#and the podcast is such a good way to brighten my mood and stay positive | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

dadjokestop · 3 months ago

Text

Mental Health Jokes

Mental Health Jokes! Mental health is an essential part of our overall well-being, and while it’s crucial to take it seriously, a little humor can go a long way in breaking the stigma and lightening the mood. Here’s a collection of mental health jokes that aim to bring smiles and remind us that it’s okay to laugh, even in tough times. So, let’s dive into these relatable, lighthearted jokes that can brighten your day! "Why did the therapist bring a ladder to the session?" To help the client reach new heights! "How do you know when you’re having a bad day?" When your coffee needs a coffee! "Why don’t skeletons ever get therapy?" Because they don’t have the guts to confront their feelings! "What did one anxious person say to the other?" “Do you want to worry about it together?” "Why was the computer cold at therapy?" Because it left its Windows open! "How do you cheer up a sad ghost?" You “boo”st their spirits! "What do you call a therapist who tells puns?" A pun-derful listener! "Why did the depressed scarecrow seek therapy?" He felt he was just standing around doing nothing! "Why did the introvert start a podcast?" Because they wanted to speak to people without actually seeing them! "How do you comfort a sad keyboard?" You give it a “space” to breathe! "Why did the mental health advocate bring a pencil to the meeting?" To draw attention to important issues! "What did the mindfulness coach say to the busy bee?" “Stop buzzing around and just be!” "Why was the yoga instructor so calm?" Because they always found their center! "What’s a mental health professional’s favorite type of music?" Anything that helps them unwind and find their “balance”! "Why did the anxious person bring a map to the support group?" Because they wanted to find their way out of their worries! "What do you call it when a therapist tells a good joke?" A therapy session with a punchline! "Why did the therapist go to the art gallery?" To find a new perspective on life! "How do you make a tissue dance?" You put a little boogie in it, just like finding joy in small things! "Why did the mental health advocate start a gardening club?" To help people grow and bloom in their own ways! "What did the psychologist say to the overwhelmed parent?" “Just take it one tantrum at a time!” "How does a therapist stay organized?" They always keep a “note” of their feelings! "What did the positive thinker say when things went wrong?" “It’s just a plot twist in my story!” "Why was the mindfulness expert always invited to parties?" Because they really knew how to “be” in the moment! "What’s a mental health professional’s favorite dessert?" Anything that’s “well-balanced”! Laughing Through Life’s Challenges And there you have it—a collection of mental health jokes designed to lighten the mood while promoting an understanding of the importance of mental well-being. Laughter is a fantastic tool for coping and connecting with others, especially when it comes to topics like mental health. So, whether you’re sharing these jokes with friends, family, or colleagues, remember that it’s okay to find humor in life’s challenges. Let’s continue to support each other and create a space where laughter and healing go hand in hand! Enjoy the fun and keep spreading those positive vibes!

0 notes

thelostcatpodcast · 5 years ago

Text

THE LOST CAT PODCAST TRANSCRIPTS: SEASON 3: EPISODE 07: LIFE IS PAIN

SEASON 3: EPISODE 07: LIFE IS PAIN Episode released 23rd April 2017 http://thelostcat.libsyn.com/season-3-episode-7-life-is-pain

Wine is made from fermented grapes. That’s all. We all know that. There’s no secret to it. But what makes wine, wine: that is what I found out the other day, and in doing so, the meaning of life.

THE LOST CAT PODCAST SEASON 3, BY A P CLARKE, EPISODE 7: LIFE IS PAIN

My friend's grandmother had died. This was not a particularly happy thing, yes, but she had lived a right old life. I had caught her dancing not six weeks ago. She had been on the gin. We had been on the gin too, last night, and too we had danced. And now we were at Gran's funeral, and my friend wore sunglasses inside. I could not close my mouth. And OK, fair enough: maybe this wasn't cool, but you have to remember that Gran would get drunk at every wedding and tell everyone who would listen the story about the old farmer and the horse that ran away. Often we would sit with her in the corner of whatever hall we were in, swapping stories, and drinks, until she'd decided she'd had enough to attempt dancing. "Dancing should not be done lightly," she would say. "But lightheadedly." And we had danced last night. And today, in the presence of death, we felt an awful lot like death. Which, OK, sounds like a joke a little too tastelessly cute, I realise, but we were not much in the mood for jokes that day, not feeling the way we did, anyway. That feeling that tells a wearying story of the world: where your toe stubs on every post, your foot snags on every crack in the pavement, your coat hits every glass as it passes. A world where everyone was angry, and shouting, and in your way, and where we are all inevitably falling apart. And the worst part of this story is that it feels like it was telling you the truth. As like a flower at night, we closed up tight. Now dear listener, I do not pretend to be proud of the state we were in, but I must report the facts. "Never again," said my friend. "Never again," I agreed. But truthfully, it sounded like a toast. We looked around for the bar, but only found the altar. Yeah OK, maybe that was a little embarrassing. It was a really nice church too, and one of the last in the area with a steeple and a graveyard and catacombs and everything. We had the decency to feel a little bit of shame, at least. But today, as we enetered, we felt something different too. We felt a presence. In the pulsing grey fog at the edge of our vision, I was sure I could see some things moving in between the pillars of the nave, keeping to the shadows away from anyone’s view. I snapped my eyes round, which did nothing for my head, but everytime I looked at the shadows where I thought they were they seemed to slither away, finding a deeper darkness to hide within. And as they got closer, they turned the people of the nave into harsh, blurred scratches, and made their gentle conversation seem harsh and discordant. The simple flourescant lights on the ceiling became blinding and nauseous. The wave of it bloomed in me like bacteria and all I could see were the tears in everyone’s clothes, the cracking of their teeth and the bloating of their skin. I stepped back with my friend, who was obviously feeling the same way. And we stepped towards the coffin of her Gran, and here it was calm and cool and fresh. I looked around, and these presences, these holes in the room, they were all converging on this spot, wrapping themselves around pillars, and snaking through the oblivious legs of the guests. It was clear to me. These things had come for Gran. They were drawn to her, and wanted to be near her. They wanted something from here. I said this to my friend. What I said was: "Gran... bad... monster things" And she agreed. She said: "Hrrrnnnggh." Again: I am not proud of what we did, but I can only report the facts. We were not going to let these things get Gran. So as the slithering approached, we picked up the coffin. We held Gran on our shoulders, and disappeared down the stairs in to the catacombs. For those wondering, Gran had been small anyway, and losing weight by the end as so many do, and the coffin was thin and cheap, for no-one had money for such things these days that did not matter so much. It was dark down there. So dark we could barely see a thing. We walked, carefully, but briskly down the long low-ceilinged hall of the catacombs, but then we saw the slithering in front of us too. We stopped. We started to head down a side tunnel, and the faint movement followed. Though it was so dark, they could still follow our every move. "They can hear us," I said. "Let us stay completely silent." "good idea," she agreed. And we did. But that crawling movement stayed locked on to our position. "They can sense Gran," my friend said. "That’s what they’re following. They’ll be able to get us any where. Put her down and we’ll fight them off if we have to." And I said "Hrrrnnngghh." So we stopped, put down Granny and turned to face the darkness. And out they came, slithering from the shadows on dozens and dozens of tiny, spindle-thin legs, dry slug-like creatures of segmented rippling pale gray skin emerged before us into the main body of the catacombs. The first It reared up. Beneath a heavy, hood of thick skin, was a strangely humanoid face, but distorted as if in pain, with infinitely deep lines along its forehead and down its cheeks. Its eyes were deep wells of wet black, buried deep in down-drooped sockets. The skin seemed in a constant state of movement rippling back from itself, as if trying to get away. "OK," said the creature. "Thank you for stopping. let’s all calm down. Let’s just... calm down." It moved its hands out and in a slow, calming movement of tamping something down gently, with a slight shake in its limbs suggesting how much effort it was having to put in to maintain this level of control. "Please do not move so much. It is like...an explosion to us. Please: have this:" And its colleague produced a bottle of wine. "You see," said the creature. "Why we are here is, we make wine. Would you like a glass?" "Certainly," said the both of us. And a shrinking creature scuttled towards us with two full glasses. We gingerly took them. All of this happened very slowly, so as not to cause any sudden shocks. We sniffed it, and it was so rich and dark and thick with the promise of relief. We took glorious, deep mouthfuls "Yes, we make wine," said the creature. "We make wine out of death." We both of us stared at the creature, and at the rich dark liquid in front of us, warming our throats as it slid so smoothly down, and we finished our large glasses of wine.

