Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder in May that health is not just physical, it’s mental too… and it especially matters in the deep mind-body connection.
Each and every day is an opportunity for growth toward living better wellness and gaining mental health awareness that stems from our deeper insides.
Mental health is spiritual and linked to our spiritual well being that completes the mind-body-spirit in us.
If you grow your spiritual sides, you’re exercising and growing mental health.
…Like lifting weights or your heart rate for your physical body health.
The heart and mind are closely related and getting quiet time allows you to tap into those spiritual feeling-thought areas that make up our daily mental health.
You can think of your spirit as your heart that often refers to your gut feelings (that aren’t actually in the gut). The effect is a gut-heart connection.
We already know there’s a stomach gut-mind connection as most of our happy hormones are made in the gut that affect how we feel and think.
Essentially when we exercise our right to re-route our negative thoughts and flip them to positive and loving ones, we do ourselves a world of good.
We bypass bad thoughts and feelings resulting in some form of misery that’s unessential for us to grow.
Mental health awareness (wellness) allows us to see and observe that they’re related and happening inside us.
It’s deep and not easy to see what our own minds are thinking and even more obscure to see what our hearts are thinking at any moment…
And it’s even more challenging with mental health disorder filters or if temporary inflicted by common states like anxiety.
These ways cloud views, so keeping up wellness and living balanced is what I’m passionate about.
And bringing our awareness to present moments helps us process what’s going on at any time.
Also relationships make great mirrors in what we communicate verbally and non-verbally. 🪞
We can find out what’s going on with us.
And make happy mental health changes, so we’re free to live our most fulfilled lives!
Happiness was not talked about when I was growing up. And wellness was not something mentioned in the Corporate America jobs I held for decades.
So Mental Health Awareness Month is one of the several recognized events throughout the year to keep a reminder going… and to recognize how far we’ve come.
It’s a way to celebrate strides and not go back to our darker ways and pasts.
In the past, so many of us kept our mental health sides quiet and hidden. And generations before, even more so.
We’re a much more aware society, open to growth.
That’s something to healthy celebrate! 🎉
In the end, it’s our personal health that dictates what we can and can’t do…
And if you don’t know why you’ve suffered in relationships that are mirrors reflecting back, you probably have some hidden areas that need healing.
They’re hidden so you’ve never seen them and how getting them into view can change your mental health.
That’s what my journey taught me…
I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I saw a bright future forward and ahead, and never thought to look backward.
Until I was stuck. And I reaped opportunities to be in company with healers.
They made me realize forgiveness could bridge the gap to my wholeness.
That removed the subconscious blocks and made them conscious for healing.
Without wholeness that comes from healing, a person is never free from their imperfect past (that we all have no matter how much we enjoyed our childhood).
And if there is a current triggered situation in life, that can be an opportunity to clear out the past cobwebs.
And remove being a prisoner to the ego mind that’ll subconsciously make the situation worse.
That robs joy and happiness.
…In the one life you and I get.
…We’re here to evolve and get better and whole.
And that’s up to each of us.
Best remedies any of us can apply in mental health awareness is self-care that can include: yoga, meditation, nature walks, church, connectedness and all of the above.
And in those moments, you can gather answers to:
Are you healed from your past? Or do you still carry burdens?
…And maybe a current life problem is helping you to get to root causes.
Mental health awareness blockages means there’s some healing needed.
Some signs to look for:
You can’t talk about your past, sob deeply, or get defensive about certain triggering situations or people.
Witness the words you use and say, and if they are being defensive or blaming others.
Have you forgiven those who hurt you? It doesn’t matter if they knew what they did to you or not… OR whether or not they can apologize today. Those would be good if they restored the peace, but usually we’re in situations where we can’t get that closure.
But you can get forgiveness so you can heal and move healthy and happy on.
Doing this in a retreat or healing session with others is good because then you know for certain it happened as you have an event to remember and wasn’t just a few thoughts you had.
Also, do you ruminate on the same past thoughts?
If you do, you have to get closure or clarity, or you’ll always be carrying the burden of feeling stuck.
Clarity feels like peace and maybe even being able to laugh at some of the things that happened that were so traumatic before. They helped you grow to your wholeness and maybe even help others going through similar challenges.
Remember the saying, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.”
And feeling sorry for those who don’t know any better helps you have compassion for others.
Often it’s mental health that becomes the barrier to do better.
Because hurt people, hurt people.
And when you’re healed, you can see that clearly.
That goes beyond your past, processing, and forgiving and creating a new way to look at the past.
