Monthly Musings: May 2020

What Makes You Feel Good?

Despite the overwhelming number of motivational quotes and messages that we are surrounded with every day, I struggled to find inspiration for this piece. There is too much to say yet not enough to say about one particular thing. Sending a message of hope, positivity and courage is ultimately what I want to do with these posts as I similarly to do so via my social media channels. Talking about “positivity” seemed too vague and a mammoth task. I never want to sound like I’m preaching and that I know all the answers to achieving “positiveness”.

That’s when I remembered that positivity, gratitude, sadness, despair, loneliness and feelings of hope are personal. We all experience these feelings differently; what makes one of us feel alive may not have the same impact on another.

And in times of crisis, while I don’t promote that we all be selfish, we do need to stop to take check of how we’re feeling. So how do YOU feel? And what would make you feel good?

Daily actions, no matter how small, can have a huge impact on our health.

It’s time to take charge of all that we can – how we feel, the day-to-day tasks that fill our home lives – and turn this into a positive. Let’s do all that we can as individuals to fill our days with hope and optimism despite the doom and gloom on the news.

Yes, there are still things that NEED to be done that we may not enjoy – the washing, the laundry, work tasks, to-do lists of household chores, waiting in line at the supermarket… and they will still be done. But can we all try to switch our mindset slightly to find small pieces of joy in doing these?

@wearefeelgoodclub

The very act of writing a list of the “tiresome” as well as the positive aspects to your day can bring great feelings of satisfaction. Being able to tick off those tasks makes you feel accomplished, positive and have a more positive mental attitude. It shows progress and achievement, and we all need a bit of a boost, right?

If list writing doesn’t make you feel good, then talk things through with a friend. Share your worries and your woes and see how it makes you feel after. You may find comfort and solace in that others feel the same way. You may reach a solution together that otherwise would not have been found. Take this time to get out of your own headspace and share someone else’s for a short while. It can be uplifting!

Another way to deal with the more negative aspects of your day is to break them up with more joyful moments. You may have a work meeting that you’re not looking forward to, so start the day with a gentle yoga flow or plan a delicious lunch for when you’re finished. Surround your daily tasks with interspersing moments of pleasure and bliss.

All these moments of joy beg the question: what makes YOU feel good?

Have you ever stopped to think about what you truly enjoy? Not what you think you should enjoy or what others expect you to enjoy, but what do you actually love doing? What sets your soul on fire? What allows you to escape the mundane every day?

Take action and write a list of all the things, no matter how small, that make you feel good. For me, I love to start my day with a hot lemon water in bed – it stretches out that time between waking up and having to get out of bed to start the day. I do love my work, but some days are more difficult and less “sparkly” than others, so I make sure to take a break mid-morning for my matcha latte. This is something that grounds me every time. It has become a mini ritual, I pop the kettle on, I whisk the matcha powder to a paste with hot water. I put my milk frother on and I slowly pour the milk to make my wholesome, comforting and invigorating morning latte. I try to avoid emails and social media (after taking a quick IG story!) while I sip away. In fact, this ritual has become something social as I’ve been in touch with a few Instagram friends who similarly love a latte – it is our way of sending love and togetherness through the internet.

Birthday 2020 with Triple Chocolate Banana Bread

I also know that I love a bath, I love to create food, I love to cook for family, I love to chat to friends, I enjoy watching something on Netflix for a short while in the evening. I love being with my family. I love hugs. I love interacting with people on social media. I enjoy a sweaty workout class and I also enjoy a gentle vinyasa yoga flow. I don’t do all of these every day, but I try to do at least a few of them each day.

What are you going to include in your days to bring you moments of joy? Whatever they are, they are valid. Whatever brings a smile to your face is just as important as the next person. Remember how important your feelings are – you are worthy of this joy.

So, what makes you feel good? 

(and here is the Triple Chocolate Banana Bread (Vegan GF) recipe)

Join the conversation and let me know what makes you happy below. And get in touch on social media, too – I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest  – please say hello!