Wine, wine is like blood: I need it inside me. Do not waste a drop It proves useful in acts of debauchery

Wine, wine is like blood: it is an acquired taste. it reddens the cheek for a kiss and it marks the line twixt chaste and disgraced

Wine, wine is like love: it enflames my soul and when I do not have it I need it, I need it so.

Be careful when you take another's always leave them some. It makes a party more dangerous and always a lot more fun

Wine, wine is like blood: it makes an embarrassing stain. One is a symbol of God's sweet mercy and the other is blood.

Wine, wine is love: it enflames my heart and when it all runs out I fall apart. and when it all runs out I fall apart.

"No we are not going to eat your Granny." My friend said "Well I won’t let you if you try" And they both recoiled from the emotion in her voice. "Well we won’t." "Good." "Would you like some more?" "Yes please." And they re-filled our glasses. "No, we do not feed on the dead. We leave that for the likes of you. We feed on death. The long stillness of dis-animation. The cooling echoes of the space left behind. There is peace there, in the silence. There is solace there, in the cold. Comfort, in the darkness. Light is blinding. Noise, deafening. The heat, burning. Life is pain. You poor creatures, bound to your lives as you are, can not see the fire you are in. So we take that sweet death, and distill it into a liquid to give you all a glimpse of the promise of relief. "No," said my friend, still being defensive over my friend. "I do not accept this," And she stood between the goblins and the coffin. "You are deceiving us for some reason. Coldness is not a thing, but a lack of it. Darkness neither. Death is not a thing, and wine is not made of it." And the creature sighed. "Of course," it said. "I promise you we tell the truth. We only have the truth to tell. Wine is made of fermented grapes. Of course. That’s all it is. There is no secret, and everybody knows that. And life is chemicals reacting between neurons. Of course. That's all it is. There is no secret. There is no more meaning there than that. And yet, here you are. And yet, here we are. What are we to make of that?" We continued drinking the wine, and the creatures gave us more. "Are you here, though?" continued my friend. "Why do you hide?" "We feed on death. Think then, on the creatures that feed on life." and they looked towards the far end of the catacombs, which had begun to brighten. "We must be quick. Please let us feed on your grandmother’s death? These creatures: they are horrifying for us. A constant screaming. A thousand fireworks. A maelstrom of knives. A chaos. They come. They come for you. It is not your fault. You can not help it." A look of great pain passed across their faces again. "We can not be here for much longer." "Please," said my friend. "Take my Grandmother’s death. It is yours." And already we felt a rush in our bodies and a lift in our spirits, and already we could feel the memory of death fleeing from us as the crypt lit up from the far end. They approached. They looked like butterflies hovering above the ground on silk-thick wings, their hair filament-thin, it floated like a halo around faces so brightly lit they looked like babies. And we went and we hid with the cretures behind the coffin. Already we could see them shrinking from us. Already it was difficult to hear them over the rising noise, see them over the rising light." "They are decievers these things. they lie to you in your happiness, and hide our truth from your joy. In this way you become full of life for them to feed on." "We do not want our life fed on," I said. "Accept it, or do not. It is necessary. Or at least inevitable." "Maybe we can escape," I said. But I could see my words causing physical pain to the creature. "Listen please: in life, death. In death, life. Enjoy it. Live a full, good life. It will make the wine taste better." And with that they were gone. And then the bright creatures came, rising over the coffin and making the air vibrate. These bright shining butterflies. Their wings blinding us in their colour. Their every limb deafening us in their roar. And there was light and noise and heat all around us and all became a blur. They loosed their coiled tongues down toward us and we opened like flowers and all of the light rushed in. They found us, the rest of hte guests, laughing and singing with bottles of wine in our hands, over the coffin on Grandmother, deep in the catacombs of the church. We had some explaining to do. But there was wine, and we opened it and we explained that this is what Gran would have wanted, to have one last shock, one last break of a taboo, one last adventure. And as the wine went down, all agreed with this, and we all had a great night, that none remembered in the morning.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

Links

thelostcat.libsyn.com

twitter.com/LostCatPod

thelostcatpodcast.tumblr.com

facebook.com/lostcatpodcast

soundcloud.com/a-p-clarke/sets/the-lost-cat-podcast

apclarke.bandcamp.com/releases

#lost cat #cat #lost cat podcast #audio drama #audiodrama #podcast #transcript #monsters #horror #hangover #death #lifeispain

0 notes

cedarrrun · 7 years ago

Text

5 Steps to Recover from an Injury, On and Off the Mat

https://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/5-steps-to-recover-from-an-injury-on-and-off-the-mat You may be experiencing an injury and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. Here are 5 ways to recover mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Over the past two years, while dealing with a slow-healing hip injury, I’ve learned that injuries not only affect your physical life—which can have a major impact if you’re an active person or use your body for your profession, like I do—they can also take a toll on your mind, emotions, and finances. In this Yogaland Podcast, hosted by Andrea Ferretti, I go into full detail about my mental, physical, emotional, and financial experiences during my injury journey, plus challenges I’ve faced as a yoga teacher, what gave me hope, and what made my experience more manageable. Though the first six months post-injury were especially difficult, once I started to implement the following life-changing steps, my journey became a lot easier.

See also 4 Ways to Build Hip Stability + Prevent Injury

5 Steps to Recover from an Injury, On and Off the Mat 1. Take Care of Your Injury, but Don’t Let Your Injury Take Over Your Life. When dealing with an injury, obviously take good care of your body, avoid activities that make the injury worse, and be sure to get all the medical attention you need. If you know the healing process is going to take a long time, it’s important not to get your identity wrapped up with your injury. You are experiencing an injury, and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. There is more to you and your life than this particular experience.

I learned this lesson a long time ago when dealing with a health issue that influenced my entire digestive track, and got worse after I picked up a parasite in India. For the next couple of years, my entire world revolved around my stomach and colon—that was all I thought about, talked about, read about, etc. My health issue, and trying to fix it, became such a part of my life that it wasn’t healthy for me, or my relationships.

This time around, even though for the first six months I was in non-stop pain that affected my daily activities (I couldn’t even put shoes on unless they were flip-flops), my teaching, and my sleep, I refused to let this experience take over my life. I continue to meet with medical care professionals and do activities to support the healing process, but I don’t give this experience all of my attention. There is a big world out there and more to life than focusing on my hip.