Then you can be the answer to people around you needing answers to their problems.
…And when you do, you can realize how far you’ve come! 🙌
Mental health matters as part of our spiritual earthly existence.
Every day matters. And every morning when we start the day matters.
A good mental health morning exercise can be watching sunrise.
The meaning and feelings we carry into our day determine how the day will go in our situations… like on this eventful sunrise morning I watched on the day that the new Pope was announced. 🌅
The day before, I didn’t know why the live event I was planning to go to near me was cancelled.
…Other than the obvious that the speaker had an event conflict.
…But I know in this miracle spiritual existence that there was more to it. There’s a part two in life, and that’s not a coincidence.
Situations playing out are NOT random.
And that’s important to know.
That it’s not just about the earthy situations that play out.
There’s something bigger going on above us.
…I’ve been living on earth long enough spiritually with Mother Nature and Father God to know… and appreciate.
And you may too know there are spiritual forces going on in our heavenly realm that affect our life on this green earth. Thank God!
And on this particular day, the stars aligned for a good spiritual reason.
I was part of that unfolding (and so were you).
…wherever we are on this planet.
Life plays out and when we show up in the present, we get to see the happenings in 3-D motion picture.
That’s a gift. 🎁
…And a good reminder for any of us to treat each day special (…and to take frequent mental health breaks).
Life’s too short to spare any days from feeling joy.
Life is a gift in smaller miracle moments… like young children happy or happy crying, but they don’t have the older minds to express why they’re deeply moved.
…Or why you feel unexplainable chills at certain times that you know come from a connected source a million miles away.
There are some times when there’s no explanation for why something happened (or was supposed to happen but it didn’t).
As random as it can seem, it’s all so organized and planned. And that’s why life is amazing!
…And miraculous.
Miracles touch our lives and constantly shape and re-route us into change from our earlier, less mature thinking ways.
Reflecting on the past helps to remind us that we are meant to keep growing. We also celebrate how far we’ve come.
When we have good mental health, we recognize life growth and opportunities are in the ordinary experiences that life serves up… not just big events.
And it’s not just up to us.
…That’s what I used to think.
It’s more like a life dance where we make a move and then wait-and-see.
We show up and then see what happens while we play.
Life is made like a game so we don’t get bored.
While you’re doing life… as you figure out how you best fit in and keep playing your best game, finding your spiritual pieces grows you.
Awareness helps your mental health.
Because life won’t slow down and building you inner self makes everything in life more alive and better.
…And Especially because life turns out a lot different than what we hoped for.
Through our trial experiences and long waiting, we’ve grown.
And that helps our mental health.
Learning from old mindset placeholders that were not so healthy helps to transform us.
…And flexibly not sticking only to familiarity.
Those earlier ways prepared us to be shaped for new growth…
Spiritual personal growth.
Allowing yourself to change is spiritually healthy where the infinite possibilities grow.
….Today I know that when I randomly turn my head when I could be looking straight ahead, that was a purpose call to make me look at something… and not miss it!
…And maybe for others, to not miss their something (like this message).
Miracles are happening every day… and in every moment… within you.
And when you choose to flip-the-script from doubtful thoughts that can intercept and re-appear from no where, that is how you’ll appreciate your life and strengthen your mental health in the moment.
Inner spiritual growth grows your mental health.
And good mental health provides opportunity for spiritual growth.
Daily, we’re fighting with our minds against spiritual warfare running alongside miracles.
That’s a battle going on in the Universe and that shows up as a struggle in our minds that we can’t see and whether we choose to believe or not.
A spiritual intervention can save you.
On my journey, I had a divine intervention that was so loud it uprooted my life. At the time it looked like a mental health breakdown….
But it was the bridge that re-routed me to my purpose calling.
And as odd as they may be, as long as you’re not hurting others or harming yourself, inviting in unconventional divine interventions can be part of your ordinary way to live.
They help to tear down what’s holding any of us back, that we can’t see in our routine life.
They open us up to real happiness in this life… and share truth about what’s ahead.
They helped me call out my ego… and now I know the enemy I’m facing (that I was once blind to).
…It’s not people or situations in this life.
About maybe you’re wondering if you ever had a spiritual intervention or how to experience one…
You would know if you had… and to experience, you would need to open yourself to a different life than the one you live now.
And maybe you’re wondering why haven’t you felt your spirit move or intervene as people like me describe.
You probably have, but were too busy listening to and doing culture’s ways.
Your calendar was full.
And there was no spirit listening time scheduled.
