State of Mind
in pursuit of peace...
For whatever reason, this last year has brought a lot of tumult, trauma, sadness, health issues or some combination thereof to either myself or quite a few of my close friends. I have a lot of fellow television colleagues out of work or trying to navigate different stages of their life…then add in politics and wars, there’s quite a bit of unease and stress out there. So today I’m sharing a few links that may resonate to make your days ahead a little brighter, a little lighter…as I’d like to turn this 2024 around.
Morning hack to start your day in a positive state of mind.
My friend Blair (and my favorite makeup gal) swears by this sunrise clock which is a very cool way to wake up. (Watch the video.)
Candles always set the mood and bring a sense of peace, which is why I love this wall sconce.
Have any of you tried tapping? I’ve used this tool a bit over the years and it helps. The Tapping Solution in App form or on YouTube is a good place to start to help balance all manner of emotions. And if my recommendation isn’t enough, P!NK does it.
This soothing remedy comes with me every time I travel (and it lasts forever.)
In helping to soothe my sleeping issues, a friend of mine suggested The Bach Flower remedies. I have been aware of their popular Rescue Remedy but I had no idea they have 38 others with each remedy helping a particular situation or emotion. Read more here. I have a feeling I’ll be delving more into this as the year progresses but this could be an easy yet effective tool in time of need.
I asked a few friends about a book they reach for when they need a bit of an emotional boost. Responses included Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart via Shanna; Mary Oliver’s Dream Work from Tiffany; Elena chose the Winnie the Pooh stories while Matt went for two tried and two books, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach and A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy by William Irvine. And I like how my friend Stephen just went right for food as he finds his optimal emotional boost (and escape) in reading cookbooks. His two favorites are Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking and the beautifully modern The Vegan Chinese Kitchen. Thank you friends.
The perfect comfort food that you probably haven’t tried yet. Here’s The New York Times recipe.
Stumbling can be lovely. (It’s a wonderful read!)
If you play this live kelp cam from off the coast of the Channel Islands, it’s oddly satisfying and relaxing. (Audio on.)
My state of mind was greatly improved after reading this bit of news yesterday.
The most relaxing color in the world (it’s not what you think.)
I think my most used tool for calming my nervous system this past year has been the Insight Timer app. I play meditations every morning and often to help me drift to sleep. You can try the app for for free but so far my go-to teachers are Jason McGrice, David Ji, Rev Lee Wolak, David Gandelman, Jessie Bee Healing, Andrew Johnson, Sarah Blondin and Selena Lael (both nice fit for women and Selena helps me sleep!) and Yogi Bryan (but there are over 11,000 meditations on the app so I’m constantly finding new voices that soothe, relax and guide.)
This is a lovely morning reset meditation and this 13 minute deep breathing meditation effectively signals the nervous system to calm down. But it’s not just about finding calm as there are useful meditations for managing time, improving focus and productivity, setting boundaries, food cravings, high blood pressure, forgiveness, etc…Here’s a good overview of the app if you’d like to try.
I feel like a lot of my friends and I are drinking less these days as it gets in the way of us feeling good both physically and mentally. Gisele Bündchen is someone I really admire and if you follow her Instagram feed, you know that she stopped drinking a couple of years ago. I can’t wait to try this recipe she recently posted of a tasty and pretty mocktail.
In related news, a sober curious overview.
An uplifting and happy mix of songs from my sweet friend Pam in Atlanta.
And if you know a friend who could benefit from something on this list, please share. Have a nice weekend and be kind (to yourself!).