The takeaway: Constantly talking and thinking about your injury, or any negative situation or setback, gives it more power. Focus on the positive aspects of your life while taking steps to get well.

2. Prioritize Self-Care. Feel the Feels, but Don’t Get Stuck There. Injuries not only take a toll on your body, they also do a number on you mental and emotional state, leaving you in a vulnerable place. The first few months post-injury, I experienced a lot of internal turmoil, anxiety, and depression. I questioned how I would be able to stand on my own two feet, literally and figuratively. I wondered how long would I be in this limited state, how would it affect my teaching and teaching career, what else could I do for work since I’d worked solely in the yoga world for well over a decade, and where would I live if I had to give up everything? The way I normally processed this type of anxiety would be by going for a walk or moving through an asana practice, but that wasn’t an option.

I discovered the best way to handle this period of instability was coming up with routines that helped me feel supported and whole. To de-stress, I found that I could swim with a buoy between my legs, which felt like a meditative practice in and of itself. I got a waterproof iPod and turned it into an underwater party. To brighten my mood, I reintroduced my body to the sun. I spent more time with friends, and discovered how much I love Jacuzzis, hot springs, bathhouses, listening to the ocean, and getting chair massages.

The takeaway: Figure out what makes you feel at ease and supported, and do it!

3. Rewire Your Thinking. Focus on What You Can Do Now. Post-injury, it’s easy to dwell on not having the same range of motion you once had or not having the capability to safely get into your favorite yoga postures. These limitations may last weeks, years, or even a lifetime. It’s normal to experience frustration and grieve your new limitations. That being said, continuing to focus on what “used to be” is not going to serve you or anyone else. It’s important not to get your identity, or value, wrapped up with your physical range of motion or capability. Your “do” is not your “who.“ You are not your yoga practice. The asana practice is only a tool to help connect you to something deeper than the physical body. Also, let go of the misconception that being able to do complex asanas equates to being an advanced yoga practitioner.

In the same way holding onto your past doesn’t serve you, putting unrealistic expectations on what your practice “should” look like by an arbitrary date isn’t healthy. Our timeline and Mother Nature’s timelines don’t always line up. It’s important to respect your body instead of pushing yourself too hard, which can lead to further setbacks. I learned this all too well in the first couple of weeks after my injury by pushing myself too hard, making my injury 100 times worse. Even after making my injury worse, I planned to be back to my normal practice in four to six months, while no doctor, both then and now, has been able to give me a timeline as to when I’ll be back to “normal.” Currently, I would be in a much better place and had an easier time healing had I backed off rather than pushed.

Two months into my injury, after experiencing a lot of depression and anxiety, I decided to rewire my mind. I sat down with a pen and paper and made an exhaustive list of everything I could do NOW, both on and off the mat. This was by far a turning point for me that gave me a much more positive outlook. I was so shocked and excited about all the things I could do, even while being in a limited state. For example, in addition to my new self-care activities, I realized how much I loved writing blogs and articles. I honed my verbal cues and realized I could still teach complex asanas in classes, workshops, and online by using students to demonstrate poses rather than my own body. I found out how much I enjoyed helping other teachers with their career path, and began developing a co-led 200-hour teacher training. I also went through a couple more teacher trainings, deepened my knowledge in anatomy, learned more about yoga injury prevention, and have become interested in yoga balls and therapeutic classes.

The takeaway: Focus on what you CAN do, not what you can’t do.

4. Don’t Let Go Of Your Practice—Work With What You’ve Got. It can be easy to dwell on what your practice used to look and feel like pre-injury. Though your practice may temporarily or permanently altered, instead of focusing on what you can’t do, figure out what you can safely do now, even if it’s one pose, such as Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) or a meditation practice.

Talk to your doctor or physical therapist and find out if there are any poses that may may reduce your pain or help heal your injury. For example, throughout my entire healing process, Viparita Karani has helped me reduce inflammation in my legs and hips and relax my pelvic floor muscles. Months after the initial injury, to help reduce pain, I added Downward-Facing Dog in wall ropes; a Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose (Supta Padangusthasana) variation in order to create space between the head of my femur bone and hip socket; and eventually Bridge Pose and one-legged Bridge Pose, to strengthen my gluteus and hamstring muscles, which tend to weaken when you have a hip injury.

Before doing any asana, ask yourself, “Is this pose going to help my injury, make it worse, or neither?” Don’t feel pressure to do any poses that aren’t going to support you getting better. Let your body be your guide. For poses that seem OK for you to do, be hypersensitive, take things slow, and be cautious when coming into a posture. Start with the most conservative variation of a pose and see how it feels before gradually going deeper. You might find the most conservative variation is the best variation for your body now and maybe even 10 years from now, and that’s OK. Its better to be safe than cause further harm to your body.

Let your yoga teacher know you are injured. If you have a minor injury, it might be OK for your teacher to adjust you during class. As for me, I don’t want anyone touching my body unless they are a medical professional. If there are poses offered in class that don’t seem best for you, find a couple of default poses that work for you. You can also ask your teacher for recommendations.

See also The 10 Rules of Hands-On Adjustments for Yoga Teachers

The takeaway: Let go of your ego. It’s important for you to let go of what you think a pose “should” look like. Don’t compare what your current practice looks like with what it used to look like, and don’t ever compare your practice with others.

5. Stay Positive About Your Future. Continue to Dream Big. In addition to focusing on what you can do now, keep your eyes on what you want to see manifest! One of the positive things my injury did was force me to slow down my hamster wheel and allow me to see that my wheel wasn’t rolling down the best, most sustainable path. It gave me a chance to rethink what I really wanted in life, both big and small. I asked myself, “What do I want? How do I want to feel?” I discovered that the majority of the things that I wanted either didn’t require having a fully mobile body, or by the time some of my wants manifested, I would have a more mobile body. For example, I wanted feelings of peace, abundance, and stability. I wanted more quiet time, and more time to see my family my friends. I wanted to help animals and build water wells. I wanted to spend more time in nature, go clothes shopping (it’s been years), get a Vitamix (I finally got one!), take a vacation at least once a year (it had been years!), and have my own house. I wanted to use my gifts and talents, both known and unknown, in the best ways. Teaching-wise, I decided I wanted to take a slightly different direction, but I listed many of the same desires I had pre-injury. I wanted to work more with Yoga Journal (which I’m doing!), teach more online classes, learn more about yoga injury prevention, teach at more national and international workshops and festivals, and lead teacher trainings.

The takeaway: Don’t waste any time on being bitter. Don’t let your injury limit you now or your future. Where the mind goes, the man (or woman) follows! You may find the same dreams you had pre-injury can still happen post-injury. Let your setbacks become your divine set-ups. Dream big.

Hear Laura’s story come to life and learn how she turned the fear and difficulty of injury into a catalyst for positive change on Yogaland Podcast.

0 notes

chocolate-brownies · 7 years ago

Text

5 Steps to Recover from an Injury, On and Off the Mat

5 Steps to Recover from an Injury, On and Off the Mat:

You may be experiencing an injury and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. Here are 5 ways to recover mentally, physically, and emotionally.

See also 4 Ways to Build Hip Stability + Prevent Injury

5 Steps to Recover from an Injury, On and Off the Mat

1. Take Care of Your Injury, but Don’t Let Your Injury Take Over Your Life.

When dealing with an injury, obviously take good care of your body, avoid activities that make the injury worse, and be sure to get all the medical attention you need. If you know the healing process is going to take a long time, it’s important not to get your identity wrapped up with your injury. You are experiencing an injury, and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. There is more to you and your life than this particular experience.