Because the spirits listens to you all day and whispers to you on a quiet frequency…
And to hear, a willing heart is required.
…And good mental health is needed.
Those are the physical requirements… or you’ll likely miss it.
…And then miss your authentic life.
…And empowered happiness that’s available all the time.
Where you’re never feeling alone whether you’re single or married.
I know this deeply because this has been my spiritual and mental health growth journey.
The journey path wasn’t what I dreamt of.
…I didn’t sign up for what came my way.
But my call was to keep going and growing and that’s when personal growth showed up that required my strength and mental health.
All so I could find my missions I was born for.
…Where when you think about it, you and I won life’s lottery beating the odds when we were born.
And your mission… should you choose to accept it, is to find out what you were authentically born for.
Calm mind is an aspiration often when you’re served up stressful situations in life… from work, family, or friendships that you balance in your life wheel.
Reminder: you get one life to live well 😊
The sooner you practice a calm mind and mindset, create boundaries, and step higher than your face-value situations…
…The better your life and work-life balance.
For the ONE life you get.
And during stressful testing times, the best way to calm your mind is to give the mind a way out.
This article is about how to calm your mind.
Because first off… you are not your mind, but the mind is in you.
Separating yourself as the choice and decision maker (that your mind is not) is your way out… and away from stress and toward your calm, peace, and happiness.
They are opposite directions where you get to choose which way you go. ⬅️➡️
You can take subtle, enjoyable baby steps toward the better direction choice using calm mind apps and daily music therapy 🎶 that will help turn the tide.
Those are the Ayurvedic ways I love. 🧡
But they subtly work in the background, so you won’t necessarily know they worked because they gradually turn the tide from the inside-out into the right direction (mind-body calm and peace).
Using your sense of sight, smell, hearing, and touch are all part of the prescription… and they are Ayurvedic comforting and add joy to your daily life. So why not?
…Gotta love that!
And when you have a loud interfering monkey mind 🙉 that swarms in worry or high ego-drama unrest in your mind, feeling good again is the goal.
To break out of those clouded mind moments or seasons, you would need to shout back at your untouchable and unseen ego that’s your then-invisible enemy in play that’s blocking truth, love, and peace.
At the root, your ego’s job is to protect you in survival situations… to get you to act and react to save your life if a tiger is chasing you.
But in modern daily life, it’s a detriment as ego goes overboard in its protective role!
Shutting off your ego (that shows up as pride) is the answer in most modern stressful situations.
It’s never your fault that your ego acts up due to situational triggers.
…But it is completely up to you how you want it to play out. And if healthy and happy is your goal, then the following tips will help support this…
Lowering ego is the restoring way back to your happiness and inner love-peace.
But not so easy is shutting off others… and actually impossible to do!
So you need to manage those situations.
Because misery is an option that adds zero daily benefits.
I know this well through many trials and situations…
I grew up and lived most my life in the DC metro area where egos fly high in close proximity to America’s politically charged circles where heads butt.
And that permeates in the local air and work environments close by outside of politics.
Pride in ego runs high and causes riffs anywhere in the world.
The problem is: everyone thinks it’s normal.
So it has been normalized. And even congratulated by people (through their egos) in the wins that are sometimes harmful.
This “normal” way trickles down into how we day-to-day operate and our relationships at work, and with family and friends.
But you can rise higher for a better calm mind AND life…
In your daily circles, when you have conflicts and tough situations that you may often grin and bear, do a healthy action that frees your mind from the ego bondage…
To escape from the trappings of you ego, look for an out that will settle your mind.
This is especially useful and needed for your happiness if you are being treated unfairly or feeling displeasure from other people’s ways.
Take the mind-out of the situation by creating options.
And when you have options, your ego mind is no longer a prisoner.
It’s set free and so are you! 🎉
Example: your under-stress boss demands undesired actions from you creating a miserable work environment for you. While you may do the tasks begrudgingly to keep your job (that’s important to keep a roof over your head), in your free time, lunch break, or evenings, start proactively looking for other jobs.
This will subtly show your ego-mind that you have options (and are not trapped) and then you will feel better about your life and situation.
You are free from your ego’s captivity.
And you may even find the job of your dreams in the process!
Another example: your spouse or partner has been taking things out on you or bringing their negative emotional energy that has caused arguments between the two of you. Let the other person work out their unrest issues themselves. Start spending more time with your productive activities and friendships.
Because you can’t control or change other adult’s behaviors and actions.
That’s the bottomline.
Changing people is not the answer.
