It gets the blood flowing and circulating better, oxygenates your cells and brain, improves flow and creativity, and boosts your mood. It’s a perfect way to set yourself up for a spacious mind.
Not only that, but after a workout, you can take a nice shower, go for a steam or sauna, and feel invigorated on many levels. When your body fluids are flowing, your mind becomes clear, just like when you have a shower, you wash yourself clean and clear and it feels so good.
You’ll notice when you practice any of these things on a regular basis, it gets easier and easier to come into that calm, peaceful place in mind, body, and spirit. You will feel so revived all around, and when you feel better, everyone around you feels your good vibes and becomes more spacious and happy too. Now get started on creating a meditation space in your mind!
Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report.
![\"\"](\"https://mindfulnaturenut.com/media/posts/7/IMG_6298.jpeg\")
Do you think it’s selfish to take care of yourself first? You’ve probably heard countless times that we should take care of others before ourselves, and consider the needs of others before our own needs. You may be the type of person who likes to serve others, and care about their welfare ahead of your own. While caring for the welfare of others is noble, good, and altruistic, I would argue that when you take care of yourself first, you are raising your vibration into a higher frequency. The bliss you feel when you take care of yourself first then helps others to vibrate higher too.
I love this quote by Kate Reed: “Self care is giving the world the best of you instead of what’s left of you”. It’s so true that you don’t want to give and give and give until it hurts. If you give yourself what you need first, you come from a vibrant place of joy. You are full to the brim with happiness, love, and care to give. It’s a terrible feeling to feel burnt out from giving. Give yourself the gift of self-care instead.
Why Taking Care of Yourself First Is Difficult Sometimes
To take care of yourself first, you have to drop the idea that it’s a bad thing! There’s no reason to feel guilty or selfish about taking the time you need to care for yourself. Yes, you have a busy, stressful job, and a family that need your attention. Okay, you have to be on social media a lot to pay attention to what’s going on with your friends, family, and world. Just remember that losing yourself in a stressful job, putting everyone else’s needs ahead of your own, and spending too much time on your smart phone can cause burnout and misery!
Why Self-Care Is So Important
No one wants to feel physically, emotionally, and mentally drained. To try and care for others when you’re irritable, exhausted, or stressed out will only lead to you spreading negative vibes to others. You may even get angry, or lash out, and your attempts to help will backfire on you.
When we fail to take care of ourselves first, we can develop some chronic problems, such as stress, fatigue, depression, or overwhelm. Those can also lead to physical symptoms like high blood pressure, and body aches and pains. If we don’t treat out bodies well by eating and drinking healthy foods, getting adequate sleep, and exercising regularly, eventually our bodies wear down. This can lead to diseases we don’t want to deal with.
Click Here To Notice When You Most Need Self-Care
The Power of Getting Into Good Habits
Like most things, it requires a little effort to get into good habits where you start to take care of yourself first. Just like when you start a new diet, exercise, or sleep routine, practice makes perfect! Not only practice, but consistency of effort in achieving your self-care intentions. Don’t you want to feel relaxed, refreshed, rejuvenated, and well nourished?
This can look different for everyone so you have to tune into you and what suits you. What makes you feel relaxed? For me, it’s silent meditation or just quiet time to myself. Sorting through photos I’ve taken in the great outdoors brings me pleasure and relaxation. I feel refreshed and rejuvenated when I spend time in nature, exercise, take a steam, or an epsom salt bath. I drink plenty of water so I stay hydrated and my body, mind, and spirit thank me for it!
Remember that you want to feel well, productive, and purposeful! Get into your state of bliss in whatever way works for you, and then you can share that vibe with others. They will be attracted to your energy, and want to have the same vibe within themselves. Helping yourself is helping others. Just remember the importance of consistent practice in getting into good self-care habits!
Take Care of Yourself First By Tending To Your Soil
The Soil That Is You
I just finished a beautiful meditation series on “tending the soil” that is us. Imagine you are the garden soil in Spring and you’re preparing the seeds and soil so that flowers, fruits, and vegetables will bloom. The first way to do that is by taking care of your physical self. As I’ve mentioned, good sleep, good food and drinks, and plenty of water and exercise will help you blossom into a beautiful flower. Taking a hot or cold shower, and soaking in the sun for a few minutes per day can do wonders for your body, mind, and spirit. Exercising, especially in nature, will prep your body for all the care you will give to others.
Speaking of that, my photo for the blog post is at the Ink Pots in Banff National Park. I chose this one, in case you were curious, because the Ink Pots remind me of natural hot springs. These are not hot springs, but they do bubble up from the earth, and remain a temperature of 4C year round. Being out in the mountains like this with beautiful scenery and bodies of water is very healing in so many ways.
Take Care of Yourself First By Tending To Your Mental Soil
What goes on in your mind, and how does that affect your mental state? Pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Are they giving you clues that you need to slow down, rest, and take better care of yourself? Having a healthy mindset can do wonders for your ability to care for others in the best ways possible.
