This corona virus and it's impact is unprecedented for all of us - I've been helping people keeping a positive outlook during this difficult time. I urge everybody to take precautions and be smart and sensible about your health and others. Hand washing and social isolation is the best way to keep everybody healthy. However, social isolation can be very jarring for people, on top of the stress of job safety, changes in our vacations and in our life. Here are some tips to make your life easier and happier.
Social Isolation
Being along is pretty boring but it's keeping people safe. Don't hesitate to video call, voice call or chat with people. A lot of schools are doing video calling for the kids. It helps to see a friendly face.
If your time is very limited, consider leaving a voice message through WhatsApp or just on somebodies voicemail. It's easier to listen to a message that you can repeat a few times, while doing the dishes or cooking, and still hear how your loved one's are doing. Ask them to send you some voice messages back.
Keep a routine and increase self care
All our normal routines are shattered and it's quite tempting to just slump in the funk of staying inside, waking up late, going to bed late, eating junk food, playing video games etc. etc. However, doing these things will definitely tank your energy and sense of well being.
Try to wake up and go to sleep at the same time you normally do. Scrap projects that you don't have time for and increase your self care instead. Be kind and gentle with yourself. Find an outlet for your stress.
Limit news
It can be tempting to feel like you are on top of things by checking news constantly, reading articles and refreshing the website that gives out the number of corona cases. However, spending hours a day on the news will inevitably get you down. More bad news is coming and keeping yourself inundated is going to tank your mood.
Try to check only 1 or 2 times a day and limited your checks to reputable sources.
Create positivity
Take some time to do things that create positivity. There are many companies right now offering quite a few resources that can make you happier and healthier. Listen to beautiful podcasts or audio books that focus on feel good stories or make you laugh.
I've seen some interesting free things from Hay House, which has always published lovely positive books on a number of topics.
Want to share what you are doing or want to request some help? Post a comment on the blog, Facebook Fan Page or e-mail me.
Dear People,
I've been asked this question before but with the current corona virus situation in the world, I felt it was a good idea to write a blog post about it today. The virus has reached Delft, the city of where I live and work, and it's expected that infections will grow. As such, I'm thinking I'd get this question more often in the coming weeks.
Impact of sickness on the healing work
Most sickness doesn't negatively impact your session at all. People are often worried that they won't remember the work that we've done or that they aren't in tip top shape to their part of the work. I can understand these worries, but even if you remember nothing of your session, you will get results. The most you have to do during healing work is answer some questions, so it's fine if you are up to that.
So if you can answer questions, you can make it to the practice in a safe way and you can stay in the room for at least 25 minutes, you can choose to come without any negative consequences to the healing work. Most people will even feel much better after the work, so coming will often speed up the recovery process.
The only exception is if you have a fever, which means I can't massage you (which I sometimes do with healing work).
Of course, often people prefer to either:
- reschedule the session for another day
- Change the session to a phone session
- Change the session to a report session
If you are sick I usually have no trouble working with you in a private session, but I do prefer a heads up. Every year I make sure I get my flu vaccine and I don't get sick often. Still, it's nice for me to know what is what, so I can take precautions, change plans I have with family members that are immunocompromised or just reschedule with you.
With corona now in Delft, it's vital that you call me and reschedule your session if you feel any symptoms that mean you suspect you might have corona.
Impact of your sickness on other clients
Since I often work with people who have serious illnesses, if you call to ask if you can come to a group event while sick with something that's contagious, I will say no. That small throat ache or cold can be serious for clients of mine who have COPD for example.
Yes, it's a pity if you can't make it, but let's keep each other safe and healthy.
Have a question you want to ask me? Post a comment on the blog, Facebook Fan Page or talk to me in the practice.
In our daily lives we all have annoyances, some big and some small. Mostly, we are able to process these because we have acceptance, forgiveness and wisdom. Sometimes however annoyances can stay stuck in our mind, our heart, our body or even our energy field. Then they can grow towards resentment, frustration or other more difficult energies to process.
So today, I'm sharing an exercise about how to get rid of those small annoyances by giving yourself a combination of venting time, reflection time and laughter. This exercise is best done with two people, but can also be done alone. If you do it alone, I recommend you either do it before a mirror or you choose to actively move position (like moving seats or standing space) to get the most of this exercise.
Releasing Annoyances Exercise
- Person 1: admits the annoyance out loud
- Person 2: acknowledges and accept the annoyance
- Swap sides after Person 1 is done
Now, this sounds extremely simple, but it's very important that the person listening actively decides to join in the energy of the first person. It's very hard not to judge the annoyance (Oh, you are being silly, childish, stupid, vengeful etc.) or to offer up solutions.
If this is done well, person 1 will feel heard, understood and validated. Person 1 might even feel how the energy of the annoyance changes, just because the annoyance is shared and validated. The healing power of active listening compared to receive advice or a solution is quite beautiful.
Person 2 might feel judgements come up that they can choose to release. Releasing your judgements on another also frees you. If you judge an annoyance as 'childish', that means you will judge yourself too if you feel that way about something or someone.
Besides freeing themselves of judgements, person 2 can feel the struggle to 'want to help' come up for release as well. Releasing the need to play the hero/be the helper/find the solution, brings a sense of peace to both parties. We are only talking about small annoyances after all, so why do they need to be solved?
Some examples to acknowledge and accept the annoyance for Person 2:
- "Oh that sucks"
- "That's irritating"
- "That's sad"
- "You are right that's <insert feeling person 1 shared>"
- "I share in your <insert feeling person 1 shared>
- "I hear you"