Today's Learning

From Karma Gaia:

The Path Of The Yogi - 8 Limbs Of Yoga

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes an eight-fold path to right living that is called The Eight Limbs of Yoga, or Ashtanga in Sanskrit. In the practice of yoga, individuals are dedicated to creating a union between mind, body and spirit. Patanjali's eight limbs outline a way to achieve and practice that balance. The eight limbs act as a guide for yogis to live a life of integrity, self-discipline, respect for nature and the spiritual aspects of life.

LIMB 1: Yamas

The first limb is yamas: ethical principles that clarify one’s relationship to the world and everything in it. The yamas emphasize our connection to others as an integral part of yoga—everything is interconnected. They break down to five practices, which define our personal integrity:

Ahimsa – non-harming

Satya – honesty

Asteya – not stealing

Bramacharya – wise use of creative energy

Aparigraha – non-possessiveness

LIMB 2: Niyamas

The second limb is niyamas: internal disciplines that teach us to respect ourselves—body, mind, and spirit. They are forms of self-discipline as well as reflective practices. The niyamas break down to five habits:

Saucha – purity, cleanliness

Santosha – contentment, gratitude

Tapas – discipline

Svadhyaya – self-reflection

Isvara Pranidhana – devotion

LIMB 3: Āsana

The third limb is āsana: the physical practice of yoga. Of the 196 verses in the Yoga Sūtras, a mere 2 are dedicated to poses, but the practice of āsana is invaluable to cultivating a sublime meditative state. By linking breath with movement, asana teaches us to embody steadiness and ease.

LIMB 4: Prānāyāma

The fourth limb is prānāyāma: the focus on the breath. Prānāyāma enables us to cultivate our very life force (prāna) through various techniques that teach us to relax and control our breath…creating divine conditions for health in the body and peace in the mind.

LIMB 5: Pratyāhāra

The fifth limb is pratyāhāra: the withdrawing of the senses, so that when we feel, hear, see, taste, and smell we let go of reacting. By abandoning the countless distractions of day-to-day life, the mind focuses inward and is free to move into meditation.

LIMB 6: Dhāranā

The sixth limb is dhāranā: strict concentration on one object or task, a state in which there are no distractions. Thus, when you are enthralled with the object of your concentration, all hindrances disappear.

LIMB 7: Dhyāna

The seventh limb is dhyāna: meditation, a state in which you experience the sacred (what is personally sacred to you) through a deeply focused awareness. Through the practice of dhyāna, we begin to see reality for what it really is: impermanence. This is how we ultimately achieve bliss.

LIMB 8: Samādhi

The eighth limb is samādhi: the culmination of practicing all the other limbs of yoga which brings you to an understanding of truly knowing and feeling that everything is interconnected. The clinging mind has ceased; there is only the experience of indescribable joy. A liberated soul can thus enjoy pure awareness and harmony.

From Karma Gaia:

Recover From Burnout

Recovering from burnout is a practice that requires identity development in multiple areas of one’s life. Recharging from burnout entails concentrating on diverse, all-encompassing personal development in addition to improving boundaries and expectations for oneself.

Symptoms of burnout can appear at work as well as at home, particularly since many of us now work from home and find it difficult to distinguish between our personal and professional lives. Similar to depression, burnout can be characterized by a person's low mood, impatience, and general lack of interest in activities that formerly motivated them.

Common signs of burnout include:

• Irritability and/or low mood

• Mental exhaustion

• Difficulty sleeping or resting even though tired

• Lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities

• Difficulty controlling one’s mood – being emotionally labile or quick to anger

How to Recover from Burnout:

1. Examine “Locus of Control”

It's possible that you're adding to rather than reducing your stress if you find yourself dwelling on issues over which you have little to no control. Check-in with each stressor or worry to see if it's something you can genuinely manage. If not, try your best to shift your attention to another area.

2. Do a Stress Inventory

Be honest and detailed about the things in your life that are causing stress. Is there anything you can outsource or modify little by little to make it better? Sometimes we let progress toward perfection get in the way of what is good; even reducing a stressor from high to medium status is considered progress toward stress reduction.

3. Move Your Body Each Day

Exercise is a direct stress killer, yet it is something that many of us fail to give the credence it deserves. By moving each day for even a brisk walk or a 20 minute yoga session, your body begins to regulate its stress response. Daily movement is the one "must do" takeaway that there is.

4. Employ Self-Compassion

By taking the role of being a mindful observer of your burnout and giving yourself love and compassion for going through a particularly difficult time, you will automatically remove some of the irritability and self-hostility that can be part of feeling burned out. Note that what you’re going through is uncomfortable, yet it is temporary, and you will not always feel as you do in this moment.

5. Connect With Your Support Network

Burnout does not cure on its own. Rebuilding one's social network—ideally in person—is essential to beating burnout. Openly discuss your struggles with family and close friends, and encourage them to do the same.

6. Unplug From Social Media

Social media can make it all too easy to think that everyone else is doing just great, leaving too much room for dangerous comparisons that are based on what others are presenting and not necessarily really experiencing, which can contribute to job burnout. You may spend more time on yourself and less time comparing yourself to others when you take a break from social media. You'll also probably get back hours of sleep from scrolling.

7. Try Something New & Different

Burnout can occasionally result from concentrating too much on one aspect of our lives, such as our jobs, parenting, relationships, or homes. Try concentrating on a completely different skill, ability, interest, or area of identity development that provides you joy, or a new perspective on who you are and what you can offer, instead of trying to "fix" an area that could be causing you stress.

From Karma Gaia:

Embrace Fear

Fear can hold us back from pursuing our dreams, taking risks and reaching our full potential, but it doesn’t have to be this way. To me, facing fear head-on means accepting it and not allowing it to dictate how we behave. How then do we learn to live with fear?

Above all, it's critical to acknowledge that fear is a normal and profoundly significant human emotion. Over the course of our evolution, it has kept us safe and alive as a defense mechanism. No matter how many macho men attempt to convince us otherwise, it is not something that can be broken or conquered.

The following actions can assist you in embracing fear:

1. Acknowledge and embrace fear

How many times do we try to just push fear down and squash it, telling ourselves that we are weak for feeling this way? I’d say most of the time.

Examine your emotions instead, give them names, accept them, and give them validity. Say something along the lines of, "It's okay that I'm afraid right now." It makes sense that I would feel this way—things are difficult! This helps to take away the power it holds over you.

2. Get curious about your fear

What is it trying to tell you? Are you projecting or is your fear real? Whose voice is it that's frightening you in your head? Does it belong to you or to someone who doubts your skills and abilities?