Some ways you can help your mental health are by learning new things, like figuring out how to build and maintain a website, learning a new language, or using sound healing modalities to balance your brain waves.
You may choose to read uplifting books that raise your vibration and make you feel warm and fuzzy all over. Maybe you write, cook, or do a puzzle instead of following social media so closely. You can work on turning negative thoughts into positive intentions and affirmations.
How Are You Feeling Emotionally?
Pay attention to your feelings, not only in body and mind, but also spirit. Are you happy or sad most of the time? Are you feeling positive or negative? Do you love yourself or criticize and judge yourself?
Be sure to protect your energy by getting into a regular self-care practice of setting healthy boundaries, and replacing negative thoughts with positive, healthier intentions. Start to feel good and proud about who you really are. Write down your feelings, and cry if you need to cry. We can’t get past negative emotions unless we let it out, and let it pass through us. Relief is on the other side. When we feel better about ourselves, we can better serve others from a place of positivity. It’s important to recognize when you can’t seem to get out of a rut, so make sure you seek the help of a good friend, family member, or professional when you need it.
Time For a Change of Scenery?
Sometimes we don’t think of self-care in terms of change of scenery. I am both comfortable right where I am, and also crave a good change of scenery at times. Every once in a while, I need to move my furniture around, declutter my closets, give some clothes and shoes away, and head out on a new hiking trail I’ve never hiked before. Travelling to a new place I’ve never been before also is a great way to take care of the self.
That’s because when we feel good in our environments, or places where we feel free, we feel good about ourselves. Whether you prefer your home to be quiet, or full of music is your choice. I know I like my peace and quiet, and my space is my sanctuary. When your environment feels good, so do you. So make it a place that makes you feel groovy, comfortable, and free.
Take Care of Yourself First By Shifting Your Relationship To Money
If you’re always stressed about your finances, you’ve got to take care of yourself first by setting up a plan to get out of debt, or save towards that trip of a lifetime that you dream of. Talk to a professional about how you can better save for your future or manage your money. Go to that retirement webinar that you don’t feel like going to if it will help you see retirement in a different way. Read a book on how money is energy, and the more you give, the more you receive. Your money/energy tree will grow if you water it appropriately.
Build Your Connections With Others
Connecting with others is so important to your well-being. I’ve learned that over the more than two years of pandemic isolation. Thankfully I’ve started to reconnect with old friends, while building some new friendships. I have to say, it takes time, energy, and consistent effort, but it’s worth it when you land with the people who are right for you. That often means people who share common values, interests, and activities.
One thing I’ve learned is that you have to show up for others. You can’t flake out every time you get an invitation. Don’t say yes to something and then change your mind last minute and bail. They have no chance to make other plans with other people then. Reach out to people with genuine care, make sure friends are okay, share food and drinks and fun activities that you all enjoy. Friends come and go in this life, so always make new connections. Make it a priority! When you feel socially connected, you can be your best self for others.
Take Care of Yourself First By Finding Your Hobbies
What do you enjoy doing the most in your spare, non-working time? My favourite thing is taking a road trip in my “spirit on wheels” to the mountains, or a destination I’ve never been before. I love to spend a good 10 days hiking and exploring on foot! Usually when I go somewhere, it’s not that relaxed. It’s more like hiking and site-seeing as much as I can in the short time I have, and then the relaxation happens in my time off after that!
I also like to read spiritually uplifting books, and practice yoga and meditation. I’ve been doing a lot of meditation lately and finding I have less tolerance for computer screens and scrolling. That’s a very healthy sign, so I intend to spend more time doing silent and guided meditations!
Maybe for you it’s gardening, knitting, scrap-booking, you name it. Get involved in whatever lights you up and raise that vibe!
Speaking of Yoga and Meditation…
Spiritually, you want to find what lights up your soul, and brings you peace and calm in a crazy world. Some of the things I’ve been practising regularly are different types of yoga – hot, yin, kundalini, vinyasa flow yoga. Also different types of meditation – sound healing, silent meditation, sankalpa, nidra, ISHTA, and meditation in nature. Whatever speaks to your soul and brings you calmness and clarity around your purpose is what is healthy for you, and will help you support others.
I hope this gives you many new ideas on how to take care of yourself first, without feeling guilty about it. I like this quote too, by L. R. Knost: “Self care does not mean ‘Me first’, it means ‘Me too'”. Your life begins now, and you are worth it, so get out there and take care of yourself first!
Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report.
