By Cali Freyn
We could all use a little more love in our lives. Connection to ourselves and others is vital to the human spirit. Our planet seems so divided, especially in 2021, but I firmly believe we are all more connected than ever before. We are all saying and feeling the same things, just maybe not listening, and understanding. We all need more love, compassion, joy, and understanding. I encourage you not to believe the hype. We are not divided but have an opportunity to be closer than ever before.
I have compiled some of my favorite techniques to feel and give more love to ourselves and others. Try one out this week or try them all, put your intention into feeling and giving more love to yourself, others, and our planet.
Connect
- Call a friend or family member and catch up.
- Volunteer your time to a cause that means something to you.
- Try random acts of kindness daily.
- Spend time in nature and appreciate our beautiful planet.
When having charged or difficult conversations, try active listening and heart-focused breathing (below) before, during, and after the encounter. This will help you enter any situation from a neutral and loving place.
Heart Focused Breathing Technique
Focus your attention on the area of your heart (put your hand on your heart if that feels right. You may have your eyes open or closed. Imagine your breath flowing in and around your heart area breathing slower and deeper than usual. Continue for as long as you need. If you need a pacer, try 5/5/5: inhale for 5, hold for 5, exhale for 5.
Forgiveness
This is hard for many people but so important for our brains and our well-being. Carrying around anger and resentment can affect our physical bodies as well as our minds. Write down and answer the following questions:
-Who and what are you ready to forgive?
-How did it make you feel?
-Why are you doing this and what benefits will you receive?
-What may have led the person to behave or act the way they did?
Once you have answered the questions and come up with a forgiveness affirmation, say it out loud until you feel a connection to the statement, repeat it as many times as necessary. It is possible as you practice this for intense emotions to start to surface. Keep in mind this is a process, and may take some time. If you feel like this continues to bring up negative emotions, seek out a counselor or therapist to help you through. For difficult or stuck feelings, try the Heart Soak technique from HeartMath I posted about it in an earlier blog.
Gratitude Practice or Gratitude Board
Try implementing gratitude into your daily lives. Some fun ways to do this are:
-While eating at the dinner table or at a family gathering, go around to each individual and ask:
What have you done to make someone else happy today?
What has someone else done today to make you happy?
What have you learned today?
What have you done today to make yourself happy?
How did it feel when you made someone else happy?
-Create a gratitude board where you and family members can add something daily where everyone can see it.
-Create a list of everything that made you feel good for that day. Be specific, try to focus on non-tangible items, and really connect with your emotions.
Daily Pleasures
Do something you truly love for 5 minutes each day. Schedule it on the calendar if it helps to create a routine.
Self-Love/Positive Self Talk
How is your relationship with yourself? How do you talk to yourself? We don’t often take the time to look inwards, but it is extremely important that we value the relationship we have with ourselves.
-Observe how you talk to yourself daily. Try and change negative self-talk into loving and positive self-talk.
-Make a list of all the things you love about yourself.
-Look in the mirror, and say something loving to yourself (it may feel awkward at first, but will get easier as you practice).
Sending lots of love your way,
Cali Freyn
Certified Holistic Health Coach
Certified HeartMath Practitioner
Comments