Lou, did you ever read The Body Keeps the Score? Really excellent explanation of how all the trauma and stress of life can impact our physical and mental health.
No problem. I read it a few years ago and it really helped me to see the connection between my stress, mental health, and physical health. I have it staged to read again this fall as a refresher.
My mother tuned me in to the soothing effects of nature when I was growing up. Even now, in midlife, all it takes is stopping whatever I am doing and looking around for something in nature to enjoy for a moment to alleviate stress and help me regroup. Even in the middle of a city, focusing on a bird or plant can do the trick. Of the many things she taught me, that is one of the most enduring and beneficial.
That's a wonderful example of a personal soothing technique! Thank you for sharing Beth. I love that it's part of your "bag of tricks" that you can easily go to and it's available every where and anytime!
Isn't it crazy how we kinda know how stress impacts our mental and physical health and wellbeing, yet, everybody keeps piling up the workload, adopts bad eating habits, disregards moving/exercising and keeps running the treadmill.... ?
Thanks for your post and the reminder that we need to break those habits. We have one body and one mind/head we should take care of so they last.
Jus seeing green/nature already relaxes me. As well as stillness. The louder/higher the noise level gets (traffic, tons of people talking, etc.) the stress level rises...but luckily I have a quiet environment so I can avoid that stressor.
I take every day a walk (or bike ride) in nature which I can access right behind our home and this feels sooooo gooood. Just being out in nature, listening to the birds is very soothing and calming.
So glad you mentioned noise. I lived in NYC for decades and never used to notice how "noisy" the city is. Nowadays, when I come for a visit, I could "hear it" and feel it immediately. Noise is actually one of my stressors, I've discovered - especially loud voices. Nature is such a gift - both soothing and nourishing, isn't it?
I know some people living in NYC and say they didn't even notice the noise level anymore. Very interesting, bc I can't imagine.... We tend to say we "get used to it". But I wonder what is going on in the subconscious...bc the noise is still there, its not disappearing and the mind/body is "hearing" it even if we consciously trying to "exclude" it. I can imagine there is still an impact.
YESSS Nature just feels so sooting and nourishing.... sublte sounds, the colors...
I love that you found something that works for you. Seriously, in this world, the ability to find something healthy and soothing is so important. I'd say music is soothing me these days and yoga does magic for me. I've been doing yoga for lower back pain and stomach problems and it works!
Something must be in the air because I'm just coming off of some stressful times. Hope things relax on your end! xo
Thanks Lani! Music is in my toolbox as well. Come to think of it, I have music that soothes, music that nourishes and most importantly (for me!) music for discharging energy! 😂 What do you like listening to?
In my latest newsletter, I make some recommendations. But I go through moods - and right now it’s bluegrass. Obsessed with Nora Brown and getting ready to dig into the “latest” from Nickel Creek. What about you?
I checked out Nora Brown on YouTube and I think I'm going to listen to some more of her music! I go through moods myself. And I have this thing where I listen to something (an album, an artist, or a song) over and over until I kinda get it out of my system for a while. These days, the one on loop is Oleta Adams and Maxi Priest. So totally different genres! LOL
Nice! Yes, I’ve got bluegrass just running through my head these days. Maybe it’s my way of hearkening back to simpler times because I discovered the genre in my twenties. xo
I think, I am still right in the middle of the learning process of changing some deeper M.O. elements.
I have similar experience from my high-functioning consulting years.
I thought I could address some underlying causes by changes on the outside and probably they were also necessary to get me where I am today. Still, you can go wherever you want in the world, your careers or your personal life. Your thinking and behavioural patterns will catch up with you sooner or later. And no „you need to calm down and just meditate“ will do anything about it.
I just recently started to comprehend the massive difference working with physical techniques (e.g. for me, breath work) makes! I am still trial & erroring around, so I absolutely love the „Soothe, Discharge, and Nourish“ concept and your suggestion of creating some kind of ritual about it! Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi Fabienne. I loved my consulting years but unfortunately, I picked up some bad habits (like this one) that I've had to unlearn! To your point, changing our environment is a step in the right direction but the habits are still there and they will follow us — that's been my experience as well. I'm learning about breath work too. You're like the 3rd person in the last couple of weeks who have mentioned that to me. So this is probably a message from the universe. Thank you for mentioning it!
Oh, I forgot to write that I loved my work as a consultant and have no regrets at all. It’s just that I over-utilised some of my childhood coping mechanism too much as „false or wicked strengths“, I guess.
Haha, that is a sign of the universe.
One thing that really got me speechless about the effect of breath work is doing a „sonic breath“ session. You can find some free one to try here:
“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” I’ve stumbled upon all manner of wise words over the years and noticed that some hold no sway one moment then change my outlook completely the next time I read them. Their impact is all about where we are in life when they come along.
Lou, did you ever read The Body Keeps the Score? Really excellent explanation of how all the trauma and stress of life can impact our physical and mental health.
No, I haven't. Thanks for this book recommendation Matthew!
No problem. I read it a few years ago and it really helped me to see the connection between my stress, mental health, and physical health. I have it staged to read again this fall as a refresher.