Provide the information they need, but it’s up to them to come up with their conclusions as it is for you to come up with yours and your peace of mind.
That’s the peacemaking way that will add years to your calm mind life…
And that protects your mind from the ugly ego (yours and theirs) rearing its ugly head in your situations… where anger, resentment, or taking out on other areas grow.
You’re likely served up these type of situations from most people in the world, and specifically those who aren’t as evolved… and letting their ego invisibly and cunningly play them.
In those times, the high ego person may even commonly accuse you of what they are actually going through if you’re in their regular or daily path.
BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE AREN’T AWARE OF THEIR EGO. AND IF THEY ARE, THEY ARE BEING PLAYED IN THEIR STRESSFUL SITUATIONS, UNTIL THEY STEP OUT.
As someone who considers herself evolved 🙋🏻♀️… for me, it still takes a while to step out of ego’s loud ways and see what’s going on.
And I completely remember the days when I had no clue I was being played.
But information is power!
Breaking out of old mindsets is a worthy fight for a calm mind and inner peace.
And the more practice, the easier it gets…
It sounds ridiculous (and to the ego that effort needs to be made), but my dear friend… the daily effort is the path to happiness.
Effort is the way out of stressful situations with people who walk around not knowing their ego (enemy) is playing them.
And all of us who are doing modern life have experienced people’s ego rearing their ugly heads.
You don’t have to turn far to find examples.
And if you’re in those situations now, don’t play the ego game served up.
Most importantly, don’t further enable bad behavior.
Train the ego person with your boundaries:
Love the person, but hate their behavior.
Be calm and kind, but firm.
Don’t let others manipulate you because they are persistent (e.g. kids can be the worst ego maniacs because they know no better).
It will only get worse if you say yes… to both ego adults or kids.
Stand your ground no matter how you feel in the moment… or the fear you feel creeping up in your that the ego is drumming up.
Rise higher to the opposite that’s love (that the Universe is full of).
Stand your ground with tough love that may feel harsh, but you and the ego-other will be grateful later.
Don’t let your ego block and blind you from seeing the harm that’s so common.
I can see ego-action from a mile away now (informed), and as you learn more you will be able to too! 😊
Ego is the danger for most people where they can’t see what’s going on in their mind and play-by-play actions in them or others’ egos.
Ego-blinding in you or others happen if you don’t consistently pay attention no matter how busy you are… 🙈
Use loss of sleep, appetite, gray hairs, sudden pimples, and body aches for no physical reason as more obvious signs something undesirable is happening to you!
A.K.A ego situations are near.
To catch all this, slow down, be aware and sensitized, and witness what’s happening…
Use your deep breathing present moments to slow down to see clearer and insight into what’s going on.
This is where time on your yoga mat or quiet chair help so you’re more sensitive of your symptoms that are more easy to spot.
Think of it as a diagnoses session where you get your calm mind peace and years back!
Because your body and loving, peaceful mind don’t lie (like the ego does in your busy moments).
And you can use this revealing body balance quiz to help you see what’s going on with your body and mind-body today from your body symptoms POV.
It’s like seeing the printed words on your car side mirror: objects are closer than they appear.
Or the nearby signs.
But in daily myopia and ego-blindness, we don’t see the signs.
When we become aware and get close-sight clarity, then you can see what’s happening in your stressful situations.
You can effectively calm your mind… AND use those stressful situations to make positive impact in your life.
AND OH, this is the best part of stress that makes it healthy good and worthwhile!…
If you’ve already spent or wasted hours or days on a stressful situation that robbed you of joy and peace, you might as well turn your victimhood into something useful in life (and help others going through similar situations).
…like I’m intently doing here in this article I wrote. 😊
I learned at one of my early-on jobs that you teach others how to treat you in life. I use that as a guiding mantra.
And you can too, to set healthy boundaries with others to get your calm mind, peace, happiness, and time back.
You’ve probably heard before that kids need… and LIKE boundaries.
They actually like ’em. And as grown up kids, adults do too!
So embrace that counterintuitive way in your daily situations.
That’s how you’ll get your calm life you aspire to.
And remember, tough love is a good thing for everyone. 🎉
Bird yoga pose is one metaphor in life that can help you soar and help with your body balance, strength, and flexibility. It’s a healthy way to kick start your year. Learn what these poses are below. 🦅
More about this “crouching tiger” looking photo below 🐯
Today I’m gonna share how bird yoga pose (and actually 4 bird yoga poses) can help you get some of the tight kinks out.
