Perhaps it sounds weird, but I am truly grateful for my bouts of acute anxiety that visit me like an old obnoxious but honest and wise friend once in a while.
When my anxiety reaches its peak, I know that my body and soul are trying to tell me something useful that will help me to eventually overcome yet another episode of this affliction:
I need to stop what I've been doing for a while as it's not contributing to my wellbeing
I need to figure out what it is and make some profound changes
What comes next can be hard, like cultivating new healing habits and sticking to them for the long term.
For I always get myself into an anxious pickle, when I gradually neglect those healthy habits over time without realising.
Suddenly I realise that I turned into a sedentary desk chair being and good old-fashioned couch potato. WTF😱
At my age, I just can't afford to stop exercising and regularly getting myself out of breath on long forest walks and other aerobic activities. I really should know better by now.
So here I am, with high blood pressure due to some recent stressful events that gave me weird and scary symptoms, which in turn switched on my annoying health anxiety.
And hey presto, I've been in a right state for the last couple of weeks, and only my recent all-clear blood test results calmed me down to the point where I could start applying my reasoning rather than my emotions.
Happy days.
As a lifelong tarot enthusiast, I turn to the cards in moments like these. For 2025, my year card is The Chariot.
The Chariot is about struggle, a challenging path ahead but also eventual victory through perseverance.
The Chariot symbolises the need to step out of the comfort zone into the land of magic, where life expands into an abundant eclectic array of possibilities. Life in all its glory and tragedy.
You don't need to be a seasoned tarot reader to calculate your year card and use it for self-reflection and personal growth.
A fun and insightful mindfulness practice is to journal with your tarot year card.
If you love journaling, consider picking up a tarot deck for new and intriguing insights.
Hop over to my new website to learn how to explore your tarot year card in ten steps.
So my Chariot year has started with a challenge, which no doubt I will manage to overcome in good time.
For now, my anxiety has made me pause to reflect on what is truly important. It is time, as so often in life, to start afresh, begin again, make new plans, and seek new adventures.
Aren't new beginnings exciting? Just the idea already makes me feel better.
And for that, I thank my anxious mind for keeping me on my toes, embracing fresh starts, and helping me grow and appreciating life more every day.
Overcoming mental health challenges can be difficult, and an effective way to begin the recovery process is to review and implement self-care habits that are practical, cost-free, and can be practiced anywhere and at any time.
Here are my favourites:
practice self-compassion
speak kindly to yourself
place a hand on your heart and take a deep breath
spend time in nature
set boundaries
stop doom scrolling and mindless social media consumption
allow yourself plenty of rest and time to recharge your batteries
stop being a people pleaser
learn to say no to others and yes to yourself
detach yourself from emotional drama
take time out from stressful situations or avoid them altogether if you can
ask for help
be honest with yourself and others
stop habitual alcohol consumption (not only free but will also save you a fortune)
stop smoking (and start putting the money you would have spent on it into a savings account)
learn to accept yourself as you are, your body, quirks, and weaknesses. You are human and not an AI creation. You are magically imperfectly perfect as you are.
try to incorporate thirty minutes of cardiovascular exercise into your daily routine. You can do this at home by dancing, following exercise videos, or walking briskly around the block
Journal, read, create art, listen to inspiring audiobooks (see below)
What are your favourite self-care habits that don’t cost anything? Please share in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you 💚
"You encourage everything you tolerate." Such a fabulous quote from The Minimalists. When I saw this, it made me think a lot about what I shouldn't tolerate...
My adaptation of this quote is "You attract more of what you tolerate."
Both offer insightful prompts for journaling.
Permission to BE Cards *NEW AND IMPROVED* - I first created this printable journaling and self-development tool back in 2022 - learn more and grab it on my website 🥳
Wintering by Katherine May is a meditative exploration of winter in all its forms: the season of winter around the world, personal experiences of winter, the winter of the soul, and the subsequent emergence into spring. It delves into retreating from the world, wintering through illness or a mental health crisis, winter reflections, and stillness. This wonderful collection of stories highlights healing, resilience, and embracing a season that many do not call their favourite.
At the time of writing this, I'm just over halfway through listening to I Haven't Been Entirely Honest with You by Miranda Hart. From the start, I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I'm enjoying it. Not only do I relate to many of Miranda's mental health struggles, but I'm also learning a lot from her 30-year journey to get a diagnosis for her mystery illness. Her story of suffering and eventual recovery is both insightful and moving. Initially, I expected something entertaining and a bit shallow from a comedian. Instead, I've been captivated by her warm-hearted, compassionate narrative, filled with wisdom and healing messages. And yes, she makes me laugh at times too.
When I listened to A Thousand Feasts, I realised what a wonderful writer Nigel Slater is. The book is a collection of his journal entries, documenting his travels and the food he enjoyed around the world. This book isn't a cookbook, but each sentence offers a delicious and mindful experience. I also loved his observations at home and in his garden. If you want to know what it's like to live mindfully every day and to appreciate the little things, this book will show you. It's a calm, relaxing, and joyful experience throughout.
Last but not least, my latest YouTube video (if you like slow living travel, reading, and home life inspo):
Until next time,
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