This week, one of my friends asked me one of those "How are you doing really?" questions. Like the one where they really want to know the answer and you can't do your typical "Oh, I'm fine" response. After thinking about it for a second, my answer was just "I don't know." And it was a surprise to me because I kinda thought whatever dark cloud, lost feeling I felt last week would be gone by now. And it's...not. I elaborated to say that "I keep feeling this rollercoaster of ups and downs. And not the consistent "everything is fine and life is good" trend that I typically have." She mentioned that she felt the same and had been hearing it from others as well. So we started thinking through the causes: possibly a mix of seasonal depression (it's winter here in Chicago), the new year, new you stuff that's floating around, the conversations around goals and resolutions, and getting things done. In a word: overwhelm. That could be it. It could be the cause of why I keep feeling like I'm half in the world and half in the "sunken place". And it may be something else entirely. But I do know that I don't want to rush myself to feel better, as we often do, without taking some time to find the lesson in this experience. Instead, I'm leaning into it and seeing where it takes me. And I feel like it won't be this big resolution of "oh I am feeling better, life goes on" but it'll be more about "making time for joy" as another friend reminded me this week. And self-love. What does joy look like for me? Dance rehearsals (!!) but also enjoying the experience of dance rehearsal and not focusing so much on being perfect but having fun. Watching a show with my friend. Reading a book. Legos. Listening to music and singing at the top of my lungs. Doing walks around the block with my brother. So if you have been feeling a bit of the topsy turvyness too, I am giving you permission to lean into it. Don't feel rushed or pressured to figure it out. See what it is that you may need to understand or learn. See where you can make time for joy and self-love. What's one thing you can make time for in this next week that brings you joy?On to the picks!
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"Practice self-kindness and know that it'sā¦
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This week, one of my friends asked me one of those "How are you doing really?" questions. Like the one where they really want to know the answer and you can't do your typical "Oh, I'm fine" response. After thinking about it for a second, my answer was just "I don't know." And it was a surprise to me because I kinda thought whatever dark cloud, lost feeling I felt last week would be gone by now. And it's...not. I elaborated to say that "I keep feeling this rollercoaster of ups and downs. And not the consistent "everything is fine and life is good" trend that I typically have." She mentioned that she felt the same and had been hearing it from others as well. So we started thinking through the causes: possibly a mix of seasonal depression (it's winter here in Chicago), the new year, new you stuff that's floating around, the conversations around goals and resolutions, and getting things done. In a word: overwhelm. That could be it. It could be the cause of why I keep feeling like I'm half in the world and half in the "sunken place". And it may be something else entirely. But I do know that I don't want to rush myself to feel better, as we often do, without taking some time to find the lesson in this experience. Instead, I'm leaning into it and seeing where it takes me. And I feel like it won't be this big resolution of "oh I am feeling better, life goes on" but it'll be more about "making time for joy" as another friend reminded me this week. And self-love. What does joy look like for me? Dance rehearsals (!!) but also enjoying the experience of dance rehearsal and not focusing so much on being perfect but having fun. Watching a show with my friend. Reading a book. Legos. Listening to music and singing at the top of my lungs. Doing walks around the block with my brother. So if you have been feeling a bit of the topsy turvyness too, I am giving you permission to lean into it. Don't feel rushed or pressured to figure it out. See what it is that you may need to understand or learn. See where you can make time for joy and self-love. What's one thing you can make time for in this next week that brings you joy?On to the picks!