5 Tips to Brighten Your Mood
This week I am sharing excerpts from an article I found on
the Yoga Journal blog discussing Ayurveda.(Ayurveda is the sister science to Yoga that teaches us about healthy lifestyle choices)
Are you feeling heavy and unmotivated? Sometimes the best thing you can do is make a momentary shift in what you are doing and do something special for yourself.
Here are some ideas to brighten your mood:
1. Redefine “comfort food.”
Sometimes the phrase “comfort food” (* change to black please it is a hyperlink from the original article) is thought of as bad for one’s health. Often, “comfort food” seems to be thought of as the opposite to “healthy food.” This is not necessarily true.
Instead of cutting out what you think of as comfort food, can you view more foods as comfort food? Can you begin to see anything you put into your body as meant to be comforting, nourishing, and worth smiling about? There’s nothing wrong with eating and feeling comforted by the food you eat, when you eat well. Eating can boost your mood and make you feel better. Eating well makes it easier for you to see life clearly, be in the present moment, and think of ways to deal with life’s challenges.
Also, hydrate yourself with warm water throughout the day, and control your portion size. If you have been eating poorly for a while, it might take some time to get your body on track, and once you do, you will be able to brighten your mood by eating well. This supports your health and mood in the short and long run.
2. Balance your energy.
Sometimes a mood brightener doesn’t have to be something stimulating. Shifting your energy from a bit gloomy or a little frustrated can be as simple as a calming Tree Pose. When you practice this pose you increase your focus, strength, balance, grace, and lightness. You also get blood moving in the body, which will really help your mood if you’ve been sitting for a while. Try: Tree Pose. (you can find out how on the Yoga Journal website)
3. Make a cup of tea.
There are so many varieties of tea, and many companies are making their teas in transparent tea bags with wonderfully fresh and innovative blends inside. Once you find out what teas you like, keep some in your office and home. And when you need a pick-me-up, take a tea break to shift your mood.
4. Stop what you’re doing (or not doing), and write down something that you’d rather be doing instead.
Whether it’s being with your children, going to a movie, or going to the beach, make it simple, and also something you’d really like to do. Then write down the steps you have to take to make it happen. Resolve to find time to do each step, as you can.
5. Stand up and shake it off.
Stand up where you are and feel your feet firmly on the ground. Then lift one foot at a time and shake your leg while you inhale and exhale three times. (If balancing is hard for you, hold on to the back of a chair so you don’t fall.) After you shake out both legs, shake out your arms for three long breaths. Sometimes the best thing you can do is make a momentary shift in what you’re doing, and that can change your mood.
I wish you an abundant Christmas season filled with much love, passion and adventure. As always I am here to support you in this life journey – and welcome your feedback.