How To Allow When Things Are Intense:
Resources
Here are some ideas and resources for those of you who were interested in the class I did recently called How to Allow When Things Are Intense. Several folks who couldn’t come asked me for some helpful suggestions. The following might help you be with uncomfortable emotions in a way that feels more allowing, accepting, and peaceful. Try to let any discomfort or anxiety roll through you without fighting it or thinking you shouldn’t be feeling it. Anxiety is fine, unless we feel anxious about it. 😉 I know it sounds funny, but it’s true. Just letting it all come through without thinking it needs to be different or shouldn’t be happening – that in itself helps to calm the nervous system down. Much better for our state of mind and state of body/health.
There are SO MANY things that help, and these are just a few off the top of my head. So, try these and see if any resonate with you and help you to relax:
First, the quickies:
GET OUTSIDE! Connecting with nature is scientifically proven to relax you, calm the nervous system, help you sleep better, and strengthen your immune system!
BREATHE! Sit down and breath on purpose! Breathing fully is also scientifically proven to benefit the body and all its processes, including calming the nervous system down.
LOOK UP! Physically looking up changes your posture and literally changes your perspective to a bigger one. Helps us step out of our closed loop thinking, get out of our heads and the drama of our stories, and literally opens up new neural networks to help us realize that the reality between our ears might be just a little made up (or, a LOT made up!)
LAUGH! Watch funny movies, stand up, youtube videos that help you laugh out loud!
LIGHTEN UP! Are you taking things too seriously, by any chance? Laughter helps, getting outside helps, doing things that you like and feel fun helps. Do whatever helps you not to get hooked into the drama and to live a much lighter, freer experience!
Dr. Amy Johnson’s blog:
How to ride out unpleasant emotions: https://youtu.be/W3ikxvyg6ls
Sarah Blondin’s guided meditations: https://insig.ht/RSgZlABUF7
BOOKS: There are SO many helpful books! Go with what feels good to you, and know that reading is a great way to keep yourself exposed to/gounded in/fed by the truth of wellbeing! Michael Singer wrote the Untethered Soul, which I also recommend. I think reading The Surrender Experiment first is a good way to go!
The Little Book of Big Change, Dr. Amy Johnson. Try this book. It speaks toward addictions and habits, but truly addresses habitual, repetitive thinking:
Byron Katie’s “The Work” – helps us to question the thoughts that are taking us for a ride. Helps us to see that ultimately no thought is true, so we can save ourselves a lot of trauma by not believing them. This process helps you actually get it that the thoughts aren’t true: Free worksheets, instructions, videos
Breathing to activate vagus nerve and the parasympathetic nervous system: I like this video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QTJOAI0UoU&list=PL77eIgPU1X9_nysxXn0gMhOP4qXh55nl6&index=6&t=368s
My Youtube channel. I have various playlists. All of them offer some kind of upliftment or inspiration. Maybe there will be something there for you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7AoDFgCJS3ZzhGYUd4gSIA/featured
There are SO many ways to help ourselves remember the truth, even in the face of big stress, fear and anxiety. I’d love to hear some of your favorites! Please post!
Always Love,
Christina