My mother tuned me in to the soothing effects of nature when I was growing up. Even now, in midlife, all it takes is stopping whatever I am doing and looking around for something in nature to enjoy for a moment to alleviate stress and help me regroup. Even in the middle of a city, focusing on a bird or plant can do the trick. Of the many things she taught me, that is one of the most enduring and beneficial.
That's a wonderful example of a personal soothing technique! Thank you for sharing Beth. I love that it's part of your "bag of tricks" that you can easily go to and it's available every where and anytime!
Music, stretching, and a good night sleep always relax me. BTW, do you know when you are humming you can’t think? 😊
Whoa, I didn't know that about humming! Next time, my brain's going into over-drive, I'm definitely going to do that!
Didn’t know that either!!!
Isn't it crazy how we kinda know how stress impacts our mental and physical health and wellbeing, yet, everybody keeps piling up the workload, adopts bad eating habits, disregards moving/exercising and keeps running the treadmill.... ?
Thanks for your post and the reminder that we need to break those habits. We have one body and one mind/head we should take care of so they last.
Jus seeing green/nature already relaxes me. As well as stillness. The louder/higher the noise level gets (traffic, tons of people talking, etc.) the stress level rises...but luckily I have a quiet environment so I can avoid that stressor.
I take every day a walk (or bike ride) in nature which I can access right behind our home and this feels sooooo gooood. Just being out in nature, listening to the birds is very soothing and calming.
So glad you mentioned noise. I lived in NYC for decades and never used to notice how "noisy" the city is. Nowadays, when I come for a visit, I could "hear it" and feel it immediately. Noise is actually one of my stressors, I've discovered - especially loud voices. Nature is such a gift - both soothing and nourishing, isn't it?
I know some people living in NYC and say they didn't even notice the noise level anymore. Very interesting, bc I can't imagine.... We tend to say we "get used to it". But I wonder what is going on in the subconscious...bc the noise is still there, its not disappearing and the mind/body is "hearing" it even if we consciously trying to "exclude" it. I can imagine there is still an impact.
YESSS Nature just feels so sooting and nourishing.... sublte sounds, the colors...
Hi Lou - thanks for the shout out! As I am getting back in the groove, any little bit of encouragement is helpful. <3
Of course! I can always be relied upon as a cheer leader 😊
What a beautiful quality to have!
I love that you found something that works for you. Seriously, in this world, the ability to find something healthy and soothing is so important. I'd say music is soothing me these days and yoga does magic for me. I've been doing yoga for lower back pain and stomach problems and it works!
Something must be in the air because I'm just coming off of some stressful times. Hope things relax on your end! xo
Thanks Lani! Music is in my toolbox as well. Come to think of it, I have music that soothes, music that nourishes and most importantly (for me!) music for discharging energy! 😂 What do you like listening to?
In my latest newsletter, I make some recommendations. But I go through moods - and right now it’s bluegrass. Obsessed with Nora Brown and getting ready to dig into the “latest” from Nickel Creek. What about you?
I checked out Nora Brown on YouTube and I think I'm going to listen to some more of her music! I go through moods myself. And I have this thing where I listen to something (an album, an artist, or a song) over and over until I kinda get it out of my system for a while. These days, the one on loop is Oleta Adams and Maxi Priest. So totally different genres! LOL
Nice! Yes, I’ve got bluegrass just running through my head these days. Maybe it’s my way of hearkening back to simpler times because I discovered the genre in my twenties. xo
Serenity Now
Seinfeld?
Yes sir, It was something Frank Costanza and Kramer used that failed big timer to distress..lol
Dear Lou,
Thanks for sharing these vulnerable details!
I think, I am still right in the middle of the learning process of changing some deeper M.O. elements.
I have similar experience from my high-functioning consulting years.
I thought I could address some underlying causes by changes on the outside and probably they were also necessary to get me where I am today. Still, you can go wherever you want in the world, your careers or your personal life. Your thinking and behavioural patterns will catch up with you sooner or later. And no „you need to calm down and just meditate“ will do anything about it.
I just recently started to comprehend the massive difference working with physical techniques (e.g. for me, breath work) makes! I am still trial & erroring around, so I absolutely love the „Soothe, Discharge, and Nourish“ concept and your suggestion of creating some kind of ritual about it! Thanks so much for sharing.
Fabienne
Hi Fabienne. I loved my consulting years but unfortunately, I picked up some bad habits (like this one) that I've had to unlearn! To your point, changing our environment is a step in the right direction but the habits are still there and they will follow us — that's been my experience as well. I'm learning about breath work too. You're like the 3rd person in the last couple of weeks who have mentioned that to me. So this is probably a message from the universe. Thank you for mentioning it!
Oh, I forgot to write that I loved my work as a consultant and have no regrets at all. It’s just that I over-utilised some of my childhood coping mechanism too much as „false or wicked strengths“, I guess.
Haha, that is a sign of the universe.
One thing that really got me speechless about the effect of breath work is doing a „sonic breath“ session. You can find some free one to try here:
https://beatsandbreath.com/
Oooh - thanks so much for this recommendation Fabienne! I checked it out quickly and I like it! Cheers!
Makes ne super happy to hear!
“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” I’ve stumbled upon all manner of wise words over the years and noticed that some hold no sway one moment then change my outlook completely the next time I read them. Their impact is all about where we are in life when they come along.