Find a Creative Pursuit for a Happier, More Balanced Life
The psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi says that “when we are involved in creativity, we feel that we are living more fully than during the rest of life.” I can certainly vouch for that. The times when I feel the most alive, energised, ‘in the flow’ and relaxed are usually when I’m doing something creative. I love to knit, crochet and sew, and one of my favourite pastimes is making knitted toys and little rag dolls to give away as gifts. These activities really help me to …
Natural Ways to Lift Your Mood
Let me ask, do you feel helpless when you’re going through a tough time and feeling down? As if there’s nothing you can do to get yourself out of that state? We’d all like to feel good all of the time, but, inevitably, we go through periods when we feel demotivated and irritable, or worse unhappy and upset. I can recall a time in my younger life when I struggled to manage my emotional state. Feelings of tension and unease were my constant companions …
Is Your Morning Routine Making or Breaking Your Day?
Let me take you back to this morning and ask how you began your day. Did you have a calm, quiet and orderly start? Or, was it rushed, manic and frenzied? How we choose to spend the first minutes and hours of the day has a significant effect on all those that follow. What we do - and how we feel - sets the tone for the entire day. That has certainly been my experience. On an ideal day, I get out of bed at …
Feel-Good Factor: Dance!
Did you know that dancing is one of the most fun and effective ways to get a complete mind and body workout? Studies show that dancing can instantly lift your mood, help reduce stress, increase energy levels, improve flexibility, increase muscle tone and strength, increase bone density, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and aid weight loss. It also boosts self-confidence and self esteem …
Feel-Good Factor Tip: Laugh!
Research shows that the simple act of laughing offers an amazing array of mental, physical, emotional and social benefits. Laughter lowers stress hormones, boosts immunity, decreases pain, relaxes muscles and lowers blood pressure. It eases anxiety and fear, improves mood, and adds joy and zest to life. It also strengthens relationships, defuses conflict and promotes …
Feel-Good Factor Tip: Breathe!
Decide which energy you would like to experience in this moment. Joy? Vitality? Peace? Love? Wellbeing? Give this energy a colour; any colour that feels right to you. Put your hand on your abdomen and close your eyes. Take a long, deep, slow in-breath so that your hand rises. Continue to breathe in and out slowly and deliberately, allowing your hand to rise and fall with each breath …
Feel-Good Factor Tip: Daydream!
Forget everything you were told as a child; daydreaming is actually good for you. Research has shown that it: improves working memory; aids relaxation; helps the creation and achievement of goals; and allows complex thought to take place thus facilitating creative problem solving …
Feel-Good Factor Tip: Listen to Music!
Whether you prefer Beyonce or Beethoven, listening to your favourite tunes is a proven spirit lifter. Recent research has found that levels of the feel-good brain chemical dopamine increased by 9% when participants listened to music they enjoyed. Listening to music from a happy time in your life will further enhance your experience by inducing the good feelings you enjoyed at the time …
Feel-Good Factor Tip: Smile!
We are all drawn to people who smile. Studies show that not only does smiling make you more attractive to others, it also tricks your body and mind into changing your mood for the better. It relieves stress, boosts your immune system, lowers your blood pressure, releases ‘feel-good’ hormones and lifts your face to make you look younger and more successful. It also helps you stay more positive …
Feel-Good Factor Tip: Hug Someone!
Research has shown that just ten seconds of hugging can lower your blood pressure. Hugging triggers the production of the feel-good hormone oxytocin and lowers the production of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenalin. Oxytocin is a pleasure hormone. It creates feelings of calmness, contentment, and security, while reducing fear and anxiety. Done regularly, hugging lowers the risk of heart disease …
Feel-Good Factor Tip: Do a Chocolate Meditation
Buy some really good quality chocolate. Open the packet and inhale the aroma. Break off a piece and look at it. Pop it in your mouth. Hold it on your tongue and let it melt. Focus all your attention on the sensations in your mouth; the texture, the taste, the whole melting process. If your mind wanders gently bring it back to the present moment. When the chocolate has completely melted, swallow it very slowly …
Feel-Good Factor Tip: Start Collecting Compliments
Buy the best little notebook you can afford and, every time someone gives you a compliment, write it down. This will allow you to acknowledge and appreciate the qualities that others see in you that otherwise may have just passed you by. This is a proven technique for boosting self-esteem, and your notebook will soon become a permanent source of ‘feel good energy’ whenever you feel down …