Finding Your Happy Place
Mother Nature is having a pouty day today, dull sky, not raining yet but about to.
One of those days that I know I’ll have to keep myself busy to avoid feeling blue and ward off anxiety.
I’ve tried many tricks over the years to keep anxiety away.
I used to head to the mall and spend the day shopping. I can’t afford to do that anymore, and after working in a mall for a few years, that’s the last place that I want to be if anxiety hits!
For me visualizing and keeping my mind busy with something positive helps now.
When I feel anxiety starting, it’s like a little gremlin peaking around the corner, just waiting for the second that I weaken, and it comes running at me.
Recognizing that it lurks around you is key, and then you have time to get your shield up.
I keep busy at the computer doing creative projects, I always have something on the go. That helps a lot.
But what if you are away from your usual helpful distraction. Then what do you do to shield yourself from anxiety?
That’s when I go to my Happy Place.
A thought process that I can play over in my head that is calming, relaxes the mind and takes up space so there is no room for anxiety to get in.
I have a few Happy Places, just depends on the level of anxiety I feel is coming at me.
For example…
A few years ago I had dental surgery, complications happened, so I needed a second surgery. This time I was awake for it.
I was stressed about the surgery to begin with, but throw in being awake, oh and I have vertigo so being in a dentist chair at the upside down angle that dentists seem to have to use these days, isn’t helping!
With a death grip on the chair, my head started to spin with the vertigo and I could feel a full blown anxiety attack coming on.
That’s when I was so glad to have a Happy Place to go to!
I visualize my calming Happy Place. I hear, smell and see everything. And I could instantly feel my body relax. I know it’s the only thing that helped relieve my anxiety that day.
Now that Happy Place is a private one from my childhood that I won’t share here. You have to find your own special space for the heavy duty tough anxiety times.
You can have as many Happy Places as you like for lighter anxiety moments.
One of my favourites is “My Lottery Home.”
I keep my mind busy designing, decorating and living in my lottery home when need be.
I even have a board on pinterest for it. It’s perfect to keep that anxiety gremlin at bay.
In my head I have a big home in the country with huge gardens and fields of sunflowers and wildflowers, for the birds and monarch butterflies beyond the formal gardens and sitting areas.
Inside I have an open kitchen and family room in neutral calming cream colours.
I have an incredible office with book shelves and art lining the walls (and of course a hidden room off the office)
Lots of open windows for natural light to let in the garden fragrance while I work away at my desk.
You get the idea…lots of things to keep the mind busy on an anxiety day!
Oh and two Cane Corso guard dogs for protection. And because it’s just big dreaming, the dogs don’t drool! Lol You get to have whatever you want in your Happy Place!
So if you are having trouble with anxiety gremlins give this a try.
Your Happy Place is whatever you want it to be and it’s always there when you need it.
Life Experience Wisdom
* Recognize your anxiety is rising.
* Pick a Happy Place to go to in your head.
* Sit with your Happy Place thoughts and relax.
* Keep yourself busy. Read, do chores, call a friend.
* Go for a walk, get some fresh air.
And as always, if feelings persist, seek professional help.
I’m off to type this up and finish up some Christmas journal designs I’m working on.
That should keep the dull day anxiety in check.
If I need more…I’ll come up with names for my lottery home dogs!
Thanks for stopping by, cheers til next time!
Grace
My Motto
When life throws baseball size lemons at you, that smack you upside the head, stomp on those damn things and make yourself a cocktail!