Perhaps a parent, an old teacher, or an unsupportive friend. What would you do if your fear wasn’t there? Put these questions in writing and take your time responding to them. Talking to oneself in this way is a great way to break the hold fear has over you.

3. Take small steps outside of your comfort zone

This could be as simple as trying a new activity or speaking up in a meeting or relationship. These may not seem like obvious solutions, but by making ourselves do something that we would normally shy away from out of fear, we build up our ‘fear resisting muscle’. This calms our frazzled brain by demonstrating that change is not always a bad thing—it may also be beneficial or even enjoyable.

The secret is to get going slowly and gain speed. You may boost your self-confidence and prove to yourself that you're more capable than you may have thought by starting small. What would you try if you weren't afraid? Put it in writing. What would you think about that? What tiny step can you take to accomplish that task today?

4. Prepare for the worst

Planning for the worst is your best weapon for reframing; I refer to this process as creating my "Blueprint For Failure." It entails listing all of my present fears together with my concerns about them in writing.

The worst thing that may occur is then listed, along with what I could do in the event that it did. After that, I make a list of the worst-case scenario and my options for handling it. And I keep going until I have a list of truly horrible things that have been bothering me and that I haven't wanted to confront, along with a list of constructive remedies that I know I am capable of coming up with.

5. Celebrate your wins

As adults, we seldom ever give ourselves a pat on the back when we achieve something right, but we will dwell for hours on a mistake we have made.

No matter how minor your successes may appear, take some time to enjoy them. You'll gain confidence and generate good momentum by acknowledging and appreciating your accomplishments.

It doesn't have to cost you anything to celebrate in the way that you choose. It could be as easy as finding something you enjoy doing, but you never give yourself enough time to do it. Alternatively, you might jot it down on paper and place it in your celebration jar.

Everybody in my family puts a post-it note in a jar I have at home and writes down anything nice that has happened to them. The act of watching the jar fill with colored pieces of paper serves as a visual reminder of all the wonderful things that are occurring and our constant pursuit of doing good deeds.

From Karma Gaia:

Stop Feeling Insecure

Insecurity is a general lack of confidence or a long-lasting feeling of anxiety, discomfort with uncertainty, and unsureness. Having insecurities causes you to doubt your skills and values, which frequently lowers your sense of value and self-esteem. Sometimes general insecurity seeps into the workplace, other facets of life, and romantic and non-romantic relationships.

Developing self-esteem and concentrating on your inner self are frequently the first steps in overcoming insecurities. By doing this, you can gain the emotional fortitude required to control insecure thoughts, face emotions head-on, and take back control of your life.

Here are some pointers for overcoming insecurity:

Communicate Openly in Relationships

Relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners can all suffer from insecurity. Having open lines of communication and discussing feelings with others builds trust in a relationship. Allocate a specific time to discuss your relationship concerns. This will help you overcome insecurities and fortify your relationship.

Keep a Feelings Journal

Like gratitude journaling, keeping a feelings journal can help you identify why you feel insecure. Writing helps you remember how you felt in a circumstance, comprehend where these sensations originated, and identify what brought on the negative emotions. By keeping a journal of your thoughts and emotions, you might discover a lot about yourself.

Take a Break

Insecurity can also affect you at work, whether you don’t go after a promotion because you’re scared, constantly worry you’re in the wrong profession, or lose sleep over important phone calls. Consider your sentiments objectively and take a step back while deciding what to do when feeling insecure. Making a list of your strengths allows you to reflect on how you would handle a given circumstance, which is helpful when managing different people and personalities at work.

Learn About Love Languages

Sometimes, insecurities develop when you forget that everyone is different and experiences love differently. Everybody's experiences have shaped who they are, so it's critical to understand the differences between you and your partner. You can overcome concerns in your relationship by having in-depth discussions with your partner about what makes you feel safe.

From Karma Gaia:

4 Ways To Be A Kinder PersonWhen you stop to think about it, doing good deeds for other people doesn't really require a lot of time, money, or effort. Whether it’s texting a friend who’s been a bit quiet lately to check in with them or offering to take something off a colleague’s plate when they’re up against it with deadlines, there are so many small acts that make a big difference. The best news yet? According to scientific evidence, kindness extends one's life. People who occasionally volunteered to care for others lived longer than those who did not, according to a 2017 study published in Evolution and Human Behaviour. Want to enjoy those long-term advantages? Here is what you can do...

1. Celebrate the small stuff

There are so many big occasions that justify a ‘congratulations!’ card, but it’s not just the engagements and promotions that are worth popping a cork for. Perhaps your friend made their Zumba class despite though they sent you a voice message earlier expressing how exhausted they were, or perhaps your partner is trying to cut off caffeine and they just opted for a decaf green tea over coffee. Paying attention and being aware of these little wins can go a long way in your personal and professional life. Positive deeds can often go unnoticed by us since it's usually easier for us to notice the things that haven't been done perfectly or the activities that annoy us. For example, tell a coworker how much you appreciate them the next time you think of them. It could be that they offered a useful solution to a problem, you love their outfit or are impressed by how calm they appear in the face of a tight deadline. It's a modest act that may make a big difference in their mood and day. Amen!

2. Give someone space

When you listen well, you can have productive discussions and understand the other person's point of view, whether it's with your partner, family, or friends. Remember that it's acceptable to not know everything, and that sometimes all it takes to help someone who might be having mental health issues is just to be a listening ear. Let them know that you're there if someone you know is struggling. Try to stay calm and reassure them by letting them know that they are not alone, and that you will be there to help. Find out if there are any particular, doable ways you can support the person you are supporting if they are having difficulty with daily duties. Look after your own wellbeing [too so] that you have the time and energy to help someone when they need it.

3. Express your gratitude

Got a regular gratitude journaling practice going? Good for you. None the less, the advantages are obvious. Our brains release serotonin and dopamine when we practice gratitude, which improves our mood and affects our emotions. However, being grateful is much more than just writing something down. Extending our gratitude is also a great way to strengthen bonds with friends and family because, in the busyness of daily life, it's easy to forget how fortunate we really are. A simple "I appreciate you" or "I'm grateful for you" might be just what someone needs to hear to brighten their day and feel happier.

4. Don’t forget about the planet

Sure, holding the door open for someone or putting coins in the car park machine for a stranger are all valid random acts of kindness – and it may be worth offering these to the world around us too. Since producing a great deal of plastic waste is one of the main ways humans harm the environment, we suggest adopting a sustainable strategy as a good gesture. Whenever possible, purchase goods packaged in cardboard, foil, or recyclable plastics; the recycling information will tell you of the materials used. When buying fresh fruit and vegetables, try choosing loose items without the extra packaging.