Below I spend time on Pigeon Pose because I think it’s underrated for all the benefits (especially if your joints need some flexing).
And I believe everyone can use yoga no matter what profession we have or how active we are (as we tend to do repetitive actions that the body can get irritated with).
At some point, some part needs a stretch… and if you keep up with stretching, then the body cells remember the stretched feeling… and you don’t have to grease up the joints as much to get there.
I remember I took a season away from yoga at the beginning of my yoga journey and I thought I would have to start all over again.
I was surprised and happy to find that was not the case. I did lose muscle, but the time off actually restored certain smaller worn muscles. They appreciated the time off 😊
It’s like getting rest on the weekends. You probably need more self-care time than you initially think.
…Like if you take a few days off, your body kinda can unwind but isn’t totally relaxed. It’s ready to jump back into busyness, but that’s not good for your body.
And if you take a purposeful year off like I did to discover, travel, and recoup, you may sleep like a hibernating bear (and bypass a mid-life crises later on if that still exists).
You could call it a gap year or sabbatical.
Then once restored and feeling like a million bucks, your body wants to get back in action. And that brings more meaning and purpose to your life.
In contrast, ignoring the body can catch up with all of us at some point, but the good news is we have a chance to make healthy changes along the way.
When we’re in a busy season, carving out time to work out is hard work, and so many of us don’t get to do it, or we prefer to spend our time with other fun or catch-up activities.
Plus, how exciting is it to talk to others about your workout instead of a fun outing event you had?
…But like many good things for you, they are not exciting.
Like habits. But little by little (and in micro-habits) they make a difference… and the sooner you do them, the sooner they stick.
Yoga fitness is one (less intense) way you can do and stay consistent with fitness habits. 🧘🏻♀️
And if it’s important for you to check off working out for your week, consistent yoga could be your Savior… and you never know, could pivot you into other fitness areas as you discover more about your body.
You can do yoga anytime and anywhere without a change of clothing (or babysitter).
If I told you some of the unique places I did yoga, you’d probably laugh… like I did once on a cold, swept restaurant floor and on a busy, warm sanded beach…
Wearing stretchy pants, I even showed off my Bird of Paradise pose to my co-workers.
I found that adding fun challenges with step and move goals, kept me motivated. And keeping the eye on the prize helps… like staying energetically healthy as life progresses.
…I think we all want that in our lives so we can have a high-quality of life as our generations are living longer.
That’s where the bird yoga pose and poses I mention below can help. The poses can relax and stretch you (both body and mind).
And since none of us can fly on our own (at least not today), this is the closest we can get to being a bird. 😁
An inspirational bird yoga pose (that can be goals) could help encourage you to work on all or one of these core yoga areas: strength, flexibility, balance (holistic fitness), and body alignment because one side is usually tighter than another.
…Or, one slight tweak move in a muscle can be all you need for that nagging pain you or others have been complaining about in conversation.
Yoga isn’t a rigid practice (…it’s individualistic), so you can call it stretching if it’s less intimidating and can stretch your imagination to wanting to give it a GO.
The name of poses are really just to help you know which poses to get into, but your body and its needs are you-nique, so tweak the poses in a way that makes you feel good (and doesn’t hurt)!
In case you’re new or consider yourself a yoga beginner, yoga stretches should not give you a wincing pain or any agony where you’re biting your lip.
So that helps for you wanting to come back for more and to try all the bird poses!
…And if you’re not in alignment for certain poses (likes ones bearing the weight of certain body parts), you won’t necessarily feel the misalignment at the moment.
It could show up in a day or two, like when you work out with weights.
…So use good form in the pose moment.
Stretches should feel like you needed the stretch, and the longer you hold the stretch… the less tight it becomes, wearing off the tight kinks.
Of course, if you have any injuries, avoid those areas until they fully heal.
But other than those caveats, yoga can solve most daily and accumulated nagging sore muscle issues!
I’m living proof 😊
So with that encouragement, here are 4 inspirational bird yoga poses to work on and towards (and btw, you won’t end up on all 4’s even if you start out that way, so you can test out your flying ability just a little).
Crane Pose – is a good mat pose for building strength in arms
In this one, you’re supporting your body with your arms. Your feet start off on the floor and then lift off.
You want to be careful not to twist your wrists (the good form is keeping them straight on your mat and perpendicular to your matching left and right shoulders).
When I went through a short season where I stopped doing my arm exercises like push-ups, getting in a Crane pose was like starting over.
I had to build back the arm strength that this pose requires. Your body may feel that way or may not have those issues, but instead other ones in other areas.
