The Genius' Guide to Healthy Emotions

     The acclaimed Post-Impressionist painter, Paul Cezanne, is known to have said,

     "Genius is the ability to renew one's emotions in daily experience".  Paul Cezanne

     Renew.  I love this word!  It instantly brings to mind nice things like rest, fixing something that is broken, a fresh start, and avoiding library fines.
    
     Cezanne speaks of renewing our emotions every day, and even goes so far as to call this practice, "genius".  Does it take a genius to focus on one's emotional health?  Well, with deadlines and dishes, endless errands, and a myriad of other daily stresses, we would certainly be pretty smart to give our emotional health the attention it deserves.

     Why is it that we often neglect our emotional health?  Maybe we feel noble for pushing through a stressful day, gritting our teeth, holding on, until we collapse, exhausted, into bed at night.  While hard work and endurance are certainly to be praised, there is nothing heroic about neglecting our emotional needs.

     Let's give our emotions a little extra attention, and see what a difference it can make in helping us have a more purposeful day.  Could you maybe benefit from applying one of the following emotional boosts to your day.  I think these ideas are pretty "genius".

It's the Little Things

     Little happy moments stuck strategically here and there in your day can produce big emotional rewards.  It doesn't take much. 

     One of my favorite, super simple ideas that I came across several years ago, is to hang a sprig or two of Eucalyptus from your shower head.  The heat from the shower activates the oils in the plant, and you get a blast of that invigorating scent, and a definite mood boost.  So simple, and so effective.

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     Another easy and effective way to nurture your emotions throughout the day, is to take steps to make your environment more peaceful and happy.  Small changes can have a big impact.  Pick up a bunch of your favorite flowers at the grocery store next time you go shopping.  It's absolutely worth the extra few dollars to add a vase full of happiness  to your mantle or kitchen table.  Flowers can bring a little beauty to our day, and intuitively remind us to slow down, and enjoy. 

I Knew Chocolate Had to Be Good For You

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     Eat chocolate!  This is likely advice that most of us don't need much encouragement to follow.  Now, instead of feeling guilty for indulging, we can feel justified treating ourselves now and then, to a little chocolate.  Evidence shows that chocolate can,

     "...make a person feel better by directly interacting with the brain. One of the ingredients in chocolate is tryptophan, an essential amino acid needed by the brain to produce serotonin. Serotonin is a mood-modulating neurotransmitter, the brain's "happy chemical." High levels of serotonin can give rise to feelings of happiness."  Chocolate: Good For The Mind, Body, & Spirit, by Kirsti A. Dyer, MD, MS, CWS, from medicalwellnessassociation.com

Take 5 

     Take a breather.  Stop everything for just a few minutes a day, and meditate. Mediation can be very broadly defined, including, but certainly not limited to, the only meditation I knew as a kid, where one had to make a humming noise while sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed.  Meditation can also be as simple as slowing down, and taking a little time to just be still.  I am a big fan of a free app called, Calm.  This app takes away any mystery or stigma that you might associate with meditation, and offers guided, simple, quick, meditation.  It consists mostly of relaxing nature sounds, and a simple exercise of clearing your mind.  It's amazing what stepping away from your busy day for a few minutes can do, to keep us grounded and content.

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Take a Nap

     Whether it's from staying up late with a new baby, or a sick child, burning the midnight oil studying for a test, (or writing a new blog post), most of us are not strangers to the effects of sleep deprivation.  We've all struggled with staying positive and energetic in our daily duties after a late night. 

     "Studies have shown that even partial sleep deprivation has a significant effect on mood. University of Pennsylvania researchers found that subjects who were limited to only 4.5 hours of sleep a night for one week reported feeling more stressed, angry, sad, and mentally exhausted. When the subjects resumed normal sleep, they reported a dramatic improvement in mood.^{"
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     A little extra sleep changes everything!  It's amazing the emotional boost that comes with a quick afternoon power nap. 

theaustralian.com

     So, go ahead, put your feet up, take a deep breath, eat a little chocolate.  You deserve it!

Today's a new day; let's make it purposeful!
Kara