We can control what we see, hear, read, feel, We can control what we do, what we say, what we focus our minds on. And yes these are times when sometimes we need to.
What can I do for positive input:
- Take a walk. Get up, get out, move. Take a slow roll around the neighborhood.
- Go to the gym, take a swim. You never know who you might see at the pool.
- Read something reaffirming. Not a depressing novel, or a book about end of life (I read a book recently about physician aid in dying in Canada) but something about finding goodness in life.
- Be selective in YouTube. There is a channel that has a lot of content about finding happiness and self acceptance, Reflections of Life, it is produced in South Africa. Not all of the videos are positive, but most are. The Ted Talks are always educational and often positive. Many of the narrowboating channels that helped us through 2020-2022 have faded away. There are a couple of ongoing renovation channels that I follow. A spin-off from one of those is Brian's Life In France, an Irish guy, living in rural France and working on Dan's renovation every couple of weeks. Sure beats watching Law and Order.
- Set your sound track. Talk news is probably not a healthy thing to listen to right now. Dig out your CDs or stream music in a place that allows you to set the mood by your selection of music.
- Find something funny. Ask Siri or Alexa or Google for the joke of the day, or to tell you a funny story. Do a quick search for jokes. If you can't remember the last time you laughed, it has been too long.
- Practice any art. You don't have to be good at it, for doing it to be good for you. Escape and have fun in the focus.
All good advice. Not to mention relax with a good cocktail.
ReplyDeleteI have been known to do that.
DeleteGood advice. Your pool looks so pleasant and inviting.
ReplyDeleteVery unusual for it to busy, and with youngins at that.
DeleteGood advice!
ReplyDeleteI should have added, read good blogs.
DeleteGreat advice. It isn't hard to turn off the negativity, it just takes the effort.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maddie ... relaxing with a cocktail can be a good thing.
Lots of insanity this year.
DeleteIt's hard not to get worried and sad these days. Thanks for all of your suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI understand, hard on our mental health.
DeleteI'm heading to my friends house this evening for our weekly champagne and travel talk. It's very uplifting.
ReplyDeleteI have not taken part in the travel group here at the Condo, maybe I should. A weekly champagne and travel talk sounds like fun.
DeleteJust had a fun lunch with the neighbor ladies and politics was never mentioned, we talked about upcoming vacations, looking forward to seeing each other more frequently now that nicer weather and being outside is in the near future, gardening, college kids, grandkids, just good things in life. It was a lovely couple hours.
ReplyDeleteWe must keep living.
DeleteI spend most days indoors. I should get out more and will try to do a bit of walking (toddling) to get a slight bit of exercise. Other than daughter, we are pretty isolated here. Not good, I suspect.
ReplyDeleteMy treadmill time is calling.
DeleteI think your advice is good Dr Godfrey. It would be easy to sink into the mud instead of consciously fighting against that sinking feeling in simple ways.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend get away,
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