The takeaway: Constantly talking and thinking about your injury, or any negative situation or setback, gives it more power. Focus on the positive aspects of your life while taking steps to get well.

2. Prioritize Self-Care. Feel the Feels, but Don’t Get Stuck There.

Injuries not only take a toll on your body, they also do a number on you mental and emotional state, leaving you in a vulnerable place. The first few months post-injury, I experienced a lot of internal turmoil, anxiety, and depression. I questioned how I would be able to stand on my own two feet, literally and figuratively. I wondered how long would I be in this limited state, how would it affect my teaching and teaching career, what else could I do for work since I’d worked solely in the yoga world for well over a decade, and where would I live if I had to give up everything? The way I normally processed this type of anxiety would be by going for a walk or moving through an asana practice, but that wasn’t an option.

The takeaway: Figure out what makes you feel at ease and supported, and do it!

3. Rewire Your Thinking. Focus on What You Can Do Now.

Post-injury, it’s easy to dwell on not having the same range of motion you once had or not having the capability to safely get into your favorite yoga postures. These limitations may last weeks, years, or even a lifetime. It’s normal to experience frustration and grieve your new limitations. That being said, continuing to focus on what “used to be” is not going to serve you or anyone else. It’s important not to get your identity, or value, wrapped up with your physical range of motion or capability. Your “do” is not your “who.“ You are not your yoga practice. The asana practice is only a tool to help connect you to something deeper than the physical body. Also, let go of the misconception that being able to do complex asanas equates to being an advanced yoga practitioner.

In the same way holding onto your past doesn’t serve you, putting unrealistic expectations on what your practice “should” look like by an arbitrary date isn’t healthy. Our timeline and Mother Nature’s timelines don’t always line up. It’s important to respect your body instead of pushing yourself too hard, which can lead to further setbacks. I learned this all too well in the first couple of weeks after my injury by pushing myself too hard, making my injury 100 times worse. Even after making my injury worse, I planned to be back to my normal practice in four to six months, while no doctor, both then and now, has been able to give me a timeline as to when I’ll be back to “normal." Currently, I would be in a much better place and had an easier time healing had I backed off rather than pushed.

The takeaway: Focus on what you CAN do, not what you can’t do.

4. Don’t Let Go Of Your Practice—Work With What You’ve Got.

It can be easy to dwell on what your practice used to look and feel like pre-injury. Though your practice may temporarily or permanently altered, instead of focusing on what you can’t do, figure out what you can safely do now, even if it’s one pose, such as Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) or a meditation practice.

Before doing any asana, ask yourself, "Is this pose going to help my injury, make it worse, or neither?” Don’t feel pressure to do any poses that aren’t going to support you getting better. Let your body be your guide. For poses that seem OK for you to do, be hypersensitive, take things slow, and be cautious when coming into a posture. Start with the most conservative variation of a pose and see how it feels before gradually going deeper. You might find the most conservative variation is the best variation for your body now and maybe even 10 years from now, and that’s OK. Its better to be safe than cause further harm to your body.

See also The 10 Rules of Hands-On Adjustments for Yoga Teachers

5. Stay Positive About Your Future. Continue to Dream Big.

In addition to focusing on what you can do now, keep your eyes on what you want to see manifest! One of the positive things my injury did was force me to slow down my hamster wheel and allow me to see that my wheel wasn’t rolling down the best, most sustainable path. It gave me a chance to rethink what I really wanted in life, both big and small. I asked myself, “What do I want? How do I want to feel?” I discovered that the majority of the things that I wanted either didn’t require having a fully mobile body, or by the time some of my wants manifested, I would have a more mobile body. For example, I wanted feelings of peace, abundance, and stability. I wanted more quiet time, and more time to see my family my friends. I wanted to help animals and build water wells. I wanted to spend more time in nature, go clothes shopping (it’s been years), get a Vitamix (I finally got one!), take a vacation at least once a year (it had been years!), and have my own house. I wanted to use my gifts and talents, both known and unknown, in the best ways. Teaching-wise, I decided I wanted to take a slightly different direction, but I listed many of the same desires I had pre-injury. I wanted to work more with Yoga Journal (which I’m doing!), teach more online classes, learn more about yoga injury prevention, teach at more national and international workshops and festivals, and lead teacher trainings.

Hear Laura’s story come to life and learn how she turned the fear and difficulty of injury into a catalyst for positive change on Yogaland Podcast.

0 notes

krisiunicornio · 7 years ago

Link

You may be experiencing an injury and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. Here are 5 ways to recover mentally, physically, and emotionally.

See also 4 Ways to Build Hip Stability + Prevent Injury

5 Steps to Recover from an Injury, On and Off the Mat

1. Take Care of Your Injury, but Don’t Let Your Injury Take Over Your Life.

When dealing with an injury, obviously take good care of your body, avoid activities that make the injury worse, and be sure to get all the medical attention you need. If you know the healing process is going to take a long time, it's important not to get your identity wrapped up with your injury. You are experiencing an injury, and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. There is more to you and your life than this particular experience.

The takeaway: Constantly talking and thinking about your injury, or any negative situation or setback, gives it more power. Focus on the positive aspects of your life while taking steps to get well.

2. Prioritize Self-Care. Feel the Feels, but Don’t Get Stuck There.

Injuries not only take a toll on your body, they also do a number on you mental and emotional state, leaving you in a vulnerable place. The first few months post-injury, I experienced a lot of internal turmoil, anxiety, and depression. I questioned how I would be able to stand on my own two feet, literally and figuratively. I wondered how long would I be in this limited state, how would it affect my teaching and teaching career, what else could I do for work since I'd worked solely in the yoga world for well over a decade, and where would I live if I had to give up everything? The way I normally processed this type of anxiety would be by going for a walk or moving through an asana practice, but that wasn’t an option.

The takeaway: Figure out what makes you feel at ease and supported, and do it!

3. Rewire Your Thinking. Focus on What You Can Do Now.

Post-injury, it’s easy to dwell on not having the same range of motion you once had or not having the capability to safely get into your favorite yoga postures. These limitations may last weeks, years, or even a lifetime. It’s normal to experience frustration and grieve your new limitations. That being said, continuing to focus on what “used to be” is not going to serve you or anyone else. It’s important not to get your identity, or value, wrapped up with your physical range of motion or capability. Your “do” is not your “who." You are not your yoga practice. The asana practice is only a tool to help connect you to something deeper than the physical body. Also, let go of the misconception that being able to do complex asanas equates to being an advanced yoga practitioner.

In the same way holding onto your past doesn’t serve you, putting unrealistic expectations on what your practice “should” look like by an arbitrary date isn't healthy. Our timeline and Mother Nature’s timelines don't always line up. It’s important to respect your body instead of pushing yourself too hard, which can lead to further setbacks. I learned this all too well in the first couple of weeks after my injury by pushing myself too hard, making my injury 100 times worse. Even after making my injury worse, I planned to be back to my normal practice in four to six months, while no doctor, both then and now, has been able to give me a timeline as to when I’ll be back to “normal." Currently, I would be in a much better place and had an easier time healing had I backed off rather than pushed.

The takeaway: Focus on what you CAN do, not what you can't do.