From Karma Gaia:

Spirit Animals: A Mini Guide…

In some Indigenous traditions, spirit animals are an embodied form of a spiritual guide. Spiritual guides can present themselves to us in whatever way we are willing to see them, and you may connect with yours through the face of a familiar animal.

You can discover that you have a strong bond with a power animal or that you have a strong bond with numerous animals. There is something special about your animal guide(s) that may make life a little easier, more certain, and self-assured for you.

Uncertain of which animal best embodies you or the messages it is attempting to convey? Here are some resources to help you find out.

Several methods for identifying your spirit animal

1. Learn about the animal connections in your own lineage

It is crucial to keep in mind that the phrase "spirit animal" has its roots in Native American spirituality.

Many Indigenous people request that non-Indigenous folks do not replicate their traditional animal imagery from totem poles and pictographs out of respect for their culture.

Instead, spend some time learning about the symbolic meanings that various animals hold in your culture so that you can connect with the spiritual meaning of animals in a way that is authentic to you.

2. Pay attention to your dreams

Since our dreams are closely related to our reality, you should record any animals you encounter in your dreams by writing them down the following morning. Are there any specific animals that keep coming up?

3. Think about your past connections to certain animals

Consider your all-time favorite animal from your childhood, a cherished pet, or perhaps a wild animal that you frequently encountered.

4. Journal about the animals that you feel drawn to

To calm yourself and create space for your intuition, take a few minutes to sit down and meditate. Next, think about an animal that holds a particular meaning for you. What lessons about inner strength and personal power may this animal be trying to teach you, if it were my guardian? Consider the solution for a few minutes in your journal.

Complete this exercise multiple times for as many different animals as you wish. Then, come back to your journal after a few days away and see which animal and lessons resonate the most with you.

A list of common animals & their core qualities

Here is a brief introduction to the qualities of some common animal guides:

Bear: The bear is deeply emotional and feels a connection to the earth and the outdoors.

Butterfly: In many cultures, the butterfly is a symbol of transformation and development. It is incredibly adaptable and approaches all changes with ease and grace.

Cat: The cat often symbolizes curiosity, adventure, and independence. It has also mastered the art of patience.

Deer: The deer is a sensitive, highly intuitive spirit guide. It strikes a balance between confidence and success and gentleness and grace.

Dove: The dove represents peace, blessings, and new beginnings. It is a hopeful and optimistic animal.

Dolphin: The dolphin represents playfulness and wisdom. It is a master communicator and unifier.

Elephant: The elephant symbolizes wisdom, gentleness, and spiritual understanding.

Frog: The frog is often thought to help heal physical and emotional wounds. This animal speaks to the importance of checking in with oneself and healing from the past in order to live in the present.

From Karma Gaia:

Total body relaxation is an exercise that helps you relax your body, mind, and Spirit. It is designed to bring you into a state of deep surrender and stillness, allowing you to experience a heightened sense of peace and tranquility. This technique, which is also known as progressive muscle relaxation, aids in stress relief, physical tension release, and the reduction of anxious feelings.

Developing the skill of full-body relaxation can help you manage stress, enhance your mental clarity, and activate your body's innate healing energy. This technique can also help to get stagnant energy and stuck emotions flowing again. I like to do a full body relaxation exercise just before going to bed or after a really stressful day. Those who have trouble falling asleep or clearing their minds before bed may find it very beneficial.

To practice this technique, you will simply isolate one particular area of the body at a time by gently contracting or squeezing the muscles for about five seconds before relaxing them completely for five seconds. I like to repeat this isolated clench and release for a total of three times before moving on to the next body part.

For example, you may choose to start with your feet and then work your way upward. To start, you would squeeze and clench your feet and toes for the count of five, release for the count of five, and then repeat two more times. You would then proceed to your shins and calves, repeating the sequence until you have experienced this cycle of tension and release in every area of your body.

This practice uses a series of tensing and releasing to bring more flow to the energy channels. The challenge during this practice is to only focus on one muscle group at a time, while allowing the rest of your body to be still and the breath to be as relaxed as possible.

Each squeeze should feel slightly uncomfortable, like pressure is being applied to the particular body part you're focusing on. You may even sense a slight trembling in yourself. At the same time, you don't want to be so forceful that it causes you pain. So, you'll want to find a good balance where the pressure isn't too extreme that it hurts you, but not so light that it doesn't provide the intended results of relaxation.

Total body relaxation techniques help ease tension, ease the physical effects of stress and anxiety, and soothe your nervous system when used on a daily basis. It's an excellent activity to enhance general wellbeing.

From Karma Gaia:

How To Stop Attracting Negative Energy 

There are a lot of quick and effective ways to stop attracting bad vibes and live happier life. These suggestions can assist you in creating a healthier and more positive environment in which to live and work, from being aware of your emotions to comprehending the value of mindfulness and self-care. It's crucial to keep in mind that reducing negative energy requires ongoing work; success depends on persistence and patience.

Meditation

One of the most effective methods for calming the mind and reducing stress is meditation. You can learn to control your thoughts and emotions and improve your awareness of the energy you are attracting by making meditation a regular part of your routine. Begin with just a few minutes per day, then as you get more accustomed to the practice, gradually extend the time.

You'll be able to identify any negative or stagnant energy in your body and mind with practice and allow it to pass by without taking hold. This can eventually assist you in developing a more positive and wholesome energy field that can help shield you from attracting negative energy.

Practice Gratitude

One of the simplest and most effective ways to cultivate positive emotions is to practice gratitude. The universe will send you more positive energy if you express gratitude for the good things in your life. It's challenging to concentrate on the bad when you're feeling grateful. Make it a habit to think about all the wonderful things you have in your life each day. Consider keeping a gratitude journal to record your blessings or making a gratitude jar to collect notes about the good things that happen to you every day.

Pranayama 

Yoga breathing also referred to as pranayama, balances our energy and puts us in a calmer, more aware state. It gives us a sense of stability, center, and inner connection. Yoga breathing is a regular practice that reduces stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions that draw in negative energy.

Positive Self Talk

Practice positive self-talk as one of the most crucial steps you can take to stop attracting negative energy. It's simple to develop a habit of negative thinking and self-talk. Work on recognizing when you are thinking negatively and immediately changing your words, thoughts, and focus to something positive. Remind yourself of all the positive aspects of your life and consider the things for which you are thankful. This will make you feel happier and more upbeat, decreasing your propensity to be drawn to negative energy.

