Strengthening the connection with myself

I’ve always known, in my gut, what it is that I want in my life; in relationships, travels, personal development... Most of my life I have followed that gut feeling, and it has taken me from Finland to the United States, Sweden, Mexico, South America, Cook islands, New Zealand and so many other places, finally landing me in Australia. In all those places I’ve met some of the most wonderful people and gotten myself into the most eye opening situations that have shaped my life into what it is today.

I’ve most often trusted my intuition - I’m a person who rather feels than thinks, and if something doesn’t feel right then it most likely isn’t right for me. There has been a few times that I’ve tried to do what my brains have told me to do - do what seems smarter and safer. I worked in an office trying to put my business and marketing degrees in good use and guess what? I constantly felt like I wasn’t doing enough, and I was far from being invested in and happy with my work.

Getting sick with ulcerative colitis has made me realize that I’m not always so connected with myself as I previously thought. As the illness took away my ability to run or drink alcohol as much as before, anxiety took over that space. I have no way to escape the difficult feelings that I’m experiencing anymore. Instead, I’m trying to learn to sit with them.

I never knew what anxiety does to people. It’s one of those things that you don’t fully understand until you experience it yourself. And for those who battle with anxiety everyday, yet still show up to themselves and others; I find you the strongest, toughest humans that exist. You should be really proud of yourself because this sh*t is hard!

So here are some things that I’ve started to include in my days to feel more connected with myself, and to decrease the amount of anxiety that I experience in my daily life:

1) Mornings, right after waking up, I do my breathwork/meditate and journal for 15min

2) I only drink one cup of coffee per day

3) Noticing my feelings; where do I feel tension? Most often it’s in my chest. I like to hold my breath when I’m anxious. Breathing into that space and extending it all the way to my belly will help me to release the bad energy

4) Naming my feelings; anxiety. I am anxious. This only doesn’t help me to get more connected with the feeling itself, which is why I will also try to accept my thoughts and feelings

5) Practicing self compassion - every day I write something nice about myself or what I’m proud or happy of in my life (this one is the hardest!)

xx
Lotta