4. Don’t Let Go Of Your Practice—Work With What You've Got.

Before doing any asana, ask yourself, "Is this pose going to help my injury, make it worse, or neither?" Don’t feel pressure to do any poses that aren’t going to support you getting better. Let your body be your guide. For poses that seem OK for you to do, be hypersensitive, take things slow, and be cautious when coming into a posture. Start with the most conservative variation of a pose and see how it feels before gradually going deeper. You might find the most conservative variation is the best variation for your body now and maybe even 10 years from now, and that's OK. Its better to be safe than cause further harm to your body.

See also The 10 Rules of Hands-On Adjustments for Yoga Teachers

5. Stay Positive About Your Future. Continue to Dream Big.

In addition to focusing on what you can do now, keep your eyes on what you want to see manifest! One of the positive things my injury did was force me to slow down my hamster wheel and allow me to see that my wheel wasn’t rolling down the best, most sustainable path. It gave me a chance to rethink what I really wanted in life, both big and small. I asked myself, "What do I want? How do I want to feel?" I discovered that the majority of the things that I wanted either didn’t require having a fully mobile body, or by the time some of my wants manifested, I would have a more mobile body. For example, I wanted feelings of peace, abundance, and stability. I wanted more quiet time, and more time to see my family my friends. I wanted to help animals and build water wells. I wanted to spend more time in nature, go clothes shopping (it's been years), get a Vitamix (I finally got one!), take a vacation at least once a year (it had been years!), and have my own house. I wanted to use my gifts and talents, both known and unknown, in the best ways. Teaching-wise, I decided I wanted to take a slightly different direction, but I listed many of the same desires I had pre-injury. I wanted to work more with Yoga Journal (which I’m doing!), teach more online classes, learn more about yoga injury prevention, teach at more national and international workshops and festivals, and lead teacher trainings.

Hear Laura's story come to life and learn how she turned the fear and difficulty of injury into a catalyst for positive change on Yogaland Podcast.

#sleep sounds #sleep music #white noise app #nature sounds #relaxing sounds #rain sounds for sleeping

0 notes

remedialmassage · 7 years ago

Text

5 Steps to Recover from an Injury, On and Off the Mat

You may be experiencing an injury and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. Here are 5 ways to recover mentally, physically, and emotionally.

See also 4 Ways to Build Hip Stability + Prevent Injury

5 Steps to Recover from an Injury, On and Off the Mat

1. Take Care of Your Injury, but Don’t Let Your Injury Take Over Your Life.

When dealing with an injury, obviously take good care of your body, avoid activities that make the injury worse, and be sure to get all the medical attention you need. If you know the healing process is going to take a long time, it's important not to get your identity wrapped up with your injury. You are experiencing an injury, and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. There is more to you and your life than this particular experience.

The takeaway: Constantly talking and thinking about your injury, or any negative situation or setback, gives it more power. Focus on the positive aspects of your life while taking steps to get well.

2. Prioritize Self-Care. Feel the Feels, but Don’t Get Stuck There.

Injuries not only take a toll on your body, they also do a number on you mental and emotional state, leaving you in a vulnerable place. The first few months post-injury, I experienced a lot of internal turmoil, anxiety, and depression. I questioned how I would be able to stand on my own two feet, literally and figuratively. I wondered how long would I be in this limited state, how would it affect my teaching and teaching career, what else could I do for work since I'd worked solely in the yoga world for well over a decade, and where would I live if I had to give up everything? The way I normally processed this type of anxiety would be by going for a walk or moving through an asana practice, but that wasn’t an option.

The takeaway: Figure out what makes you feel at ease and supported, and do it!

3. Rewire Your Thinking. Focus on What You Can Do Now.

Post-injury, it’s easy to dwell on not having the same range of motion you once had or not having the capability to safely get into your favorite yoga postures. These limitations may last weeks, years, or even a lifetime. It’s normal to experience frustration and grieve your new limitations. That being said, continuing to focus on what “used to be” is not going to serve you or anyone else. It’s important not to get your identity, or value, wrapped up with your physical range of motion or capability. Your “do” is not your “who." You are not your yoga practice. The asana practice is only a tool to help connect you to something deeper than the physical body. Also, let go of the misconception that being able to do complex asanas equates to being an advanced yoga practitioner.

The takeaway: Focus on what you CAN do, not what you can't do.

4. Don’t Let Go Of Your Practice—Work With What You've Got.

See also The 10 Rules of Hands-On Adjustments for Yoga Teachers

5. Stay Positive About Your Future. Continue to Dream Big.

In addition to focusing on what you can do now, keep your eyes on what you want to see manifest! One of the positive things my injury did was force me to slow down my hamster wheel and allow me to see that my wheel wasn’t rolling down the best, most sustainable path. It gave me a chance to rethink what I really wanted in life, both big and small. I asked myself, "What do I want? How do I want to feel?" I discovered that the majority of the things that I wanted either didn’t require having a fully mobile body, or by the time some of my wants manifested, I would have a more mobile body. For example, I wanted feelings of peace, abundance, and stability. I wanted more quiet time, and more time to see my family my friends. I wanted to help animals and build water wells. I wanted to spend more time in nature, go clothes shopping (it's been years), get a Vitamix (I finally got one!), take a vacation at least once a year (it had been years!), and have my own house. I wanted to use my gifts and talents, both known and unknown, in the best ways. Teaching-wise, I decided I wanted to take a slightly different direction, but I listed many of the same desires I had pre-injury. I wanted to work more with Yoga Journal (which I’m doing!), teach more online classes, learn more about yoga injury prevention, teach at more national and international workshops and festivals, and lead teacher trainings.

Hear Laura's story come to life and learn how she turned the fear and difficulty of injury into a catalyst for positive change on Yogaland Podcast.

from Yoga Journal https://ift.tt/2jn4roK

#Yoga Journal

0 notes

amyddaniels · 7 years ago

Text

5 Steps to Recover from an Injury, On and Off the Mat

You may be experiencing an injury and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. Here are 5 ways to recover mentally, physically, and emotionally.

See also 4 Ways to Build Hip Stability + Prevent Injury

5 Steps to Recover from an Injury, On and Off the Mat

1. Take Care of Your Injury, but Don’t Let Your Injury Take Over Your Life.

When dealing with an injury, obviously take good care of your body, avoid activities that make the injury worse, and be sure to get all the medical attention you need. If you know the healing process is going to take a long time, it's important not to get your identity wrapped up with your injury. You are experiencing an injury, and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. There is more to you and your life than this particular experience.

The takeaway: Constantly talking and thinking about your injury, or any negative situation or setback, gives it more power. Focus on the positive aspects of your life while taking steps to get well.

2. Prioritize Self-Care. Feel the Feels, but Don’t Get Stuck There.

Injuries not only take a toll on your body, they also do a number on you mental and emotional state, leaving you in a vulnerable place. The first few months post-injury, I experienced a lot of internal turmoil, anxiety, and depression. I questioned how I would be able to stand on my own two feet, literally and figuratively. I wondered how long would I be in this limited state, how would it affect my teaching and teaching career, what else could I do for work since I'd worked solely in the yoga world for well over a decade, and where would I live if I had to give up everything? The way I normally processed this type of anxiety would be by going for a walk or moving through an asana practice, but that wasn’t an option.

The takeaway: Figure out what makes you feel at ease and supported, and do it!