From Karma Gaia:

Unblock Your Emotions: Use Writing as an outlet for letting go.

Letting go is the hardest aspect of dealing with anxiety. Even when we consciously realize that our hurt and concerns are a heavy load to bear, it can be difficult to let go. These are the things that make us feel heavy and weaken our vitality both physically and emotionally.

The enormous energy needed to protect ourselves from pain and anxiety is depleting, and so we must learn to release the fears and unburden our soul.

We must, in the words of Della Hicks-Wilson, "let the truth exist somewhere other than inside your body."

In order to create space in our bodies for joy, peace, and vitality, we must release the pain, worry, fear, trauma, shock, and shame that have been stored there.

Writing is among the best ways to let go of emotions. We give voice to our inner selves when we write. We progressively gain a deeper awareness of ourselves when we take our time, clear our minds, and slow down. We are then able to process and makes sense of what’s happening with us and around us. We get fresh insight, learn about new options, and cultivate a different mindset.

It takes bravery to write. You take a stand for yourself, own your weaknesses, and examine the dark aspects of yourself in greater detail. But the act of writing is liberating. It gives us permission to release.

By putting our fears and hurts down on paper, we can let them go without judgment or worry. We find that our journals provide a secure haven where we may release ourselves, get unstuck, and proceed. Writing allows us to let go, and letting go allows us to heal.

From Karma Gaia:

Opening Your Heart With Forgiveness: A Mini Exercise

First, consider the circumstance and person you wish to forgive. You might even be the one. That's a great place to start if you made a mistake at work that's really holding you back. No action is right or wrong. It could even be something from your childhood you’ve never let go of!

Record the events and your feelings in writing. Close your eyes and let yourself experience those emotions one last time.

Now, write "I forgive....." and then fill in the name or circumstance in the space provided. Repeat it aloud as often as necessary until you notice a change in your energy.

Start to send that person your loving energy. Feel thankful for the difficult circumstance and the lessons it provided. Give it up and let it go so you can start over with a clean slate.

Then, take note of how you feel. Any bodily sensations should be noted. You can now fill the voids where there were once denser energies with your radiant, unconditional love.

From Karma Gaia:

The Disease To Please

“Lean too much on other people’s approval and it becomes a bed of thorns.” ~Hsieh Tehyi

Let’s be honest with each other.

You’re a people-pleaser

So am I.

And so is the man next door, Oprah, and the President of the United States.

Everyone has a tendency to please others. And it's alright. As basic as the need for food and shelter is the need to be liked and accepted.

It’s when you try to please everyone that it becomes a problem. Actually, it's a disease rather than just a problem. It was dubbed “the disease to please” by Harriet B. Braiker.

Why Trying to Please Everyone Doesn’t Work

1. You attract people less.

Anyone who had the courage to be authentically oneself in public has always inspired me. But all too quickly that admiration would turn to adulation. I discovered that I was always the eager puppy at their heels, never challenging them and always following their lead.

One phrase stuck out to me the most when I examined how they truly perceived me objectively: weak. It was not surprising that they were courteous but consistently chose to hang out with other strong individuals because strong people like to be around other strong people.

2. You love yourself less.

Because those very people you wanted to admire, respect, and love you now reject you, you tell yourself that you cannot be a lovable person. You start acting more and more people-pleaser out of desperation, which starts a terrible downward spiral.

With every people-pleasing deed, the distance between your actual behavior and your desired behavior grows. This leaves you feeling disappointed and ashamed of who you have become.

3. You become more manipulative.

I used to become irritated when a friend or coworker asked for one more favor after another. They appeared to be taking advantage of me and manipulating me. Boy, that was hurtful.

But you know, once I’d looked logically at the way they treated me, I realized it was more down to the way I’d treated them. My guidelines would govern how they were to behave with me. I’d been the one to say, “Hey, that’s absolutely okay, go ahead.”

Truth be told, I had been the one manipulating all along. Gosh!

4. You’re seen as less trustworthy.

Although it may seem well-meaning to always agree or say the "right thing," covering up what you believe to be false isn't telling the whole truth. Furthermore, when we suspect someone is lying, as human beings we get warning signals.

It might seem like just a little white lie to flatter someone’s ego, but would you trust someone who only ever told you what you wanted to hear? Someone who hid their true feelings?

5. You end up with less confidence.

People find you untrustworthy because you only tell them what they want to hear, so they are hesitant to confide in you. As a result, you can never be sure what they are truly thinking, which makes you feel less comfortable approaching them.

This is what this website and I am all about!

From Karma Gaia:

Finding Yourself Again

“‘Finding yourself’ is actually returning to yourself. An unlearning, an excavation, a remembering who you were before the world got its hands on you.” ~Emily McDowell

Occasionally, years of training, trauma, and poor coping strategies can bury our genuine selves, leaving us feeling terribly disoriented, anxious, and unhappy. Like a hamster on a wheel, we go through the motions of life with no real purpose and no understanding of why we are doing the things we are doing.

During the process of assisting someone in rediscovering oneself, we discovered some significant insights:

1.Everybody has wounds from their childhood.

If we can track down the origin of our feelings of rejection, unworthiness, or abandonment in childhood, we will find that the wound was inflicted by one specific incident—or maybe a string of recurring ones. When you heal that wound, your spirit will be liberated.

2. We all have trauma.

There are moments when we experience trauma with a capital "T." Other times it’s a series of smaller, compound traumas that affect us in a big way. Unresolved trauma will remain in the body for years after it first manifests, frequently taking the form of physical symptoms and illnesses such as anxiety, depression, gastrointestinal problems, and more severe diseases. Heal your trauma and your body will thrive.

3. Our patterns of thinking and behaving are often not our own.

We pick up and absorb other people's perspectives on the world as we go through life. We are shaped by society, our family, our teachers, our pastors, and our political leaders. It is our responsibility as adults to dissect these belief systems and determine which ones apply to us and which do not in order to let go of the parts that are no longer beneficial to us. You'll be bestowed with mental clarity once you purge your thoughts of all the clutter.

4. As well-intentioned as our parents were, they couldn’t give us what we needed.

Our parents' unhealed wounds undoubtedly influenced how they behaved toward us. They used the resources at their disposal to the best of their knowledge, yet they almost certainly fell short in some way. It will be easier for us to accept and forgive both our parents' and our own shortcomings if we acknowledge the ways in which their upbringing affected their capacity to love and support us.

Once you have identified the source of the patterns and wounds that caused you to lose touch with your true self, you may finally begin the beautiful, yet painstaking journey back to yourself.

