What do you do to feel better? It’s so important to be aware of our feelings and how they can have a major impact on our day. Our emotional reactions can feed into and determine our mood, behaviour, and interactions with others. Our emotions can rage uncontrollably and cause our bodies to do some crazy things. However, if we are aware of how we are feeling, we can be proactive in helping ourselves to manage and control our reactions and behaviour.

A good practice is to have self-awareness in knowing how you respond emotionally, and then understanding what things you can do to help yourself feel calm, relaxed and happier. I suggest that you have all sorts of activities in mind that you can consciously decide to do to help yourself. Sometimes it is necessary to do something immediately to calm down in the moment, rather than waiting for the weekend or a holiday. If you are in a stressful job or facing difficult situations, it could be helpful to implement daily habits towards keeping calm and relaxed. Just simple activities are the best, and include gentle, calming techniques of deep breathing, mindfulness, or meditation, as well as active approaches such as sport and being out in nature.

So what do I do to calm down and feel better? I go for a walk, have a cup of tea, bake some cookies, call a friend, pray, listen to some music, play with the dog, read a book, watch a movie. What would be on your go-to list?

Blessings, Chappy Jenny

Email – jennifer.bennett@suchaplaincy.org.au

Facebook and Instagram – Community_Chaplain