3. Rewire Your Thinking. Focus on What You Can Do Now.

Post-injury, it’s easy to dwell on not having the same range of motion you once had or not having the capability to safely get into your favorite yoga postures. These limitations may last weeks, years, or even a lifetime. It’s normal to experience frustration and grieve your new limitations. That being said, continuing to focus on what “used to be” is not going to serve you or anyone else. It’s important not to get your identity, or value, wrapped up with your physical range of motion or capability. Your “do” is not your “who." You are not your yoga practice. The asana practice is only a tool to help connect you to something deeper than the physical body. Also, let go of the misconception that being able to do complex asanas equates to being an advanced yoga practitioner.

The takeaway: Focus on what you CAN do, not what you can't do.

4. Don’t Let Go Of Your Practice—Work With What You've Got.

See also The 10 Rules of Hands-On Adjustments for Yoga Teachers

5. Stay Positive About Your Future. Continue to Dream Big.

In addition to focusing on what you can do now, keep your eyes on what you want to see manifest! One of the positive things my injury did was force me to slow down my hamster wheel and allow me to see that my wheel wasn’t rolling down the best, most sustainable path. It gave me a chance to rethink what I really wanted in life, both big and small. I asked myself, "What do I want? How do I want to feel?" I discovered that the majority of the things that I wanted either didn’t require having a fully mobile body, or by the time some of my wants manifested, I would have a more mobile body. For example, I wanted feelings of peace, abundance, and stability. I wanted more quiet time, and more time to see my family my friends. I wanted to help animals and build water wells. I wanted to spend more time in nature, go clothes shopping (it's been years), get a Vitamix (I finally got one!), take a vacation at least once a year (it had been years!), and have my own house. I wanted to use my gifts and talents, both known and unknown, in the best ways. Teaching-wise, I decided I wanted to take a slightly different direction, but I listed many of the same desires I had pre-injury. I wanted to work more with Yoga Journal (which I’m doing!), teach more online classes, learn more about yoga injury prevention, teach at more national and international workshops and festivals, and lead teacher trainings.

Hear Laura's story come to life and learn how she turned the fear and difficulty of injury into a catalyst for positive change on Yogaland Podcast.

0 notes

zillowcondo · 8 years ago

Text

163: Learn How to Truly Savor Everyday Moments & Watch It Elevate Your Life

~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #163

~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio

“Growing your inner strengths through taking in the good is like deepening the keel of a sailboat so that it’s less jostled by the worldly winds, it recovers more quickly from big storms, and you can now safely head out into deeper waters in pursuit of your dreams.” —Rick Hanson, author of Hardwiring Happiness

And the how is exactly what made the most sense to me above any other book I have read upon reading Hardwiring Happiness.

Simply put, we need to deeply savor the good that occurs in our lives, the small as well as the overtly large and as we do, we begin to build new synapses into our brain, enabling it to expect the good rather than spontaneously always looking for the bad.

The skill that we all need to develop, practice multiple times a day and then use habitually is to take in the good. What is meant by this is a four step process which Hanson outlines in his book, but essentially it is to be present in your life, to be engaged, to be paying attention, and thus, to recognize, and then savor those moments, no matter how small or large, that are good.

“By taking just a few extra seconds to stay with a positive experience you’ll help turn a passing mental state into lasting neural structure . . . the practice brings you into the present moment and teaches you to have more control over your attention.”

An analogy (and he uses an abundance of them throughout the book which I found quite helpful) Hanson uses to describe the three step process of rewiring the brain is comparing it to making a fire: “Step 1 lights it, step 2 adds fuel to keep it going, and step 3 fills you with its warmth.” He also further explains that often step 2 & 3 overlap which makes sense because you can adding wood to the fire to keep it going as you are remaining warm.

To repeat the steps (notice the acronym – HEAL):

Have a positive experience

Enrich the experience

Absorb the experience

(optional step) Link positive and negative material so that positive soothes and even replaces negative

Why? Dr. Hanson dives deeply into this, but a basic synopsis is “In a positive circle, feeling better helps you act better, which helps the world treat you better, which helps you feel better.”

And on the flip-side, if we continue to let negative events run through our minds and become absorbed by them, we are making tracks in our mind, strengthening synapses that reinforce the need to be on the look out for negative and thus reactive rather than responsive which I detailed in episode #145 of the podcast.

In fact, Dr. Hanson points out due to our ancestral need for survival which actually impedes our way of life in the 21st century, our brain is designed in such a away that “negative stimuli are perceived more rapidly and easily than positive stimuli”. In other words, “the default setting of the brain is to overestimate threats and underestimate opportunities and underestimate resources both for coping with threats and for fulfilling opportunities”. Which is why, it requires a conscious effort to rewire the brain to be less fearful and more positive seeking, and if we do nothing, the above hereditary scenario will persist throughout the duration of our lives blocking us from attaining our full potential.

Knowledge of how the brain works is power. And upon reading the book, if further understanding of the most powerful tool in your body is of interest to you, you will appreciate this book and how he delivers the information.

Let’s talk about the “how” of savoring the good moments, both enriching them and absorbing them.

1. Slow down

In order to recognize when a good moment has occurred, we need to slow down. At that time, take 10 more seconds to just fully observe, imprint in your memory what is going well.

2. Become fully aware of what surrounds you

Being present in the now will help you to be fully aware of all that is going on, all that is going well and even if certain things are not, because you are fully aware, you can put it into perspective, bring forward the good and ratcheting down the not so good so that it doesn’t become more inflamed than it needs to be.

3. Strengthen emotional intelligence

There are many components to being emotionally intelligent (I go in detail in episode #140), but the key component to rewiring your brain is to be able to identify your emotions and what you are feeling accurately. And then once you understand what you are feeling, if it is a positive feeling, you can grow the feeling into a mood – for example as Dr. Hanson points out, you can grow a feeling of gladness and gratitude into a mood of contentment. Conversely, if you recognize you are feeling sad about something, you can combat the feeling from developing into a mood of depression simply by recognizing what you are feeling, why you are feeling and combating it by shifting your mind and even your environment to a positive scenario so that your mind doesn’t become fixating on something that isn’t productive or helpful.

4. Instead of wanting, choose to like or appreciate the moment

Often we are fully aware that a moment or an experience is exponentially good and because we know it is good, we want more of it. But by wanting, as Hanson points out, we aren’t experiencing what is going on right now. We are removing ourselves from the situation and acting in such a way that reveals we unconsciously feel we lack something, thus the “want”. In fact, our “want” is killing any growth of more goodness.

Instead, be present, enjoy what is occurring, appreciate it for what it is without cajoling to trying to make more and relish what you have the opportunity to be amongst. As I have learned upon bringing more appreciative and secure people into my life, is that when such beautiful moments happen, I can take that moment with me in my memory so long as I savor the experience and allow my memory to absorb it fully and then replay it whenever I need to to brighten my future days. Again, more is not better, simply deepen what you are given by following the three step process: have a good experience, enrich it/savor it and absorb it/commit it to memory.

5. Give yourself permission

I recently was listening to Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio podcast, and he was interviewing Nigella Lawson who stated on the topic of guilty pleasures, “Look, if you feel guilty about pleasure, you don’t deserve to have pleasure.” Back in 2013 I wrote a post about the difference between pleasure and joy, and while one is not bad and the other good, knowing where each is derived is important. However, with regards to rewiring the brain, anytime we observe and experience a pleasure, we can turn the pleasure into joy which is something entirely within our own control. For example, I pulled an excerpt from the post mentioned above. Here is a list of how to welcome more joy into your life, and upon doing so, you can make all of these moments opportunities to rewire your brain as you shift to a more contented way of living each and every day.

