Wellness EMOTIONAL
Think , Think , Think ... ____ positive thoughts ____
Many people find meditation is a great tool in the struggle against negative energy – and there are all kinds of tools available to help . Simply giving your mind a temporary release from the hamster-wheel cycle of worry that we can easily slide into when a crisis strikes can improve your mood and your health . Not sure how to get started ? These websites offer a kick start for the beginner : www . freemeditation . com and www . how-to-meditate . org
_______ tune in and _______
Tune It All Out
When 16th century writer William Congreve said wisely , “ Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast ” he was on to something . Sometimes , the right song can transport us to a happier , calmer , less stressful time – if only in our minds – and give us a break from whatever negative energy is surrounding us . Whether your personal fave is classical or classic rock , load up your phone or your iPod and tune out the bad vibes whenever you can .
______ get some super ______ Sleeeeeeeeep
While we ’ re quoting famous writers , let ’ s not forget Shakespeare who , in “ Macbeth ” spoke of “ Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care .” The Bard , too , knew a thing or two about managing negative energy . The more tired we are , the more likely we are to succumb to the stresses of life . As tiredness and frustrations increase so does a sense of foreboding – sometimes with no actual cause in sight . If you can add even an extra hour to your sleep schedule , you ’ ll be upping your ability to deflect negative energy . Try limiting your caffeine , watch only happy television ( which may mean skipping the news altogether ) in the evening , and read a chapter or two of something funny immediately before you go to sleep .
____ if you can ’ t deflect ____ Distract
Sometimes the best way to deal with negative energy is to turn your back on it altogether for a while . Give yourself a break by spending an evening cheering in the stands at your son ’ s basketball game or by sweating your brains out at a Zumba class or volunteer at a shelter where you ’ ll be so busy doing something good that you ’ ll forget that bad vibes even exist .
___ learn to live with the ___
Kryptonite
Even Superman was never able to eradicate Kryptonite from his universe – that ’ s just how things work . Into every life a little negative energy must fall – and it ’ s less shocking if it doesn ’ t catch you unaware . Life isn ’ t a Hallmark card and if your world is mostly happy , most of the time , you ’ re very lucky … but you ’ ll never be immune from the possibility of something less than perfect popping up . Be grateful for the good times , hope for even better times and be patient when the odd bad time rolls along .
And Lois , if you can employ a few of these strategies , the next time an evil genius threatens your world , you won ’ t need the man of steel because you ’ ll be your own superhero , bouncing negative energy off your chest and holding your loved ones safe in the crook of your arm .
liz fleming
IN ADDITION TO EDITING WO , LIZ FLEMING IS ALSO THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF CRUISE & TRAVEL LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE AND A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO Air Transat ’ s atmosphere and THE TORONTO STAR . SHE ’ S THE AUTHOR OF TWO AMAZON EBOOKS “ SINCE YOU ’ RE HERE , WE MIGHT AS WELL SHAG ” AND “ 207 TRAVEL TIPS BECAUSE 101 JUST WOULDN ’ T HAVE BEEN ENOUGH .
38 | whiteoaksclub . com | spring 2016