Today I woke up dragging. I laid in bed and felt kinda empty and gray. I remember reading about a reporter that was interviewed about his depression and he called it the “gray dog.” He described it like a stray that just keeps wandering back and showing up.
When I am tired I have to be careful that I don’t feed the “gray dog”. Because before I know it the grayness has crept inside and made itself a home. We have all experienced those gray days. They are usually brought on by … life. Yes, life can just wear us out sometimes.
But hold on, look around, and send the gray dog away. Use these simple comfort techniques to embrace your day and find your joy again. ReEnergize yourself. Pay attention to life and give yourself little gifts of comfort all along your day.
1. Comfort your mind: Ok, there has to be something good you can think about. Do it now. Focus on any little bit happiness or joy you have in your life and be thankful for it. Don’t focus on the downer stuff you’re struggling with. Give your brain a vacation from fixing your life.
2. Comfort your body: Listen, and I mean listen, you have to take care of yourself. No one else is going to. Make sure you take your vitamins. Eat a yummy and nutritional snack every two hours and drink 8 glasses of water. Get moving, do some stretches, go for a walk. Take a bath or give yourself a hand massage. Don’t just do stuff with out really paying attention. Be happy you can breathe and absorb the energy of the moment.
3. Comfort your emotions: Are your feelings running your day? Who’s in charge here anyhow? Feelings and emotions are just that … feelings and emotions. They are whistles, yells, and look-at-that, shouts from our daily life experiences and relationships. What we go through every day sets off a parade of hormones, brain chemicals and responses that can make us feel crazy. You have to emotionally sort and do it quick. Keep the ones you want and send the negative emotions and feelings out with the gray dog. It is ok to take a break from the intense stuff. Don’t worry, if you need to work on something it will be back.
4. Comfort your soul: Dear one, we are circular in design … mind, body, emotions and soul. One affects the other. Make sure your emptiness doesn’t start or stop here. Peer into your soul and ask the Comforter to meet you there. Pray, read something inspirational, believe, and feed your soul.
5. Comfort others: Someone else today is chasing away the gray dog too. Think for a moment who in your life might need a phone call, a text, an encouraging or comforting word. You will find strength in the comfort you bring.
6. Take a comfort moment to help your mind and body renew. Tuck yourself into a comfort throw, rest into a silkie pillow and take a deep breathe in slowwwly through your nose. Let the breathe fill you and then slowwwly let it out through your mouth with a comfort sigh. Repeat and release the tension out of your body, relax your shoulders. Think about an enjoyable moment, and reset your mind, body, emotions and soul with comfort.
Do comfort, carry on and embrace the day. “Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”
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