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April sucked.
There I said it. Even me, a self-care, resiliency, wellness guide and physician who's always looking on the bright side has hard days. In this case, a hard month. Without getting into all the details, it was a month of tremendous loss and grieving. Of feeling all those super hard, big emotions that make you think about existential things like the meaning of life. I talk about living radiantly all the time, right? That's my whole thing. And now, I'm going to let you in on a secret.... I didn't learn how to live radiantly because my life was perfect. It was through these tough moments that brought tears to my eyes, tested my strength, and forced me to dig deep. Those are the moments that taught me how to live radiantly. So, if you're going through a tough time right now, I want you to know that:
Literally, the word emotion comes from the Latin "emovere," which means to move out. Don't hold your feelings in. Let them flow through you in whatever way feels right. Here are some examples of how you can do that:
I have space set aside on my calendar just for conversations like this. First let me know what's going on and what areas you're looking for support by filling out this form. After that, you'll get a link to schedule a chat. If you'd rather have the support of a group, then my Reclaim Your Radiance program is for you. We'll meet weekly and you'll learn time-tested tools to get you through this tough time and back to feeling like yourself again.
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My family and I were on vacation in a small town on the 2nd largest island in Fiji (pre-pandemic!). My brother went out for a run on a dirt road past the tiny airport that consisted of a small shed and 2 employees. A car drove past him, and the driver yelled out, "Do you need a ride?" Because really, what other reason would you have to run on a remote tropical island than being in a hurry to get somewhere??? As a runner myself, this story had me rolling on the floor laughing! In so many parts of the world, exercise as we know it, doesn't exist. People don't go for runs just for fun. Or, hit the gym for strength training. It's not something they make an extra effort to do. Movement is part of their lifestyle. Their day to day. They walk to their neighbor's house for a cup of tea. Or, down to the village market to get groceries. Or, they sit on the floor to eat, and so they go from a seated to standing position throughout the day. Then why do we, in the West, put so much pressure on ourselves to "exercise?" Keep reading below, or watch here.... Movement is important. You need to engage your muscles to build strength and prevent atrophy. Movement keeps your heart healthy and your circulation strong. It increases endorphins and makes you feel good.
So, yes, you need movement. But, you don't need to stress yourself out over going to the gym or running for an hour a day. All you need to do is move. Here's something I want you to try this week: When you're working from home, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is your time to work. When the timer goes off, stand up and reset your timer for 5 minutes. During those 5 minutes, move. Walk to the kitchen and make a cup of tea. Or, do a set of squats or lunges. It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you get up and move. This is the Pomodoro Method and it's something I've been doing for the past year. It's a great way to add movement to your day. These breaks also help you stay focused and more attentive during the times that you’re working. I've found its even helped me keep my house clean! I often use those 5-minute breaks to wash dishes or fold laundry. Win-Win!! Here's a quote from an article I read recently: "Just getting up every once in a while, every 10 minutes or so — just to go to the bathroom or pet your dog or make yourself a cup of tea — even though you're not spending a lot of energy, you're turning on your muscles." So, stop making yourself feel guilty for not hitting the gym, or taking that spin class. All you need to do is move! Now, you might be saying, "That's great for you, Sheetal, but you don't understand how crazy my schedule is!" I get it. I'm a doctor and solopreneur. I know the challenges of fitting it all in and finding joy and happiness somewhere in the middle of all that! If I can do it, I know you can too. Let's hop on a call and figure this out. I'll help you come up with small, consistent actions that fit your schedule. We'll shed light on habits and routines that'll give you more energy, radiance, and joy. Schedule your free Illumination Call HERE I know this year was hard, but in keeping with the theme of my last blog, I invite you to give yourself this season to reflect.
Yes, this year had many losses. You may have lost a loved one. Or, your business. Or, job. These are very real losses. Like knock-you-to-your-knees-in-tears type of losses. As I invite you to reflect, I acknowledge these losses. I honor and respect the gravity that this year has brought into your life. I see you and I hear you, my friend. I also know that the most painful life situations give you the opportunity to dive deeper into your Self. These situations can be powerful catalysts for reconnecting to your Spirit. Opportunities to re-define what's most important to you in your life moving forward. An opportunity to figure out what you want this next season to look like. A Simple Process For Finding The Good This process starts with awareness and reflection. I offer you 3 questions to reflect on this week. You may want to sit with these thoughts, or even jot your responses down in a journal. Either way, I hope these questions help you find some of the blessings and silver linings in this past year.
As always, I'd love to hear your insights as you reflect on these questions. Leave a comment below or send me a message to let me know! This is always such a time of reflection for me. This time of year. Maybe because my birthday is right around the corner. Or, the days are getting shorter and its getting dark out earlier. It's getting colder outside. It's as though Nature is inviting you to turn inward. To reflect upon your past year and the upcoming one. It's also an interesting time because this holiday season is going to be different than anything you've experienced before. The pandemic has brought all sorts of new challenges to the season. But, you have the opportunity to see these as challenges OR opportunities. And so, I invite you to accept Nature's invitation to reflect inward. This is the 1 thing to do... Cultivate a mindset of reflection and opportunity through the challenges. This is what builds resilience and radiance. Happiness is an inside job and it starts with awareness. Watch this 3-minute video for guidance and prompts to help you get started on your process of reflection! For more on how to have a radiant, stress-less holiday season, download your free audio series HERE
Grief and loss don't even begin to explain the year of 2020. As I was recently processing these emotions myself, I stumbled upon a couple videos I made a few years ago. I found a sense of calm as I went back and watched them, and so I want to share them with you today. In this 1st video, I share the Buddhist practice of Metta. This is a practice of loving-kindness, and of transforming loss into love. (4 minutes) In this 2nd video, you'll put into action what you just learned from the 1st video. Find a cozy seat, and follow along in this 5-minute guided loving-kindness meditation practice. I'd love to hear your experience with this meditation. Leave a comment below to let me know!
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