Yoga is a journey and that’s what I think keeps it interesting. You’re always working on something.
For you, it could also be strength and/or a combination of flexibility and balance (or all of the above). We all start somewhere with our one and only body, so keep trying.
Pigeon Pose – is a floor or mat pose good for developing flexibility in the hip, legs, knees, and butt(ocks)
When you have tight quads or hips, this pose can help get you outta that quandary.
As with most yoga poses, there are many variations… and if you want to keep your arms and legs on the mat the whole time, that’s an option.
You want to find the body spots that are tight and sore and work on those. You can do this by moving around your pointed straight back leg after you get in the Pigeon Pose (that btw, your leg isn’t supporting the weight of other parts of your body so it’s OK to move it around in this pose if that doesn’t offer your body any pain).
Pigeon Pose can help with your largest muscle groups like your quads, your glutes (butt), plus the tight muscles surrounding your knees that you wouldn’t easily be able to get to in everyday positions.
We underestimate how much we need our knees to easily work to be mobile.
In Pigeon Pose, each side won’t necessarily be equal in terms of tightness and you’ll realize that quickly.
So give more attention to the side that needs the longer stretch.
The easiest way to get in this pose is to start in Downward Dog (your “V” with all 4’s planted) and then hinge your body and arms forward with one leg you want to have in front.
Then sit down on the mat focusing on squaring (aligned) hips to your shoulders.
The opposite leg will rest straight (not bent) back behind you with the top of your foot on the mat.
You should feel long and that can feel good in itself!
With this bird yoga pose, you can also work on opening your shoulders if you can reach back and grab your bent leg and foot.
This is a chance to look up to the ceiling or sky.
It’s a nice break for your neck.
If you regularly cook, clean floors, or work on a laptop on your lap, you may not realize how many hours you’re looking down all the time, and that hurts your neck that supports your head, brain, and reminder… your mind control center.
Well, when it’s put that way!…
But anyway…
In this active Pigeon Pose, there’s a good opportunity to look up (and restore your neck).
OK, this reminds me of movie theaters… have you ever sat in the front row of a movie theater? 🎭
I haven’t been to one in ages. But when I was a teen, movie theaters were often packed and we’d arrive later and not having a choice, had to sit in the front row just a few feet away from the big screen.
That felt like the worst movie scenario at the time. We had to crank our necks and gaze up for the entire movie.
Looking back now, we didn’t know the yoga neck-posture benefits we were deploying back then. You may remember me next time you’re at the movie theater 😉
So deploy that head up move in your active Pigeon Pose… or you can gracefully go into a more passive Swan Pose (like in the theater production Swan Lake). 🦢
This is almost like a resting child’s pose, but a great stretch all around as your arms are stretched long on the mat and your one leg behind you.
I love this bird yoga pose as you feel graceful as your body is stretched from one end of the mat to the other (maybe why ballerinas love it too).🩰
If you have tight quads or muscles you can’t seem to get to in your regular stretch routines, this pose can do the trick over time or days.
The longer you can hold the pose (like minutes at a time), the better the benefit. You feel the healing working when you ever so slightly move and the tightness eases up.
It feels good just talkin’ about it 😉
Here’s a Good Reminder!
Eagle pose – is a good standing balance bird yoga pose
On earth, eagles are harder to come by in the world. They were an endangered species and can fly higher than their prey and vultures.
That’s the meaning behind: “I can fly higher than an eagle” song verse in Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings” song.
This one takes a little body coordination memory. Just remember, the same side where one leg is lifted off the ground is the same side where the arm/elbow will wrap underneath the other. Don’t overthink it!
Then in union (the definition of yoga), the hands will meet.
When you’re in this pose, you feel good for being able to stand on one leg in balance… and you can do this anytime and during commercial breaks.
Or even in regular clothes, like this photo of me below where I’m in a dress wearing big costume jewelry ready to go to a holiday event, but still getting the benefits of my eagle here 🦅…
Eagle Pose
Bird of Paradise – is a pose that challenges flexibility, balance, and leg strength (…and isn’t a bird at all. It’s a tropical orange flower that could be found in this type of paradise environment at the Miami Botanical Center).
When you can do this Bird of Paradise pose, then you can be thinking you reached yoga paradise
The Bird of Paradise pose is a complete mind-body pose (and not one in awareness where I want to be wearing a dress without showing too much of my flower if ya know what I mean!). So you’ll just have to trust me here and give it a try yourself.😉
And if you want to know the mind-body mechanics of the bird yoga pose, I wrote a past blog post on this great mind challenge bird of paradise pose.
