toolbox

[Starrlight]

what is in your toolbox to help get to peace and less suffering? (And I know sometimes these won’t be enough by themselves but it’s a little something to try)

Share here and we will have a good list to choose from when we need it:

Going out in nature

Calming tea

Deep breathing and meditation

Putting bare feet in the grass

Think of what you are grateful for

Watch a movie

Read a book

Exercising

spend time with animals

Watch sunrise, sunset

Write or talk the feelings out

Get enough sleep

Clean up your environment…

…Please help by adding onto this…

[Blueruth]

A practice. For me it is yoga... not necessarily the relaxing kind. I like the kind that is mindfulness through strength. For you it could be running.

Walking for 30 min a day. Not only is good for your mind you will loose a few pounds if you do it daily. Promise. Doesn't matter how you do it... with headphones or not. Wandering or structured, planned or not, hilly or urban.

Podcasts of inspirational teachers and science based research about the mind. It is amazing how much knowledge helps.

Dancing alone. I really like danceable music that gets me moving. When you "don't feel like it" turn it on anyway and see what happens.

Funny you say bare feet in the grass. I was literally talking to someone about that last night who said there is a physiological connection between the grass, our feet and our mind.

[Starrlight in reply to Blueruth]

Those are amazing ideas to make a healthy part our lives. Thank you so so much for sharing. Love❤️ to you … funny about the feet

[Blueruth in reply to Starrlight]

Grass is straw around here. Gonna try as soon as I get to Vermont in the next few weeks.

[Roxylox]

Crosswords, sing aloud

[Starrlight in reply to Roxylox]

Awesome share, thanks!

[Dolphin14]

Exercise, meditation, reading, shopping, zoning out with a cup of coffee , listening to the birds, spending time with my granddaughter, thinking of 🦔

My feet enjoy being in the ocean sand and splashing with the waves

❤️🐬

[Starrlight in reply to Dolphin14]

Yaaaaay! Dolphin flippers in the waves is a good vibe thank you oh how I wish I was at the beach right now. Listening to the birds is my fav that’s a great one! And of course our children and grandchildren who make us feel younger, and hope stronger, don’t they? I can’t wait until you get your Herman 🦔 I need something to look forward to it’s so helpful…

[Dolphin14 in reply to Starrlight]

Thank you ⭐️.

I'm buying things left and right for Herman. So much fun

[Starrlight in reply to Dolphin14]

((((((((((((Dolphin 🐬))))))))))))

[Heyjude31 in reply to Starrlight]

Splashing your face gently with water for about 5 minutes.

Take a walk in the fresh air and choose

5 things you can see

4 things you can touch

3 things you are grateful for today

2 songs you love and plan to listen to them

1 person that you love and make a point to tell them you love them

Breathe in for 5 seconds

Hold for 4 seconds

Breathe out for 3 seconds

Although I am in my 60s i do paint by numbers and love it, I find it very calming.

I hope these are helpful

[Starrlight in reply to Heyjude31]

Very helpful I love them

[Arymretep]

Gardening for me, crochet and word games , reading biographies.👍

[Blueruth in reply to Arymretep]

I have been thinking about crochet. Been years but I flip between different fiber arts.

[Starrlight]

Cool Arymretep and Blueruth

[Midori]

Well, I'm an old Hippie, so most of the above as well as dancing in the rain, dancing around campfires, singing around campfires, storytelling (yes) around campfires, Camping, visiting ancient sites, waterfalls, forests, hugging trees, helping to build Roundhouses,making friends with any animal I come across, talking with birds, Sunsets, Starwatching, Sunrises, Tai Chi, Aikido, crochet, beadwork, reading , music.

Cheers, Midori

[Hidden in reply to Midori]

wow Midory that's an amazing list! Seems it all happens in Wales then - I'm half Welsh and it hasn't rubbed off on me yet. Work has been my major distraction, it's kept me going and where I've poured my energies but I'm retired now so need to develop a few hobbies. Are these classes you go to?I enjoy walking, sometimes with a friend and plonking on the piano.

[Midori in reply to Hidden]

Ah, but I've had 74 years to get that lot under my belt!

As well as Rockclimbing, fencing Ballroom and bellydance!

Cheers, Midori

🤣

[Arymretep in reply to Midori]

Us hippies have to stick together, lol, You still rock climbing and belly dancing Midori 🤔

[Midori in reply to Arymretep]

Fraid not, my knees have now told me they are not standing for it any longer and I should act my age! But I've never been this age before!

Cheers, Midori

[Arymretep in reply to Midori]

Me neither 😳

[Sillysausage234 in reply to Midori]

😂..

[RupertBrown]

Drawing and, more recently, painting. I was unable to do either for a while due to an injury. But I'm over that now and looking forward to my next session. Also, weightlifting. Especially when I'm in a really bad mood. Nothing else gets rid of the tension and stress like a hard workout!

[Starrlight in reply to RupertBrown]

Inspiring

[melbrown]

Lots of great stuff here... I'll add baking/cooking a favorite treat/dish- evolves all your senses and you get something yummy and rewarding. Plus smells are able to trigger emotions, happy thoughts if it's something we enjoy, pretty easily... remember learning it in one of my therapy groups (?). Art is a good one too... expressing yourself... or going to a museum, gallery, etc if you aren't artistic.

[Starrlight in reply to melbrown]

Thanks for adding great ones, I so appreciate you.

[melbrown in reply to Starrlight]

🫂 Appreciate & love you too Starrlight. 💗

[Starrlight]

What to do when nothing helps and you are so hurt that it seems like there will never be a good day again? I am so screwed up. I am feeling at my worst I can’t think straight trying my best but just desperate for a break from what is filling my mind. I’m stuck. My head hurts and I keep getting triggered by it … it feels so full. I can’t talk to anyone no one has the time. So I come here. Please help. I feel so much shame like I’m causing my suffering but I can’t seem to stop it. …

edit: my therapist called me back and says it’s not my doing, it’s just old messages coming at me and she said today was a particularly hard day for many people. I wonder what the moon is doing. Anyway I got some stuff off my chest and was validated so things will hopefully go better now.

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Starrlight]

For what it's worth.

The current moon phase for yesterday is the Waxing Crescent phase.

Makes me feel useful to have something to contribute.

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Starrlight]

Every today seems to be filled with I am that hurt you describe so well. I have a list now of things to cling to, thanks to your post.

Did your therapist say why "today was a particularly hard day for many people"?

[Starrlight in reply to Nothing_but_books]

I know right!? We need things to cling to. I am feeling your pain. My therapist didn’t know why so many needed help.