Use This Easy Mind Hack to Make YOURSELF FEEL GOOD
PC: @Karrueche
When I was younger, I remember my mama reading me a picture book. It was about a family of mice, gearing up for the winter. They would head into the fields to gather enough rice to last through the cold season. Next, they would gather enough branches, to keep them warm and protected for what’s the come. The story takes the family through several scenes, gathering goods and resources that would allow them to survive the winter. But in each scene, there is just one mouse with his eye closed, doing seemingly nothing. His brothers and sisters ask why he is not helping to gather the goods, to which he responds: I’m collecting the warmth of the sun, the sounds of the birds, the feeling of the grass under our toes. His family looks at him peculiarly but allows him to continue.
Fast forward deep into the winter, and the mice are slowly running out of food. They turn to the brother and say hey, share with us what you gathered! And the brother begins to explain in great detail how the sun feels on the fur. What the colors of the flowers look like and how they smell. He sang the song that the birds sang so well. All the mice begin to feel warm and fuzzy, and before they know it, winter has passed and they all survived.
This story has stuck with me through my youth and well into my late 20’s. At times when I’m feeling extra low, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and bring forth the plethora of happy memories I’ve collected through the years. I recall the view in Lisbon, as I sat alone at an outdoor wine bar and journaled. I think of the thrill I felt when my boyfriend kissed me for the first time. I remember the ecstatic feeling of running through the streets of Lake Como, Italy with my friends. I made these memories for a reason. They are not frozen in one time, to be left alone in the past. They are meant to be recalled and remembered, for you to relive over and over again. They are always there for you to access when you are feeling down.
So, if you’re going through a tough time, carve out ten intentional minutes, find a nice soft surface to sit on, take a deep breath and call forth your favorite memories. I find it much more effective than meditation (sometimes), and helps tremendously in boosting serotonin levels. It also reminds you that whatever rough patch you are going through is very much temporary. Good moments were had and good moments will come again. For now, just let yourself be warmed up by those memories.
