Being happy and strong in difficult times
Sibylle Chaudhuri
20th January 2021
We all have already enough going on in our lives, our jobs, challenges, demands, families, friends and – hopefully – hobbies as well. And then, all of a sudden, life throws something at us completely unexpected. Whether it is the loss of a job, a break-up, divorce, loss of a loved one, a fight, or COVID 19, anything can throw us off the tracks when we are not in balance, when our resilience is down.
In order to take whatever life throws at us and to be able to make the best of it, we generally need to be calm and centred. Only then can we come up with creative solutions. But how can we get there?
What is the secret to be happy and strong in difficult times?
Unfortunately, we mostly cannot control what life throws at us, but we can control how we react to our life-events and experiences, how we approach them.
Generally, it is not the experience, the event, that throws us off the tracks it is our thoughts. Thoughts like “I will never get another job again”, “I will never find the right partner”, “We all are going to die”, etc. Those thoughts create anxiety and stress. When your thoughts feel heavy, they are simply not true.
Okay, what is the secret?
Thinking healthy thoughts
The secret is to think heathy, happy, positive and empowering thoughts in order to increase our balance and resilience, in order to be centred and calm. While thinking healthy, positive, empowering thoughts we increase our self-worth, we open our hearts in order to allow unconditional love to flow freely to ourselves and to others, we free our psyche, our soul off unnecessary and heavy burdens.
The following tips guide us along the path of thinking happy, positive and empowering thoughts.
Mindfulness
Try to focus on everything you do as if it was the most important task in this very moment and try to enjoy everything as much as you an … because you can.
Examples
When you take a shower, pay attention to everything: How does the water-jet feel on your body, what does your shower gel smell like and what does it feel like on your skin. Enjoy the experience of taking a hot shower with clean water and relax.
When you walk concentrate fully on your feet. What do they feel like walking barefoot, in socks, or shoes, and what does it feel like when they touch the ground? Be happy that your feet carry you all day long wherever you want to go.
When you eat, sit on a table and put all your focus on your food. Do not watch TV or read while eating. What does your food look and smell like? What kind of texture does it have in your mouth and how many different ingredients can you taste? Chew it carefully and enjoy it.
When we always only concentrate on our tasks at hand and learn to enjoy everything, we programme our brain on all the positive things in our life and our subconscious mind will look for even more positive aspects in our life.
Forgiveness
Being resentful, holding a grudge, being mad or angry, can feel heavy, makes us tense and can even cause physical pain. It blocks our energy flow and keeps us stuck in our endeavours. Whether we forgive ourselves or others, it is always for our own good. We free our soul off a heavy burden and strengthen it. Forgiveness clears blockages and our energy can flow freely again. We can relax and pain subsides.
Best is to start forgiving yourself. This is often the hardest part but it opens our hearts. Love and compassion can flow freely again. Thus, we can forgive others as well.
Self-forgiveness could be something like,
- I forgive myself for not being perfect. (It’s not possible anyway.)
- I forgive myself for hurting someone consciously or subconsciously. (Of course, we will say sorry to this person as well and try to avoid hurting anyone in the future.)
- I forgive myself for procrastinating.
- Etc.
When you forgive others, it is not always necessary to talk to them you can think it or write it down on a piece of paper and burn it, etc. We can even forgive people who passed away already. Forgiving somebody else could be the following:
- I forgive XYZ for not being who I would have needed them to be for me. (This is often the case with parents.)
- I forgive XYZ for hurting me consciously or subconsciously, knowingly or not knowingly.
- I forgive XYZ for blaming me for something I have not done.
- Etc.
Start doing it now and do it every day for the rest of your life. This is also true for practising gratitude.
Gratitude
Gratitude focuses your mind on everything you already have in your life and it will start to look for even more positive things, and suddenly you will see all the abundance within and surrounding you.
Take at least 5 minutes a day and write in a journal what you are grateful for in your life, what went well this day and what brought you joy.
Gratitude is one of the best recipes for healthy, positive and empowering thoughts. For joy and happiness.
Focus on the positive
Sometimes it’s better to skip the news and forget about social media altogether, at least for a few days. It’s a little bit like detox.
Try to focus on positive news and posts only, e.g. there is now a vaccination for COVID 19, warmer and sunnier days lie ahead of us, we still can do so many things others cannot.
Always focus on everything you can do, what you are good at, what you like doing, and what you already have … aaaaaand we are back to gratitude ;-).
Smiling and laughing
Smile, laugh and have fun as much and often as possible. When we smile and laugh our brain releases endorphins into our body – our body’s natural opiates. They help us to relax and to be happy. Wie cannot laugh, be happy and think negative thoughts at the same time. With endorphins in our blood stream the world is already a better place.
Oh yes, you can J
I can hear you already with all your, “Yes but …”
… I really have no time for this at the moment.
… I have to take care of my family.
… I don’t know what to start with.
… I can’t do this alone.
… etc., ect., etc.
Yes you can!
Are you ready for a change? Do you want to be happier, healthier and more successful?
Yes, you can! You can be all the above.
Everything and anything is possible if you only have the will to do it.
Start thinking healthy, positive and empowering thoughts today. You do not have to do everything at the same time, start with one small task. Maybe you start with only 5 minutes today and write down everything you are grateful for.
We are not going to re-program our brain in one day and only have positive thoughts immediately and for the rest of our life. We have to train it daily just like a muscle. It is a life-long exercise, but it will get easier every day. Over time you will realise the changes within you, you will become calmer and more centred. You will be more compassionate with yourself and others. You will master your challenges with more ease and sovereignty. You are not going to be so vulnerable anymore, etc.
Always look at the bright side of life.
I wish you strength, positive energy and healthy thoughts for your new life. Be well.
Yours,
Sibylle
inner works for you
sibylle chaudhuri | coaching & training
email: info@sibylle-chaudhuri.com
www.sibylle-chaudhuri.com
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Disclaimer
Everything provided in this newsletter is for informational, motivational and/or educational purposes only. Whether you change/do something in your life is your decision and yours only. You carry responsibility for your life.
The given content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical, psychological and/or legal advice, diagnosis, treatment or consulting. Please consult your physician, therapist, lawyer regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your concerns, symptoms and/or medical condition.
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