Yes, really. Even if you don’t think you need it. Even
if your mental health is generally good. We get checkups to maintain our
physical health, so why not our mental health? It’s not cheap and it’s not always
covered by insurance, but if you can afford it, get yourself a therapist right
now if you feel on the edge for any reason.
Put yourself first. It is totally appropriate to make sure you are doing the basics before you can help anyone else or serve your favorite cause.
Get enough sleep. You’d be amazed what sleep-deprivation does to your body
and mind. If you do only one self-care thing (other than therapy), this should
be it.
Go to the doctor. Take care of your body — you only get the one.
Exercise. You don’t have to run a marathon, but do some yoga or
go for a jog or at least take a walk.
Spend time with
friends. Just be with
people who love you, doing fun stuff.
Get some me-time. Read a book, watch a movie, take a walk, whatever.
Just be in your own company for a while.
Eat well. Sure, healthy is good, but good food can also mean delicious. Cook
(or order) food that makes you happy. Not too much. Not too little.
Get outside. If you live near woods or mountains or oceans, awesome.
If not, just stroll around your neighborhood and breathe some fresh air.
Are You an
Emotional Sponge?
Emotional freedom means learning
how to stay centered in a stressful, highly emotionally charged world. Since
emotions such as fear, anger, and frustration are energies, you can potentially
“catch” them from people without realizing it.
If you tend to be an emotional
sponge, you might become hyper-attuned to others, especially those with similar
pain.
That’s how empathy works; we zero
in on hot-button issues that are unresolved in ourselves. From an energetic
standpoint, negative emotions can originate from several sources. What you’re
feeling may be your own; it may be someone else’s; or it may be a combination.
Absorbing other
people’s emotions can trigger panic, depression, food, sex and drug
binges, and a plethora of physical symptoms that defy traditional medical
diagnosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than
two million Americans suffer from chronic fatigue. It’s likely that many of
them are emotional sponges.
Ask yourself: Is the feeling mine
or someone else’s? It could be both. If the emotion such as fear or anger is
yours, and if it is safe to gently confront what’s causing it...
DO SO...on your own or with professional help. If not, try to pinpoint the
obvious generator. Are you even absorbing the emotion of someone on TV or on
Facebook?
When possible, distance yourself
from the suspected source. Move away; see if you feel relief. Don’t err on the
side of not wanting to offend strangers. In a public place, don’t hesitate to
change seats if you feel a sense of depression imposing on you.
Breathe.
For a few minutes, center
yourself by concentrating on your breath. This connects you to your essence. Keep
exhaling negativity, inhaling calm. This helps to ground yourself and purify
fear or other difficult emotions.
Emotions such as fear frequently
lodge in your emotional center at the solar plexus. Place your palm there as
you keep sending loving-kindness to that area to flush stress out. For
longstanding depression or anxiety, use this method daily to strengthen this
center. It’s comforting and builds a sense of safety and optimism.
Look for positive people and
situations. Call a friend who sees the good in others. Spend time with a
colleague who affirms the bright side of things. Listen to hopeful people. Hear
the faith they have in themselves and others. Also relish hopeful words, songs,
and art forms. Hope is contagious and it will lift your mood…esp. before you go
to sleep!
Do therapy. 