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The first part of this new year has had me struggling to make an important decision – One that could make or break my future, and alter my destiny. It’s been a struggle to weigh the pros and cons of each decision, only to realize that it’s about 50/50 on each side. So I thought this post could be about how to make a decision if you can’t decide. It can be really tricky when you aren’t sure if you’re just resistant to change, or if the Universe is gently guiding you towards or away from something. How do you figure out what the best thing is to do? Consider these tips whenever you’re faced with making a tough decision…
10 Tips For Making Tough Decisions
Listen to Your Heart ~ When faced with wondering how to make a decision if you can’t decide on something, remember that the truth is already within you, and it lives in your heart. Sometimes our minds over-think everything, and this clouds our ability to decide. When we go with our heart – what feels right for us, it’s not to say we’re ignoring rational thinking. That is important too. But inside of us, we already know our truth. Listen to that inner knowing by honouring what you feel deep in your heart.
Remember Your Values ~ If faced with a difficult decision, it’s good to keep in mind what is really important to you. In my case, my health and wellness are always tops on my list. Maybe for you it’s family, your pet, vacation time, status, money, friends, or your relationships. Keeping what means the most to you in mind and heart, you will be able to better choose the best options for you.
Trust Your Intuition ~ This is much the same as listening to your heart. You know in your gut, in your heart, and in your third eye what your truth is. It’s important not to disregard those gut feelings. I’ve noticed over time how accurate my initial gut feeling always was after making certain decisions. I wonder why I didn’t just go with that first gut feeling! We tend to second guess ourselves, and that’s okay. But if you notice a pattern that your first gut feeling was always right, then go with that!
Notice How It Feels in Your Body ~ Do you ever notice that your shoulders or neck feel tight and sore, or there’s a knot in your stomach? Stress often shows up in our bodies as stiffness, soreness, or physical pain. We also need to listen to our body, because that’s where we hold tension. If you you want to know how to make a decision if you can’t decide, sit quietly, and observe the painful sensations in your body. With my current decision, I had a tension headache, a gut ache, and a panic attack when considering one choice. I felt relaxed and at ease with the other choice. That is very telling!
Pay Attention To the Signs and Synchronicities ~ Not only do we already have the answers within our hearts, our intuition, and our bodies. There are also signs and signals everywhere that can help guide us to make the right choices. I admit during these past few weeks, the signs for me have been a bit conflicted. January is a great time for new resolutions, intentions, and change. So everything I read in my newsfeed was about embracing change! Yet deep down, my inner knowing was fighting against that change, not wanting to embrace it! But that, too, is a sign! I also often see “angel numbers” such as 999, 000, 555, 888, 777, 444, indicating that angels are with me, guiding me. Each number in numerology has a specific meaning, and many of these numbers have to do with abundance, change, and new beginnings! Even choosing an oracle card each day, the messages were about the ending of a cycle and the beginning of something new. Okay, did I make the right decision now, or have I ignored all the signs? Maybe, but let’s consider all of these points before jumping to a decision!
Learn From History ~ In reviewing the history regarding this decision, I noticed quite a regular pattern throughout the years. Patterns are really telling because you know that if that’s how it happened over the years, it’s likely going to be much the same going forward. History repeats itself, and patterns in history can give us the wisdom to make the right decisions.
Consider the Welfare of Others As Well As Your Own ~ When wondering how to make a decision if you can’t decide, it’s also good to practice altruism – Be genuinely concerned for the welfare of others. It doesn’t have to be at the expense of your own welfare though! I had to consider what was best for the whole, and what would be easiest for others in this case. But I also had to listen to my inner voice, wisdom, and intuitive knowing. If it negatively affects my health and wellbeing, it’s not likely something I’m going to say yes to.
Stand In Your Truth ~ This is kind of like saying listen to your rational thought, your heart, body, intuitive wisdom, and all the signs and synchronicities. Know what you value, and stand in your integrity. This can be uncomfortable, to stand in your truth. But remember that short term pain is better than a longterm destruction of your spirit!
Be Mindful Out In Nature ~ As you know, my passion is being mindful out in nature, noticing all the beauty of Mother Earth that surrounds me in the mountains. I watch for the wildlife spirits to give me meaningful messages. Being present, and quiet in nature can provide answers to many of life’s difficult questions and decisions. Notice which way the wind blows, or what kind of weather you’re experiencing while outdoors. That can be a guide to a yes or no decision you need to make. The whispering of the wind, the caw of a Crow, the swooping of an eagle, or the kindness of a Deer in the woods can guide you on your way.
Your Passion Is Your Purpose ~ Get to know yourself and what you are passionate about. Your passions are your purpose, and your purpose is how you can serve others. Your passion and purpose fill you with joy and radiance, and this spills over to others from your full cup. How can that help you make a decision? You’ll know what lights you up, and what doesn’t. Make the choice based on that.
Click Here To Open Your Third Eye and Trust Your Intuition when making decisions.
Final Thoughts On How To Make a Decision If You Can’t Decide
I’ve listed some very good ideas on how you can make a decision when you’re feeling conflicted and don’t know which way to go. These have helped me during the past few weeks, and I hope they will help guide you to make the right choice for you. It’s good to also talk to friends or loved ones about what to do. Just remember that it’s ultimately your choice, not theirs. Try not to get persuaded one way or the other by the opinions or judgements of others. You be you!
Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report.