This is going beyond trauma and healing work and focusing on the things that ignite a spark within you, such as your purpose, gifts, passions, and hobbies. This is how you begin the quest to reignite your inner fire.

You'll feel a freedom and happiness you've never felt when you know who you are and live from that real, divine truth inside of you.

Discovering your innermost self takes place by listening inside, following your joy, and allowing your dreams and desires to take the lead. A life of contentment, meaning, and purpose may be fostered by spending time with yourself, getting to know yourself, and letting your heart lead the way instead of your intellect.

You must do these things intentionally. Saying no to certain things allows you to say yes to yourself. You have to be open to experimenting and returning to that inner realm you once inhabited as a child—the one where you were free to let your creativity flow and let your imagination run wild.

The person you are at the core has never changed. They have just been buried underneath the demands of the world, waiting for you to find them again.

I hope that you will have the courage to take this journey back to yourself…

to let yourself be seen…

to create things that bring you joy…

to cultivate your gifts and share them with others…

to follow your heart and your passions.

What these things mean to you will only be known by you. You must not allow life or others to decide for you. We were all born into this earth to share our special abilities and gifts. Our only task is to live from an authentic place by remembering who we are at our core.

Positive Mental Attitude

What does a positive mindset look like?

A positive mindset is linked to a wide range of qualities and traits, such as:

Optimism is the willingness to try and take a chance rather than giving up on something you've worked hard for.

Acceptance is the ability to learn from your mistakes while admitting that things don't always work out the way you had hoped.

Resilience is the ability to overcome hardship, disappointment, and failure without giving up.

Gratitude is the intentional, ongoing recognition of your blessings.

The practice of committing the mind to conscious awareness and improving concentration is known as mindfulness.

Integrity is the quality of being truthful, moral, and upright as opposed to dishonest and self-serving

Not only are these characteristics of a positive mindset, but they may also work in the other direction—actively adopting optimism, acceptance, resilience, gratitude, mindfulness, and integrity in your life will help you develop and maintain a positive mindset.

A List of Positive Attitudes

If you found the list above still too vague, there are many more specific examples of a positive attitude in action.

For example, positive attitudes can include:

It is looking adversity in the eye… and chuckling.

Getting what you get, and not pitching a fit.

Enjoying the unexpected, even when it’s not what you wanted originally.

Motivating those around you with a positive word.

Using the power of a smile to reverse the tone of a situation.

Being friendly to those you don’t know.

It’s getting back up when you fall down. (Regardless of how many times you trip and fall.)

Being a source of energy that lifts those around you.

Understanding that relationships are more important than material things.

Being happy even when you have little.

Having a good time even when you are losing.

Being happy for someone else’s success.

Having a positive future vision, no matter how bad your current circumstances.

Smiling.

Paying a compliment, even to a total stranger.

Tell someone you know that they did a great job. (And sincerely.)

Making someone’s day. (It's not just kids that enjoy special days—adults do too!)

It’s not complaining no matter how unfair things appear to be. It's a time waster. instead, take action!

Not letting other people’s negativity bring you down.

Giving more than you expect to get in return.

From Karma Gaia:

Activate Your Chakras

A Chakra or a wheel is a Sanskrit word that refers to a prana or energy point in our body that is located in parts of the body such as the arteries, veins and nerves. In earlier times, Chakras were regarded to as distinct types of energy in India. These Chakras have been focused on to awaken our Kundalini, and they are also utilized as a location of concentration during meditation. It is thought that the human body is composed of seven primary chakras, which can be successfully opened by mantra chanting and yoga. Additionally, these Chakras can be opened by doing specific mudras. Every Chakra has its unique mudras and mantras that can help in activating the Chakras.

Yoga postures for Chakra balancing:

Tadasana (Mountain Pose)

This seemingly simple posture fosters your connection with mother earth while connecting you more deeply with your own self. Plus, this pose helps you to be fully aware of the present moment.

Besides, Tadasana has several great benefits for the body and the mind. This posture enhances coordination and posture, improves agility, enhances circulation and strengthens your legs, back and hips.

Veerabhadrasana (Warrior pose)

This standing pose is another great asana that helps connect your body with the Earth. The Veerabhadrasana or the Warrior pose helps to shift your vital energy force or prana through your body while rooting you from the foremost Chakra. This pose is beneficial in making your legs strong, opens up the hips and makes your knees and lower back strong. Furthermore, this posture encourages good circulation and improved respiration. Lastly, the Veerabhadrasana enhances focus, balance as well as stability while energizing the entire body.

Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose)

The Setu Bandhasana or the Bridge Pose is a highly dynamic and beneficial yoga pose that firmly plants your feet into the Earth allowing your spine to release excess amounts of energy pertaining to the root chakra. Also, the Bridge pose works to activate the throat chakra while opening up the solar plexus chakras and the heart. Besides, the yoga pose also helps in balancing the sacral chakra.

When it comes to the more physical benefits, the Setu Bandhana helps combat stress and depression. Plus, this asana improves blood circulation while improving digestion. Lastly, besides activating specific Chakras, this pose activates the lungs, abdominal organs and thyroid glands.

Performing and perfecting these and many other yoga poses can be learned as part of the 100 hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh or even the more fundamental 200 hours of yoga teacher training in Rishikesh.

Mudras for Chakra balancing

Along with the yoga poses, there are certain mudras that also support the release of the vital life force or prana and activate the chakras. These Mudras are mentioned below:

Muladhara:

Sit in a comfortable position with your spine erect. Focus all your attention towards your perineum. Then, with the help of your thumbs and forefingers work towards forming a circle. Your hands should rest on your knees and your palms should be facing upward. Take deep breaths while inhaling and exhaling. Repeat this for 7 to 10 breaths.

Swadishthana

While sitting comfortably with your spine in an erect position, your attention should be focused on the area located one inch below your navel and the lumbar vertebra-1. Your right hand should rest on your left hand with your palms facing upward, in your lap where your thumbs touch slightly. Take deep breaths while inhaling and exhaling. Repeat this for 7 to 10 breaths.

Manipura

While sitting comfortably with your spine in an erect position, your attention should be focused on the area of your navel towards the solar plexus and across towards the thoracic vertebra number eight. While keeping your fingers straight and touching at the top while pointing in the forward direction, keep your thumbs crossed in a V shape with right over left. Take deep breaths while inhaling and exhaling. Repeat this for 7 to 10 breaths.

 Anahata

While sitting comfortably with your spine in an erect position, your attention should be focused on the area of your heart across to thoracic vertebra number one. Your thumb adn forefingers need to form a circle. Your left-hand palm should rest on your left knee. Your right hand should be raised towards the center of your chest area with your palms hinging slightly towards your heart. Take deep breaths while inhaling and exhaling. Repeat this for 7 to 10 breaths.