If you can do this pose, then you have a good shoulder opener, leg strength builder, and torso flexor, all-in-one.
Plus your mind will be stretched in a good way (focused and in the moment).
Just something to consider especially if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed and stuck in life… Bird of Paradise yoga pose can be a nice little goal to take your mind off for a brief moment.
You can change your outlook one bird yoga pose (and day) at a time… like I did being one with this Takahe bird (or blue hen if you prefer).
De-stress is highly called for during the thick of holiday season and looming year-end goal deadlines. Because stress can build up fast any day like a ton of bricks. And can go away just as quickly like a tumbling over Jenga set.
But these types of short-term stressors are different than life long-term stressors that often don’t have a quick ending resolve. You can use the 5 reminders below today to help you through your waiting process.
You can also use short-term de-stress feelings and the useful reminders throughout this article to help you with your long-term stress situations.
…Like for me, I use baking as a way to de-stress and relax after a work week. It keeps me on my toes, literally. I prepare a sweet table of goods and choux.
A healthy Greek yogurt tear-and-share raspberry-pistachio Paris Brest and lemon coconut choux.
…and you too can create your table to help shoo-away stress, and celebrate de-stress.
What isn’t so easy to de-stress restore is undercurrent effects and emotional turmoil stored in the mind-body coming from long-term stress that’s hard to identify.
Those are usually invisible sources which means they’re not as easy to pinpoint and process: like dreams unrealized or deep trauma.
…Or areas of life that haven’t gone the way you wanted.
But unlike long-term stress sources, short-term stresssources are easier to describe with people, things, work deadlines and tasks involved. They are temporary thorns to the side or lasting for a season that has an end (like holiday season end).
Experiencing those temporary stressors mean you’re alive, putting yourself out there, and trying in this life! 🎉
And your gained experiences coming out of stressful situations won’t go wasted in your future as they help you build resilience and adaptability (that make you more productive and joyful, not leaning in on the negative emotions).
Plus, you can productively use the short-term stress situations to de-stress feel-good when they’re immediately over.
Then your heart beats its normal speed again and you do a happy dance inside for your accomplishments. 🫀
…Like when you make a deadline and now the work is out of your hands.
…You feel lighter as the weight is lifted and you get a quick sigh of relief.
Those de-stress happy relief feelings can last for a day or weeks, but they gradually wear off.
But through the process of handling stressful situations and then experiencing them go away, that teaches us for the next time… that things will be okay.
And those lessons carry you to help handle the long-term stress situations that sit as elephants-in-the-room for any season, usually season after season. 🐘 🐘
They’re overhanging in this season of your (and my) life. The problem hasn’t resolved or the dream hasn’t transpired yet.
This can be a few things or big areas in your life…
…And I know how that goes because I started out without balance where I had wheel-of-life (real wheel) problems that felt like I was wrapped around tornadoes. 🌪️
But the problems… no matter what they were, became less problematic as I grew because I gained more experiences and resilience. I also prayed for answers. And my self-care wheel grew.
Eventually coming out of each of those tough situations taught me the most about how to handle stress better and embrace a better life meant for me.
…And your challenging areas in your life have grown you the most. ⛰️
Long-term Stressors are Your Future Dreams
Those long-term stressors from decades ago (that are still around 🐘) are setups for your future dreams realized. ✨
They are what will be your Future Life that has more meaning and purpose than how you started off as an adult.
They will be part of your destiny… and they will lead you away from a ho-hum life that you’re not meant to live.
The sweet spot for you today is to see them as part of a long-term plan and believe they are already yours in the future.
But wisely let them go now if the timing isn’t right.
One day the stars will align in perfect timing for those dreams manifested. Just know they are yours.
In that mindset, you keep going and growing in your life now.
Also, connect-the-dots and remind yourself that your big dreams are in your recurring problems. Yes, they are!
And when you find the blessing in your problems today, you bypass unnecessary stress.
The problems in disguise will deliver you to your dreams on the other side that will change shape, form, and clothes. 😊
Those tough areas of life today that don’t seem to have any resolve in sight can take many twists and turns, heart and headaches, and often many years to come to pass…
They’re the recurring situations that keep showing up as a thorn to your side when you least expect or hope would resolve.
But most likely, they fly in and out of your life and then disappear from view again. But they are not outta the picture, even though they’re not fully visible yet.