1. Look inward – become at peace with who you are, and celebrate your uniqueness.

2. Take time to meditate, pray and be still.

3. Allow external inspiration (art, nature, music, conversation) to stir your inner creativity, and act upon those moments of inspiration – create, dream and act according to what is provoked within you.

4. Figure out your purpose/passion and then go pursue it

5. Be thankful for what you already have, rather than what you lack

6. Give when you have the resources, time and energy to do so

7. Pursue avenues/dreams that are meaningful and align with your values

8. Plan activities that cultivate more moments of joy – simple meals, gatherings, events that you are curious about, etc.

The conclusion of Hardwiring Happiness that drove the point home for me of choosing to take on the task of changing the hardwiring my brain (because initially it will have to be an entirely conscious choice) was the realization that when we shift away from seeking more happiness and running or trying to avoid pain, we come to recognize that we have the ability to be content wherever we are at any given moment. We have that power. We do not have to chase it, we don’t have to run from what we perceive as bad moments. Because as we begin to live more consciously, as we begin to focus on the good, take it in fully and commit it to memory, we begin to build a life that snowballs in the best of ways. The cycle that was mentioned above strengthens and we attract people, moments and environments that are full of goodness to appreciate because we are someone who brings and cultivates moments of goodness in our lives and those around us.

“Taking in the good is not about chasing after pleasure or chasing away pain. It’s about bringing the chase to an end.”

~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

~How to Be the Master of Your Mind

~11 Ways to Live More Mindfully

~From Seeking Happiness to Cultivating Contentment: A Shift in What We Pursue (podcast)

Petit Plaisir:

~The perfect simple and delicious appetizer for summer: Melons & Prosciutto (cantaloupe & cured ham)

History: An Italian antipasti favorite, dating back to the second century, it was Galeno, a doctor during this time who believed that the combination of these two ingredients was the perfect way to incorporate the four things a being needed to feed what he believed each human was made of – warm, cold, dry and juicy corresponding to the four elements fire, air, earth and water. The melon was cold and juicy and the cured ham was dry and warm (salty and cured). Learn more here.

~The other appetizers are Tangy Cucumber Bites (recipe here) and figs with chèvre.

All images via TSLL’s Instagram & IG stories

SaveSaveSaveSave

Download the Episode

163: Learn How to Truly Savor Everyday Moments & Watch It Elevate Your Life published first on http://ift.tt/2pewpEF

0 notes

thesimplyluxuriouslife · 8 years ago

Text

163: Learn How to Truly Savor Everyday Moments & Watch It Elevate Your Life

~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #163

~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio

"Growing your inner strengths through taking in the good is like deepening the keel of a sailboat so that it's less jostled by the worldly winds, it recovers more quickly from big storms, and you can now safely head out into deeper waters in pursuit of your dreams." —Rick Hanson, author of Hardwiring Happiness

The founding premise of the book Hardwiring Happiness is change your brain, change your life for the better. Having discussed this fact before on the blog/podcast, it may not appear to be profound on the surface, but what always keeps me reading is how do we change our brain to change our lives for the better, how does it actually work neurologically? And the how is exactly what made the most sense to me above any other book I have read upon reading Hardwiring Happiness. Simply put, we need to deeply savor the good that occurs in our lives, the small as well as the overtly large and as we do, we begin to build new synapses into our brain, enabling it to expect the good rather than spontaneously always looking for the bad. The skill that we all need to develop, practice multiple times a day and then use habitually is to take in the good. What is meant by this is a four step process which Hanson outlines in his book, but essentially it is to be present in your life, to be engaged, to be paying attention, and thus, to recognize, and then savor those moments, no matter how small or large, that are good.

"By taking just a few extra seconds to stay with a positive experience you'll help turn a passing mental state into lasting neural structure . . . the practice brings you into the present moment and teaches you to have more control over your attention."

Did you wake up and feel rested? Savor this moment for 10 more seconds and let it truly be absorbed by your mind. Did you receive a loving gesture from your partner? Slow down and savor it, engraining into your memory to be appreciated even after the moment has passed. Did you feel safe in your home last night? Tip your hat to the world you have created and take a deep breath to again welcome even more appreciation of the fact into your being. An analogy (and he uses an abundance of them throughout the book which I found quite helpful) Hanson uses to describe the three step process of rewiring the brain is comparing it to making a fire: "Step 1 lights it, step 2 adds fuel to keep it going, and step 3 fills you with its warmth." He also further explains that often step 2 & 3 overlap which makes sense because you can adding wood to the fire to keep it going as you are remaining warm. To repeat the steps (notice the acronym - HEAL):

Have a positive experience

Enrich the experience

Absorb the experience

(optional step) Link positive and negative material so that positive soothes and even replaces negative

All of this may sound overly simplified, but after reading and coming to understand how the brain works, how it creates paths of memory and why it has evolved the way it has, Dr. Hanson, who is a neuropsychologist, demonstrates that it is in the daily routines and the daily tracks we allow to run through our mind that create a happier, I like to use the word contented, way of living every single day not matter what is going on outside of us. Why? Dr. Hanson dives deeply into this, but a basic synopsis is "In a positive circle, feeling better helps you act better, which helps the world treat you better, which helps you feel better." And on the flip-side, if we continue to let negative events run through our minds and become absorbed by them, we are making tracks in our mind, strengthening synapses that reinforce the need to be on the look out for negative and thus reactive rather than responsive which I detailed in episode #145 of the podcast. In fact, Dr. Hanson points out due to our ancestral need for survival which actually impedes our way of life in the 21st century, our brain is designed in such a away that "negative stimuli are perceived more rapidly and easily than positive stimuli". In other words, "the default setting of the brain is to overestimate threats and underestimate opportunities and underestimate resources both for coping with threats and for fulfilling opportunities". Which is why, it requires a conscious effort to rewire the brain to be less fearful and more positive seeking, and if we do nothing, the above hereditary scenario will persist throughout the duration of our lives blocking us from attaining our full potential. Knowledge of how the brain works is power. And upon reading the book, if further understanding of the most powerful tool in your body is of interest to you, you will appreciate this book and how he delivers the information. Let's talk about the "how" of savoring the good moments, both enriching them and absorbing them. 1. Slow down In order to recognize when a good moment has occurred, we need to slow down. At that time, take 10 more seconds to just fully observe, imprint in your memory what is going well. 2. Become fully aware of what surrounds you Being present in the now will help you to be fully aware of all that is going on, all that is going well and even if certain things are not, because you are fully aware, you can put it into perspective, bring forward the good and ratcheting down the not so good so that it doesn't become more inflamed than it needs to be. 3. Strengthen emotional intelligence There are many components to being emotionally intelligent (I go in detail in episode #140), but the key component to rewiring your brain is to be able to identify your emotions and what you are feeling accurately. And then once you understand what you are feeling, if it is a positive feeling, you can grow the feeling into a mood - for example as Dr. Hanson points out, you can grow a feeling of gladness and gratitude into a mood of contentment. Conversely, if you recognize you are feeling sad about something, you can combat the feeling from developing into a mood of depression simply by recognizing what you are feeling, why you are feeling and combating it by shifting your mind and even your environment to a positive scenario so that your mind doesn't become fixating on something that isn't productive or helpful. 4. Instead of wanting, choose to like or appreciate the moment Often we are fully aware that a moment or an experience is exponentially good and because we know it is good, we want more of it. But by wanting, as Hanson points out, we aren't experiencing what is going on right now. We are removing ourselves from the situation and acting in such a way that reveals we unconsciously feel we lack something, thus the "want". In fact, our "want" is killing any growth of more goodness. Instead, be present, enjoy what is occurring, appreciate it for what it is without cajoling to trying to make more and relish what you have the opportunity to be amongst. As I have learned upon bringing more appreciative and secure people into my life, is that when such beautiful moments happen, I can take that moment with me in my memory so long as I savor the experience and allow my memory to absorb it fully and then replay it whenever I need to to brighten my future days. Again, more is not better, simply deepen what you are given by following the three step process: have a good experience, enrich it/savor it and absorb it/commit it to memory. 5. Give yourself permission I recently was listening to Christopher Kimball's Milk Street Radio podcast, and he was interviewing Nigella Lawson who stated on the topic of guilty pleasures, "Look, if you feel guilty about pleasure, you don't deserve to have pleasure." Back in 2013 I wrote a post about the difference between pleasure and joy, and while one is not bad and the other good, knowing where each is derived is important. However, with regards to rewiring the brain, anytime we observe and experience a pleasure, we can turn the pleasure into joy which is something entirely within our own control. For example, I pulled an excerpt from the post mentioned above. Here is a list of how to welcome more joy into your life, and upon doing so, you can make all of these moments opportunities to rewire your brain as you shift to a more contented way of living each and every day. 1. Look inward – become at peace with who you are, and celebrate your uniqueness. 2. Take time to meditate, pray and be still. 3. Allow external inspiration (art, nature, music, conversation) to stir your inner creativity, and act upon those moments of inspiration – create, dream and act according to what is provoked within you. 4. Figure out your purpose/passion and then go pursue it 5. Be thankful for what you already have, rather than what you lack 6. Give when you have the resources, time and energy to do so 7. Pursue avenues/dreams that are meaningful and align with your values 8. Plan activities that cultivate more moments of joy – simple meals, gatherings, events that you are curious about, etc. The conclusion of Hardwiring Happiness that drove the point home for me of choosing to take on the task of changing the hardwiring my brain (because initially it will have to be an entirely conscious choice) was the realization that when we shift away from seeking more happiness and running or trying to avoid pain, we come to recognize that we have the ability to be content wherever we are at any given moment. We have that power. We do not have to chase it, we don't have to run from what we perceive as bad moments. Because as we begin to live more consciously, as we begin to focus on the good, take it in fully and commit it to memory, we begin to build a life that snowballs in the best of ways. The cycle that was mentioned above strengthens and we attract people, moments and environments that are full of goodness to appreciate because we are someone who brings and cultivates moments of goodness in our lives and those around us.

