easier it is to find your happy vibes and be more secure there . Here are a few of my favorite ways to process negative emotions :
Drop the story and focus and feel the pain in your chest , in your stomach , wherever . As you focus on the pain , it will get very intense , and then it will just dissolve .
Grab a journal and write 3 pages in stream of consciousness style – anything that comes to mind gets written down . Don ’ t read it when you ’ re done . Throw it away .
Make art . Cook . Dance . Read . Hike . Find a mindful activity you love and get lost in it for a little while .
3 . Appreciate . I like to keep a small notepad next to me when I ’ m at my desk where I make a list each day of things to appreciate . When those memories pop up that caused me to ruminate on something negative or create the perfect comeback for a fight that happened 3 months ago , I ’ ll look down at my list and remember that today , right now , I have so much to appreciate and love . Life is happening all around us in this moment , whether we realize it or not . By appreciating everything , whether it ’ s as big as a new client or as small as realizing you still have cheese in your fridge , you begin to actively take part in it .
4 . Trust Yourself . You know what you ’ re doing and what you need to do , and if you feel that you need to consult with someone first , it ’ s because you ’ re suppressing your internal truth . Stop seeking external validation in your life , whether it ’ s in your business or in your relationships . When you feel something , speak your truth . Say no when you don ’ t want to do something . Say yes when you do want to do something . As a recovering people pleaser , this was the hardest thing for me to do . I wanted to be liked , and I want people to have a favorable impression of me . I love when my friend and family are happy , and I love when I can help them be happy , I would quietly suck up my hesitations and eat food that wasn ’ t as good , explore cities and places I didn ’ t really care about , and even date men who were really wrong for me because maybe , just maybe , they knew something I didn ’ t . Maybe I would come around . But I didn ’ t . I can ’ t always please other people and please myself at the same time , and that ’ s okay .
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Kristin Magdalene
Kristin Magdalene started knitting as a form of stress relief from her busy job as a television producer in NYC . She specializes in exclusive hand-knit designs where each garment is crafted to feel as if you are stepping out wrapped in luxury and warmth , and because knitting was her gateway , she blogs about creating a conscious lifestyle through self-care and mindfulness . kristinmagdalene . com
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AUGUST 2018 • 51