They re-appear from time to time as reminders to keep us humble and from doing things and making decisions that we would regret later on.
…And they’re the same thorns that are meant to be turned into victory roses (dreams) later down the destiny road on your designed path.
…No matter what age you are, you have those thorny dreams right now in your life.
You know exactly what your big dream is that has shown up before in some way you know, even if you’re still wondering.
And how you manage your long-term stressor feelings is going to affect your daily life outcomes, physical, and mental health.
…So stay curious, not furious.
The dream triggers and memory reminders are hints for you to keep dreaming about this are, like you do when you’re motivated to fulfill accomplishments.
Except these big dreams blow the little victories away.
Jobs and accolades you acquire will pale in comparison to your dream purpose in this life.
If your dream purpose didn’t show up again occasionally, you wouldn’t know it can be real or leave room for chances.
You wouldn’t be leaving room for the possibilities… where anything is possible in this life.
And this life is meant to be a big adventure (as none of us know the future).
The choice is yours as to whether you embrace that what happens to you is good for you (and not a bad setback).
Enjoy the ride!
I know sometimes that can be easier said than done (or may seem like pie-in-the-sky thinking)… so in those times, simply start by working on stressing less as nothing good comes from stressful feelings.
And, a good de-stress reminder is:
Remember to keep failing forward.
…Especially on your personal growth attempts (to be a better person).
And remember to keep trying because anything worth pursuing won’t be easy.
If it were easy, you’d never appreciate what you got because you didn’t work to get it.
And these are 5 good de-stress reminders to help you through the season and the holidays especially when long-term stressors show up or blow up again…
De-Stress Reminders Around Holidays
1.Get peace.
If it’s meant to be, it will happen.
Find your peace.
Right now, today, and in this moment your life deserves peace.
Both calm inner peace and peace about your decisions.
Use discernment for decisions needed to be made and clarity from baby or micro step actions forward.
You’re meant to live whole, loving, and healed today.
(The opposite of living in fear or feeling something inside you is missing or broken).
You’re not a victim to your circumstances… and you can break out of those feelings and mindset in your journey.
“Let the peace of God rule in your heart.” – Colossians 3:15
2.Congratulate yourself on how far you’ve come in your situation.
Reflect on how far you’ve come with your same and recurring stressful situations that used to be so painful in some way.
When you don’t care so much about the situations causing stress anymore as you once did, that’s a healthy move because you’re letting go (and letting light in).
You’re also naturally learning to de-stress some in the process.
Continue to live celebrating your internal wins daily while life is working things out in your favor for the aligned perfect timing. ✨
3.Believe in good things to come.
Believe that what you’re going through and have gone through (…maybe painfully) will help your situation in the end and on the other side. 🌈
Waiting, setbacks, disappointment, and delays now are purposefully setups for your comeback and life appointments.
You can be a victor now by changing your feelings, relaxing, and de-stressing.
Your waiting and what you’re going through now won’t last, but your dreams will come to pass and they will last!
4.Keep going forward and growing healthy.
Keep growing and learning despite your stressful situations.
Keep changing your thoughts to positive, loving ones.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” -Roman 12:2
Your other life-giving areas of your life are meant for this season. 🌱
Cherish them today, because they will change one day.
Use them to help you de-stress through your worry, thorn situations.
5.Keep a de-stress routine.
Find a way to de-stress every day.
I like a warm cup of tea. 🫖
I also do 4-7-8 breathing: inhaling in the gratitude and exhaling stressful negative energy.
When I felt the weight of my situations, I made sure to re-center myself back on my yoga mat and think about what I would be looking forward to later in the week and at nights.
Daily, I stay grateful for what I have in life as part of my habit stack routine. We all have things to be appreciative of in our lives… shoes and socks, showers, food, roof, lights, tea…
And my peaceful ritual every night is at 5:30 pm while working and I’m waiting for the daily sky show to light up.
Looking up and glancing out my western facing windows from my seat, I see the sky colors gradually change from day to night.
I do a little work and then look back up to see the dark rainbow colors change like an Aurora Borealis display.
Occasionally there are late afternoon storms. I find those cleansing. I appreciate the thunder claps and silvery pitter patter rain drops.
It’s not about the type of show I get, it’s about the day and night showing up for me that I take personally.
Every day like clockwork for a half-hour, I pause and a new painted sky happens, often in shades of purple, orange, blues and whites, and that reminds me that EVERYTHING will be all right as promised.
…the sunset show is my de-stress therapy for this season. 🌅 And maybe that’s something to embrace in your changing season.