"Taking in the good is not about chasing after pleasure or chasing away pain. It's about bringing the chase to an end."

~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

~How to Be the Master of Your Mind

~11 Ways to Live More Mindfully

~From Seeking Happiness to Cultivating Contentment: A Shift in What We Pursue (podcast)

Petit Plaisir:

~The perfect simple and delicious appetizer for summer: Melons & Prosciutto (cantaloupe & cured ham)

History: An Italian antipasti favorite, dating back to the second century, it was Galeno, a doctor during this time who believed that the combination of these two ingredients was the perfect way to incorporate the four things a being needed to feed what he believed each human was made of - warm, cold, dry and juicy corresponding to the four elements fire, air, earth and water. The melon was cold and juicy and the cured ham was dry and warm (salty and cured). Learn more here.

~The other appetizers are Tangy Cucumber Bites (recipe here) and figs with chèvre.

All images via TSLL's Instagram & IG stories

SaveSaveSaveSave

Tune in to the latest episode of The Simple Sophisticate podcast

#tsllpodcast thesimplesophisticate

0 notes

cedarrrun · 7 years ago

Link

You may be experiencing an injury and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. Here are 5 ways to recover mentally, physically, and emotionally.

See also 4 Ways to Build Hip Stability + Prevent Injury

5 Steps to Recover from an Injury, On and Off the Mat

1. Take Care of Your Injury, but Don’t Let Your Injury Take Over Your Life.

When dealing with an injury, obviously take good care of your body, avoid activities that make the injury worse, and be sure to get all the medical attention you need. If you know the healing process is going to take a long time, it's important not to get your identity wrapped up with your injury. You are experiencing an injury, and all that comes with it, but you are not your injury. There is more to you and your life than this particular experience.

The takeaway: Constantly talking and thinking about your injury, or any negative situation or setback, gives it more power. Focus on the positive aspects of your life while taking steps to get well.

2. Prioritize Self-Care. Feel the Feels, but Don’t Get Stuck There.

Injuries not only take a toll on your body, they also do a number on you mental and emotional state, leaving you in a vulnerable place. The first few months post-injury, I experienced a lot of internal turmoil, anxiety, and depression. I questioned how I would be able to stand on my own two feet, literally and figuratively. I wondered how long would I be in this limited state, how would it affect my teaching and teaching career, what else could I do for work since I'd worked solely in the yoga world for well over a decade, and where would I live if I had to give up everything? The way I normally processed this type of anxiety would be by going for a walk or moving through an asana practice, but that wasn’t an option.

The takeaway: Figure out what makes you feel at ease and supported, and do it!

3. Rewire Your Thinking. Focus on What You Can Do Now.

Post-injury, it’s easy to dwell on not having the same range of motion you once had or not having the capability to safely get into your favorite yoga postures. These limitations may last weeks, years, or even a lifetime. It’s normal to experience frustration and grieve your new limitations. That being said, continuing to focus on what “used to be” is not going to serve you or anyone else. It’s important not to get your identity, or value, wrapped up with your physical range of motion or capability. Your “do” is not your “who." You are not your yoga practice. The asana practice is only a tool to help connect you to something deeper than the physical body. Also, let go of the misconception that being able to do complex asanas equates to being an advanced yoga practitioner.

The takeaway: Focus on what you CAN do, not what you can't do.

4. Don’t Let Go Of Your Practice—Work With What You've Got.

See also The 10 Rules of Hands-On Adjustments for Yoga Teachers

5. Stay Positive About Your Future. Continue to Dream Big.

In addition to focusing on what you can do now, keep your eyes on what you want to see manifest! One of the positive things my injury did was force me to slow down my hamster wheel and allow me to see that my wheel wasn’t rolling down the best, most sustainable path. It gave me a chance to rethink what I really wanted in life, both big and small. I asked myself, "What do I want? How do I want to feel?" I discovered that the majority of the things that I wanted either didn’t require having a fully mobile body, or by the time some of my wants manifested, I would have a more mobile body. For example, I wanted feelings of peace, abundance, and stability. I wanted more quiet time, and more time to see my family my friends. I wanted to help animals and build water wells. I wanted to spend more time in nature, go clothes shopping (it's been years), get a Vitamix (I finally got one!), take a vacation at least once a year (it had been years!), and have my own house. I wanted to use my gifts and talents, both known and unknown, in the best ways. Teaching-wise, I decided I wanted to take a slightly different direction, but I listed many of the same desires I had pre-injury. I wanted to work more with Yoga Journal (which I’m doing!), teach more online classes, learn more about yoga injury prevention, teach at more national and international workshops and festivals, and lead teacher trainings.

Hear Laura's story come to life and learn how she turned the fear and difficulty of injury into a catalyst for positive change on Yogaland Podcast.

#sleep sounds #sleep music #white noise app #nature sounds #relaxing sounds #rain sounds for sleeping

0 notes