 Vishuddhi

While sitting comfortably with your spine in an erect position, your attention should be focused on the area at the bottom of your throat across to cervical vertebra number three. A circle needs to be formed with the help of your thumbs touching while your remaining fingers should be loosely cupped and crossed. Your hands should be raised in front of your solar plexus, and throat or keep them resting on your lap. Take deep breaths while inhaling and exhaling. Repeat this for 7 to 10 breaths.

Ajna

While sitting comfortably with your spine in an erect position, your attention should be focused on the area of your third eye, starting above the area between your eyebrows across to cervical vertebra number one and surrounding your skull’s outside area. Then, form a heart shape by touching your thumbs at the tips along with your forefingers, pinky finger and ring finger touching at the second phalanges. You then need to raise your middle fingers so as to do a crown formation. Your hands should be raised in front of your solar plexus, and third eye or keep them resting on your lap. Take deep breaths while inhaling and exhaling. Repeat this for 7 to 10 breaths.

Sahasrara

While sitting comfortably with your spine in an erect position, your attention should be focused on the area of your crown atop your head and three inches above the skull area.

Clasp your hands while keeping your fingers crossed towards the inside and your left thumb beneath the right. Lift your ring fingers so as to form a crown. Raise your hands over the head area, in front of your solar plexus while resting them on your lap. Take deep breaths while inhaling and exhaling. Repeat this for 7 to 10 breaths.

Performing yoga regularly, along with mudras can support the activation of these chakras. This can entail a positive effect on your body, mind and soul.

From Karma Gaia:

Reiki Self-Healing: 7 Easy Steps For Everyone To Use

Even if you don't feel very strong, consider your accomplishments and survival strategies. You are alive and more powerful than you realize right now, right here. And be patient with yourself.

Here are 7 recipes for self-love that are simple in practice and multifaceted in their benefits.

1. Stop comparing yourself to others

It's normal for us to compare ourselves to others since we're socialized to be competitive. But it can be dangerous. Since there is only one of you on the earth, there is simply no purpose in comparing yourself to anybody else. Instead, concentrate on you and your path. The shift of energy, alone, will help you feel free.

2. Don’t worry about others’ opinions

In a same spirit, don't stress over what people believe or anticipate from you. Making everyone happy is impossible, so attempting to do so is pointless and will only hinder your efforts to become the best version of yourself.

3. Allow yourself to make mistakes

From an early age, we are repeatedly taught that "nobody's perfect, everyone makes mistakes." However, the pressure to succeed increases with age. Give yourself a break! Make errors so you may improve and get knowledge from them. Accept the past. You are always evolving from the person you were to the person you are today and will be in the future.

So, forget about that voice in your head that says you need to be perfect. Make lots and lots of mistakes! The knowledge you will acquire is invaluable.

Recall that your worth is not derived from the way your body appears.

This is important! So many things in the world want to distract you from this powerful truth. Your feelings of inadequacy can occasionally be validated by your own internalized misogyny. It is not your body that makes you valuable; rather, it is who you are.

So, wear what makes you feel good. If it’s a lot or if it’s a little, wear what makes you feel confident, comfortable, and happy.

5. Don’t be afraid to let go of toxic people

Not everybody takes responsibility for the energy they put out into the world. You may need to cut ties with someone if they are bringing negativity into your life and they refuse to accept responsibility. Don’t be afraid to do this. It’s liberating and important, even though it may be painful.

Remember: Protect your energy. It’s not rude or wrong to remove yourself from situations or the company of people who are draining you.

6. Process your fears

Like erring, feeling afraid is natural and human. Recognize your fears instead of dismissing them. Your mental health can benefit greatly from this beneficial practice. Examining and analyzing your worries might help you become more clear-headed and reveal aspects of your life that were giving you worry. This in turn may assist in reducing some, if not all, of your worry.

7. Trust yourself to make good decisions for yourself

We so often doubt ourselves and our ability to do what’s right, when most of the time we do know in our hearts what’s best. Remember that your feelings are valid. You’re not losing touch with reality. You know yourself better than anyone else, so be your best advocate.

From Karma Gaia:

Let Go of Anxiety- Meditation Techniques

1. Using the 100-Breath Method

Close your eyes. Gently pull yourself into the present moment while keeping your feet firmly planted on the floor and your back against your chair. Now start breathing through your nostrils and counting as you go, thinking “and” for every inhale, and the number for each exhale—inhale “and,” exhale “one”; inhale “and,” exhale “two.”

Feel your belly rise with each inhalation and let the breaths slow as you count yourself into a greater sense of relaxation. When you reach 100, bend your head, move your toes and fingers, and open your eyes as a sign of appreciation for the mental space you just created.

2. Full Body Breath Scan

Start by inhaling through your nose, expanding your stomach, and counting to five. As you breathe in, visualize soothing warm light filling your feet, and then exhale through your lips for a count of five, while visualizing yourself releasing any tension you may have been carrying there.

Repeat this process for your ankles, your shins, your knees, and so on, all the way up to your head. Your entire body will probably feel lighter, calmer, and more relaxed after you're done scanning.

3. Lip-Touching Breathing

When aroused, your sympathetic nervous system puts you in a state of high alert—that sense of “fight-or-flight” panic that tells you there’s some sort of threat. When your parasympathetic nervous system is activated, you experience the opposite emotion: ease and relaxation.

One of the easiest ways to activate the parasympathetic nervous system is to touch your lip with two fingers, as suggested by Rick Hanson in his book Buddha's Brain.

Because parasympathetic nerve fibers are found in the lips, this is an easy way to induce calm that you can employ at any time or place. You only need to brush your lips, take long, deep breaths, and tell yourself, "I am safe," to experience the benefits.

4. Walking Meditation

Even though you can practice this whenever you go for a walk, you might want to go for a quiet area of the outdoors to stroll in. You'll feel closer to the ground if you can stroll barefoot if it's safe to do so.

Take a few deep breaths to bring in calming energy and release tension while maintaining a straight spine, relaxed shoulders, and relaxed arms.

Now begin slowly moving forward and sync your breathing with your steps—right foot, inhale; left foot, exhale. Use all of your senses to fully experience where you are—the warm feeling of sun on your face, the soft sound of wind rustling leaves on trees. Being present in the walking experience is the aim, not reaching a specific location.

5. Meditative Shower

Standing beneath a stream of perfectly heated water makes it effortless to forget about anything else.

