The noise of the world is relentless. How do we escape and find a moment of peace? From meditation to expressing gratitude – slowing yourself down can have huge mental, emotional and physical benefits. One of the positives of the last year of restrictions has been to force us all to slow down. But how will we be able to maintain this healthy habit once life returns to ‘normal’?
Expressing gratitude is a popular practice in positive psychology – the scientific study of happiness and the law of attraction. When you are consciously looking for things to be thankful for you are more receptive to the goodness that comes in your life. There are numerous phone apps available, all with suggestions, motivational tips and triggers to help you focus on specific areas of your life: love, creativity, reputation and fame, family and community, for example. Some apps use photographic gratitude boards where you can upload your own photos, create your own visual affirmations and set reminders to take time out to express gratitude.
Decide whether you want to spend time every morning as a way of stepping into the day with strength and positivity, or make it part of your evening ritual – a good way to end the day, wind down and reflect. If you go to bed feeling positive, you are likely to sleep better.
Consistency is key. Try to think about things that make you FEEL good, not just that you appreciate. For example: What made you smile today? What do you enjoy about your daily routine? How did you feel when you first woke up? Who did you speak with today and how did it leave you feeling?
Meditation is something that takes time to learn how to do properly, but once you have mastered a good technique it gives you the ability to completely relax your brain and release stressful thoughts and emotions. Again, consistency is key. Even if you meditate once a day for only a few minutes the benefits will be worth it. Where will you meditate? Will you choose music to help you reach a state of complete calmness and an empty head? Are you warm enough? Your heart rate will decrease as your breathing slows down, so it is important to keep your core warm and your peripheries relaxed. The whole point is to relax into a state where you are almost unaware of the external world.
Both gratitude and meditation can act as powerful agents of stress release and give you positivity, which stimulates the release of endorphins; and creativity, which you can transfer to other areas of your personal and professional life.
During the menopause it is particularly important to practice gratitude and meditation because when our hormones are out of balance it can be difficult to find a calm space in the day. By learning ways in which to appreciate all the small things that make us happy, rather than focusing on the stressful aspects in everyday life that pool of calm grows deeper and more beneficial.
Our mantra is always:
Keep it simple. Keep it smart.
For more information about Dr Meyer or if you’re interested in booking a consultation with her, visit https://menopausetreatment.co.uk/your-consultation/ or contact the clinic directly here.