Day 2: A Week of Christmas Self-Care
~ Let yourself be light ~There has been so much to worry about this year, and the new year is completely unknown. We look forward to the 1st of January as a fresh slate for our goals, dreams and plans, but I'm sure I am not alone when I say I am approaching 2021 with trepidation and thoughts of, 'What the heck next!!'
Yes, definitely do everything you can to keep yourself and those around you safe, but beyond that, forget about what's happening in the wider world. Switch off the television, delete news apps from your phone and don't buy into the scaremongering. Do you know what doesn't sell well? Good news. Calm news. Relaxing news. Feel-good news. Facts are sensationalized and made extreme because they are the headlines that will catch our attention.
Don't buy into the crazy. Create your own bubble of well-being where you can feel light, optimistic and hopeful. Lavish love on your family. Care for your home. Read happy books and watch fun movies. Don't scare yourself silly with gruesome horror stories or work yourself up into a frenzy over what 'could' happen in the future.
Make plans, even travel plans! I can't wait to visit New York City, visit the Sagrada Familia in Spain, and have an extended holiday in England one day. It doesn't matter if we can't do any of those things now. There is time. And in the meantime my husband Paul and I watch YouTube walking tour videos on tv instead of bad, sad and scary news.
And if it turns out that we never leave New Zealand again in my lifetime, that's okay too. My happiness is not dependent on outside factors. Of course, to a certain extent it is, but mostly not. Dirty water becomes clear by leaving it to sit still, not by shaking it more. Let your mind become still and clear. Let yourself feel light and festive. Find a pocket of calm in the corner of your mind and dwell there for a minute.
Sometimes I just lie on the carpet at home and close my eyes for a few minutes and breathe. The lying down makes a difference!
See you tomorrow for Day 3.
xx Fiona
PS. Of course my newest book 'The Peaceful Life: Slowing down, choosing happiness, nurturing your feminine self, and finding sanctuary in your home' is the perfect accompaniment to Day 2. Check it out at my Amazon affiliate link here if you haven't already :)
Thanks, Fiona!
ReplyDelete'Don't buy into the crazy' is so important. Consider that (in at least all the countries I've checked) mortality rates are not up this year. Most journalists unfortunately live for scandal and scaremongering, and should really be ignored.
Marie-Hélène
I needed this today! Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, Fiona! Good news definitely takes the back burner, so to speak! My husband and I are planning our camping trips for this Spring and Summer, and that is our happy distraction! We also would love to travel to the UK and Scotland, some day! Travel planning is soothing during these rough days! Be Well!
ReplyDeleteI like the statement, "dirty water becomes clear by leaving it to sit still, not by shaking it more". I'm always doing pretty well and then I succumb to an impulse to shake the water jar and there I go again. Thanks for this Fiona. xo karen
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy all your posts but this one was especially helpful! Thank you so much for your positive suggestions. I'm going to save it to re-read and share it with my sister! Great thoughts! Happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteLove how well you articulated this idea of not falling victim to the fear mongering and sensationalism of the news. We've been noticing for a long time how much drama there is in the news but it's gotten worse. Thank you for this post. Hope you have a very merry and peaceful Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThank you for doing this series, Fiona! Couldn't agree with you more! We are also practicing the things you mentioned here at home.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the days to come....
~Malinda B (Colorado)
Hi Fiona, Thank you for the reminder to focus on the positive. I live in California and, well, staying on a positive note I'll just say I see 2021 being much better than 2020 has been here. Thank goodness for the vaccines!
ReplyDeleteYour description of laying down on the carpet and closing your eyes for a few minutes reminded me of what I do too. I will sometimes just sit in the living room and watch the dancing shadows playing off the foliage from our back yard, it's so beautiful and relaxing :)
D.
Hi Fiona,
ReplyDeleteI've been watching travel shows before bedtime these last few months. Rick Steves and Rudy Maxa are both so soothing, and I'd much prefer to wind down thinking about Tivoli Gardens or walking through the Cotswolds than panicking about the news. I also block Facebook on my laptop after 9pm so I can't get on and find an hour's gone and I'm more stressed.