Now is the time to become aware of your senses. Pick a soap that you adore so that the aroma is captivating. Savor the feeling of the water on your skin as it cascades down your heels, calves, and back.

Notice when you begin thinking about the day ahead (or behind you). Don’t judge the thoughts or yourself for having them. Instead, visualize them going down the drain and then bring your focus back to the experience of cleansing your body and mind.

6. Chore Meditation

Whether you’re vacuuming, dusting, or washing dishes, it can be your meditation if you immerse yourself completely in the activity.

For example, doing the dishes can be gratifying and calming. As you feel the warm water on your hands, relish the feeling of cleaning something that was before unclean. Ignore thoughts of completion or what you'll do after. If you can discover a sense of acceptance and present in doing something slowly and properly, then all that matters is the doing.

From Karma Gaia:

Finding Peace: The 5 Key Practices For Daily Mindfulness

When we live in the present moment rather than on autopilot, caught up in our thoughts, we increase our capacity for a feeling of vibrant aliveness, a sharp sense of presence in daily life. In moments of amazement, I experience this as a vibration that runs through my body. It happens when I hear the enchanting calls of a flock of geese. I can sense it when a friend or complete stranger extends a loving greeting to me or when the full moon illuminates the lake close to my home. It is an awareness that exclaims, "I am here, alive, right now!" along with feelings of astonishment, warmth, and love.

we can find our grounding again, remember who we are, and live more fully from our heart each day as we navigate this terrain called life.

A visceral sense of interconnectedness with all of existence can arise from this sense of present-moment awareness. When we feel this oneness—whatever we may call it—the world opens up. Our lives are forever changed as a result of our openness to life's fullness.

5 Key Practices for Daily Mindfulness

Gaining this kind of awareness is often portrayed as something that happens to us, usually suddenly and spontaneously, and usually only once. However, it's a continuous endeavor.

Every day presents an opportunity to practice embodied awareness through five fundamental practices:

1. Coming back to the present moment

2. Connecting with something greater

3. Growing your trust

4. Embodying compassion

5. Holding openness

As humans, we are all prone to going into autopilot and interacting with the world and other people out of habit and disengagement. By implementing these five techniques, we can rediscover our sense of self, live more authentically every day, and navigate this crazy journey called life.

For me, the value of these practices came into sharp focus in a moment of fear.

These five practices—coming back to the present moment, connecting with something greater, growing my trust, embodying compassion, and holding openness—have shaped and molded who I am and my understanding of being alive. I actively put these into practice every day.

We all have to deal with difficulties, hardships, and ups and downs. The question is, do we do so in a way that makes us feel shut down, tuned out, and closed off from ourselves and from life? Would we rather go in the other direction and allow ourselves to be more fully awake and in the moment?

You can feel more spacious, at ease, and at peace just by doing each practice alone. However, the techniques complement and enhance one another as well. Reentering the present moment allows compassion and a sense of connectedness to the people and environment around us to flourish by removing us from our thinking minds. Through accepting things as they are and paying close attention, that connection fosters the growth of our trust. We are able to feel more deeply in our body, our heart, and our entire being when we are not caught in our thoughts and are instead living in the present. Remaining in the present moment brings relief, and feelings of compassion, trust, and interconnectedness help us maintain our openness in the face of life's unavoidable obstacles. We can live fully and love truly when we maintain an open mind to everything that exists.

We don’t have to wait until we’re faced with our imminent death or with a dramatic life event to embody mindfulness. We have many opportunities in daily life to gradually arrive there. We all have to deal with difficulties, hardships, and ups and downs. The question is, do we act in a way that causes us to feel disconnected from life and ourselves—that is, shut down, tuned out, and walled off? Would we rather go in the other direction and allow ourselves to be more fully awake and in the moment?

From Karma Gaia:

Harnessing the Power of Crystals for Mental Health

Crystals have been used for centuries as a way to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and improve overall mental well-being. It is thought that the potent energy these organic stones possess might aid in restoring harmony and healing to the body, mind, and soul.

Amethyst is one crystal that is especially beneficial for mental wellness. Known for its peaceful nature, this stunning purple stone is frequently used to encourage relaxation and reduce tension. Amethyst is also believed to enhance intuition and spiritual awareness, making it a popular choice for meditation and spiritual practices.

Rose quartz is another gemstone that has the potential to benefit mental wellness. This gentle pink stone is frequently used to encourage self-love and self-care since it is linked to compassion and affection. Rose quartz is thought to improve empathy and understanding and can help reduce anxiety and despair.

Apart from rose quartz and amethyst, there are numerous additional stones that are good for mental health. For instance, blue lace agate is frequently used to reduce stress and anxiety due to its relaxing nature. Citrine is thought to aid with depressive and low self-esteem symptoms and is connected to wealth and prosperity. Furthermore, black tourmaline is a potent grounding stone that helps lessen anxiety and dread.

To use these crystals for mental health, there are a variety of methods you can try. One common method is to lay the crystal on your body or hold it in your palm as you meditate or unwind. In order to create a calm and serene atmosphere, you can also keep the crystal with you during the day or arrange it anywhere in your house or place of business.

It's crucial to remember that even while crystals can be a useful tool for mental health, professional medical or mental health care should always be sought out before using crystals. If you are struggling with a mental health issue, it's important to seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.

Adding crystals to your self-care regimen can be a potent method to improve your general wellbeing and encourage serenity and relaxation. Through utilizing the therapeutic properties of these organic stones, you can achieve increased tranquility and harmony in your existence.

From Karma Gaia:

Healing Your Inner Child

A person’s inner child includes sources of strength, lightheartedness, and/or skills that they have learned throughout their stages of growth. But it also encompasses wounds and traumas sustained during the course of growth. Although it could take some time, it is possible to heal these wounds from your inner child.

Healing your inner child can be helpful in addressing:

Transgenerational trauma: Transgenerational trauma occurs across family generations. Youngsters continue to engage in maladaptive behavioral patterns after early exposure to codependency, people-pleasing, and trust difficulties. These wounds can begin to heal and the transgenerational trauma can be stopped with inner child treatment and reparenting.

Attachment issues: When one’s attachment styles are insecure, they are providing evidence that as a child, they felt the need to take care of/protect themselves for one reason or another. These safe childhood coping strategies develop into harmful adult coping strategies that hinder an individual. Working with your inner child teaches you more flexible ways to take care of yourself and your needs.

Perfectionism: Perfectionism in adulthood may stem from a desire to keep a caregiver happy or receive praise from a caregiver in childhood. It's critical to distinguish between what is happening now and what used to function in childhood. The habits we hold from our childhood often don't work in our adult lives.

