Self-care for Dark Days
FABLES FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN
READING TIME: 2 MINUTES
No matter how serenely you move through life, there will be minutes or months that your peacefulness is disrupted by melancholy. When there is a specific reason, it’s easier to face. But when a pall of grey falls over your otherwise technicolor life for no apparent reason, it can be more disconcerting.
Are these physical changes?
Are my hormones off?
Am I sick?
Am I carrying too much stress?
Am I not carrying enough stress?
Am I feeling lonely, unworthy, exhausted, sleepless, meaningless, and so on ad infinitum?
I find sometimes asking questions is an excuse for not taking action. Having been down this hole a time or two, I suggest you attend to the following things and give your lifestyle a tune-up when dark days come.
Regular sleep
Good clean diet
Adequate movement (also known as taking walks and/or exercise)
Time in nature and time in the shower with your eyes closed
Silently loving something. Cuddle up with a partner, a pet, or even a blanket.
Non-judgment. That’s right. Judge nothing as good or bad. Be like the animal roaming the planet and respond to what comes to you. Whatever comes to you.
Withdraw from obligations if you can. If you can’t, take things one thing at a time at a measured, mindful pace.
Do this for awhile.Take some time to let your soul fill back up.
The things I’ve shared work for me. But it’s important for you to have your own strategy for these times so you don’t flail or scream or sob or fall apart. Those are such violent reactions to a natural occurrence — and they harm you.
Just calmly retreat and I promise you will find your center eventually. There are lots of resources about self-care that can offer you advice, so seek them out and make your own self-care list for those difficult times when joy is lost and hope is out of reach.
Persevere. It always swings back.
I love you,
Granny