Photo credit: www.waterwise.org.uk
Hello SOTGC community,
I hope you’ve enjoyed and found benefit from my “Why I’m Passionate About Treating The Person” saga. Today’s post is talking about the importance of rejuvenating. It is vital to remember the therapeutic effects of creativity, fun and play toward sustaining a vibrant state of health. There is energy to this state of being that is important for recharging and rejuvenating. Children exhibit this state effortlessly. Always smiling, exploring life with endless curiosity, they show us how not only how they utilize this energy, but how it keeps them going, day after day.
My form of play is to get into the ocean. In the pursuit of learning how to surf, I engage in a state of play. I try to stand up on a board gracefully, but when I fall, it’s fun to freely let it happen. Play is an attitude. Share the attitude of play with another, and it can amplify the experience. Playing outdoors adds an element of natural energy found within nature. I always make it a point to get into the ocean for my dose of play, and I take this energy and let it flow with me through my day and my week.
Here are some suggestions for someone seeking a life of health and joyful living based on the above principle of playful energy:
- What makes you giggle? When was the last time you experienced that? Playful laughter is extremely releasing and healing.
- What do you consider “play”? Make a list of three-to-five things you look forward to doing, and then pick one to include in your week. If time is an issue, simply sit and visualize the experience as a first step to bringing play back into your life. You may be pleasantly surprised as circumstances shift to allow you actual playtime in your schedule.
- What are three things for which you have gratitude today? The energy of gratitude is packed with healing potential. Ending your day with a gratitude list creates positivity within. Keep a journal by your bedside. An evening entry of gratitude can aid in sleep and shift your overall energy and attitude.
- What can you let go of that no longer serves you? Clutter in the spare bedroom? Junk in the car trunk? A situation or a memory? We love hanging onto things, often to the point where our emotional states are impacted. Over time, without clearing this emotional residue, it can affect our physical being. Take the time to think of what might be disturbing your peace. Look at how it impacts your life, and think about how to transform it. What will it take to support a state of well-being, inner peace and calm? Identify what is no longer in alignment with your vision of health and well-being, and then allow yourself to listen deep within for what to do next.
- Connect with nature and its therapeutic energy. From simply walking barefoot on the sand, hiking in the forest, or enjoying the sunrise or sunset, we can derive great benefit. Create a sacred practice by setting an intention, realistic to your current schedule, to appreciate nature a certain number of times per week. A regular 10-minute communion with nature is an effective self-care practice. Make it a daily priority and see how your body reacts.