Low self-esteem: As we grow, we experience the world through our caregivers. If they speak to us in a harsh or abusive manner, we will take on that critical voice as our own internal dialogue. You can have a deeper understanding of who you are right now by learning about the needs, feelings, and experiences of your inner child.

How to Heal Your Inner Child

Prior to starting the healing process with your inner child, it's critical to realize that it will require time. The suffering associated with childhood trauma or distress cannot be eased with a magic bullet or fast remedy. As it turns out, inner child work is really a conscious, continuous conversation between the inner child and the adult self.

Here are eight ways to heal your inner child:

1. Recognize & Accept Your Inner Child

Even if you’re unable to recall many memories from your childhood, you know that at one point, you were a child and that time in your life has had an impact on you. Recognizing your inner child can begin with looking at photographs from your childhood. Even if it could be tough at first, it's crucial to give yourself permission to acknowledge that your upbringing included difficult periods and to look back on past memories.

2. Listen to Your Inner Child

Pay attention to your inner child and accept that it is wounded. This is an ideal moment to observe your own mature responses and attempt to discern what they are attempting to convey to you. By showing love and care, consider what your inner child needs from you as an adult.

Some other questions that you can ask your inner child are:

• What are you judging or blaming yourself for?

• How are you feeling?

• How can I best support you?

Listening to your inner child and experiencing the feelings and emotions that may arise is a valuable way to grow and work through the past.

3. Write a Letter

Composing a letter from your adult self to your inner child can be a profoundly healing and loving practice. It releases some of the responsibility your inner child may have always felt, while simultaneously giving it the wisdom of your mature self. You could start this letter with "Dear Younger Me."

Writing a letter from the viewpoint of your inner child is another useful practice. The inner child is free to write anything that comes to mind in this letter using crayons or markers. "Dear Big Me" would be the opening line.

4. Try Meditation

When we meditate, we become still and are able to control our thoughts and attention. Working through inner child wounds frequently causes us to lose concentration and make it difficult to pay attention to the past. A guided, straightforward method to help you access emotions from the past is to practice inner child meditation.

5. Try Journaling

Using writing, audio, art, video, apps, or other mediums to express your ideas and feelings can help you make sense of them. Journaling is an active therapeutic approach. Setting new goals for your life and changing unhealthy coping mechanisms can be facilitated by being able to identify and let go of these thoughts, feelings, and behavioral patterns as an adult.

Another approach is journaling from the point of view of the inner child. This will allow the inner child to express him/herself, rather than keep the emotions bottled up inside.

Below are signs that your inner child is healing:

• You’ve learned healthy coping mechanisms

• You’ve broken patterns of avoidance

• You show yourself empathy and are able to recognize your needs.

• You’re able to set boundaries

• You’re better able to regulate your emotions

• You can create everyday routines and rituals.

• You are able to clearly express your own needs

• You are able to take care of yourself and tune into what you need

• You let yourself have fun and be impulsive.

From Karma Gaia:

Healing Trauma

Trauma can be held in the body, leading to physical symptoms years later — such as headaches, jumpiness, chronic pain, and dissociation.

It's possible for your rational mind to feel "over it" before your body does after an intense event.

What Is Trauma?

Traumas differ greatly on the outside. Over time, a person can experience childhood trauma from a significant history of intense sexual trauma, abuse, and neglect. Alternatively, someone else can be traumatized by a past car accident. Some people can have experienced trauma from an unhealthy relationship or a bad exam result.

Trauma is made up of three components, regardless of what caused it: the incident itself, the experience surrounding it, and the aftermath.

Trauma can lead to various mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, and addiction, making daily life difficult. It might be difficult for people to eat well, get enough sleep, and enjoy their relationships. By addressing how you responded to your event, you can release the hold that trauma can have on your life and gain a fresh outlook on it.

1. Acknowledge the Event

After a tragic event, people sometimes find it hard to accept what happened. They go into a denial mode and pretend that nothing important has happened to them.

The individual cannot start the healing process if they do not recognize how serious the situation is. Retrace the traumatizing steps and reflect on the circumstances, taking time as needed. It will be painful, of course, but healing cannot occur in the absence of pain.

2. Accept Support

Refusing assistance could be a big mistake for those recovering from trauma. An individual's success in the beginning does not guarantee that they will continue to perform well in the end. If you have the energy, communicate with your loved ones about the unhelpful things they can say about your PTSD. Informing them of their ability to assist is equally crucial.

Asking for additional help and support is always a great idea. This support can come in the form of:

• Friends

• Family

• Your partner

• Coworkers

• Mental health professionals

• Religious professionals

• Support group members

• Online support groups

3. Practice Self-Care

Tolerating support from others and being able to support oneself are critical qualities in a person. Effective self-care techniques can assist someone in setting priorities for their needs and concentrating on their trauma healing.

Self-care will appear different for different people, but it will all center around the theme of the person looking after their needs and wants. When self-care is used in moderation, it can help recover by balancing the pain caused by trauma.

Practicing emotional self-care can include:

• Taking a long bath

• Listening to music

• Watching a loved movie

• Getting a massage

• Eating a nice meal

4. Focus On Your Physical Health

When your mental health is under assault from trauma, a person needs to devote energy and resources to their psychological well-being. Still, they cannot neglect their physical health. One's mental state can be greatly influenced by one's physical state.

A person can concentrate on their food, level of physical exercise, and sleep routine in the following ways to improve physical health:

Eating healthy food will give someone the energy to find the motivation to accomplish goals.

Exercise offers many mental health benefits, including improved mood and lower anxiety.

A good night's sleep can help someone mentally clear their head and refuel for the next day.

5. Practice Mindfulness or Meditation

The stress and anxiety of trauma can be well-treated with various types of meditation and mindfulness. Both of these exercises can be difficult and uncomfortable at first, but if one can maintain a schedule, they can achieve new levels of relaxation.

Users of meditations may be encouraged to empty their minds or to fill them with positive or uplifting ideas. Some will merely work on calming racing thoughts, while others may include particular body motions.

A person could even experiment with meditation apps. Perhaps one of these options can provide a much-needed source of calm, peace, and comfort.

6. Get Back Into Your Routine

Undoubtedly, trauma can leave a monumental impact on every aspect of life. Thoughts, actions, and feelings will all be changed. Some might feel far removed from any previous schedule or routine if they change too much.

Think back to pre-trauma life and reflect on the typical routine and how the schedules worked. Going back to one's old routines might help one feel secure and rooted. While there's always space for improvement, getting back to the routine of your normal activities might help keep the healing process going.