04/11/2020
Making good use of NOVEMBER LOCKDOWN
Recently I have had a lot of visitors to my page and I would like to leave a free take-away for everyone. (I am not able to offer services to new clients until at least June 2021).
Some homework instead may help visitors to my site get through this NOVEMBER LOCKDOWN.
Adding to my knowledge and experience as a therapist I’ve written out a framework which might be a slightly different kind of positive experience for the next four weeks, instead of counselling.
The following is the simple version. Even so, it touches on some of the basic problems we all can have. I hope there is something here you can relate to.
Draw a circle. Divide it into four quarters. Let this be an image of four areas of your life. The idea is to pay attention to all of these in a day.
Emotional:
You have a right to feel what you are feeling.
Be sure though that you know about every aspect of what you are feeling. You may feel angry mainly so the other feelings mixed up with your anger are probably being covered up by it. You can ask yourself about it.
“What other feelings do I have underneath my anger (or frustration, or humiliation – whatever the overwhelming feeling is)?” The answer will come. Use that new knowledge to untangle your emotions. Often anger covers up hurt, or confusion or betrayal. This can take a bit of time to figure out, a few days, if you do not have a way of creating some quiet time for yourself to think it through.
Spiritual:
You may feel you are not a spiritual person but you are. Lack of awareness of it does not stop you from being included in the spiritual dimension of life.
In the bigger picture we will have peace in the world when more and more individuals have peace within themselves. If you are not able to feel you care about others ask yourself why. There will be answers. Look into those a bit deeper. How did those ideas develop in you? Use that knowledge to make adjustments in your heart if you want to. Hard hearted is an uncomfortable way of going through life.
You can free yourself from anything holding you back.
Mental:
We all have a personal power. There is much to learn about it, much I am slowly learning. I do know one of its most important abilities and that is to be able to choose thoughts. There is a fine art to it which increases with experience (practice) but to get started (and to simplify the process) begin by replacing negative thoughts you have about yourself with something more encouraging. Care for yourself.
Physical:
Its important to move. Do housework. While doing it you see yourself caring for you immediate environment. That’s a good thing. Set up an exercise routine. It can be as little as 10 minutes each day. You can always increase it as the days go on.
Show yourself that you care for the body you are in, almost like it is your best friend. Actually, it is.
Managing your personal power, you can direct it toward making best choices of foods to feed your body. You will know best what makes you feel good in terms of good energy especially. You will also learn what quantities are best for you. Be your own best coach and researcher and pay attention to what you learn or know is good for your health.
With the four-week timescale this is an ideal time to challenge yourself with good food habits. Maybe give up coffee. Harder, but with even better results for your well-being, is giving up sugar for four weeks. Use your mental ability to manage and supervise the development of new, good (beneficial) habits.
I encourage you to feel in charge of your personal experience during November Lockdown and make it be the best experience for you in the present moment and possibly for your longer-term future.
I do wish everyone well with whatever survival routines you create for yourself. Remember also to lift your spirits. Remember to have fun. Dance in the kitchen. Remember to do nothing at times and feel good about it. Rest is excellent and so is sleep.
