Concussions. I instantly relate them to football, headaches, and athletes. I never thought I’d be the one dealing with the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. For over 8 weeks now, I have been given strict orders (over and over again) to do NOTHING until I feel no more pain. But the pain resides, and only gets numbed by pharmaceuticals that I don’t want to be ingesting in the first place. Continue reading “Post Concussion Syndrome”
Tag: Mind
That Hole You’re In? It Ain’t All That Mighty!
Dear Reader,
Don’t let your current struggle define who you are. Don’t let it define your entire life. Are you overweight? Depressed? Jobless? Or just can’t find your place yet in this world? Don’t worry, it’s not so hard to climb out of that hole.
You are a wonderful person. You work hard. You mean well. And you speak your mind. You’re not afraid to be you. So whatever has got you down, know that it’s only for a limited time.
It’s not permanent.
We can always change our circumstances.
All it takes is a little dedication and work to get out of this hole. Learn what it takes, whether it be a lifestyle change, a new way of eating, a new way of connecting to others, a novel approach to your dream career, or even starting a new hobby. Create something with your hands. Go for a walk. Gaze at the stars. Write a poem.
Don’t simply sit around and let this hole be a sinking sand. You are better than this hole. You are the shovel. You are the ladder that drops down into it. You are the rungs that support your weight. You are the ground in which the hole is dug. I am the hand reaching down to help you out. Grab hold. Now show that hole who’s boss and get out of it, fill it with cement, and never go back.
Love,
Nicole
Mindful Living
We all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life.
Wake up.
Get Ready.
Go to work.
Come Home.
Eat Dinner.
Workout.
Sleep.
What ever order you do it in, it’s over and over again, day by day, week by week, and before we know it, it’s all over. That is why I’m here to say:
Slow down.
Take a moment to breathe, listen, and refresh your mind. Yes, we may “relax” by going on Facebook or Pinterest, reading the news, or watching T.V. but those are not refreshing our mind set and letting us live in the moment. A great way to just shut everything out and focus on YOU for a moment is belly breathing.
It is a technique of breathing that slows down your whole body, turns off your fight or flight system (sympathetic nervous system), and lets your body find time to digest, heal, and wind down. Honestly, I don’t do this too often and really should do it more, but I suggest doing it at least once a day for 15 minutes.
Where To Do It
Anywhere! Do it where you are now – standing, sitting, lying down, driving – anywhere you are. Stop and belly breathe!
I like to do it right when I’m ready to go to sleep. It helps turn off my brain, let my body relax, and let me have a better sleep.
How To Do It
Pretend your stomach is a red balloon. Put your hands on and feel it. As you breathe in, you push your stomach muscles out, slowly inflating that red balloon, until is about to burst. And then you slowly breathe out your nose, letting it all deflate. You want your muscles and breath to be synchronous (in motion together). They are flowing, in and out, as slow as possible. Make sure you push ALL the air out of the balloon before you let any new air in.
Imagine fresh air coming in to be positive vibes, positive thoughts, dreams, wishes, and smiles. The air going out is negative thoughts, worries, stresses, and tasks of the days. Really suck all that positive air in, fill that great balloon. And sincerely push all that negative out of your life, deflating your red balloon.
Continue until you feel relaxed, your muscles wilt, and your mind is free.
Nixie Dee 