JoieLife

How To Be Vulnerable With Our Emotions Being vulnerable with our emotions can be so hard to do. To be able to open up about our emotions, not only to others but also to ourselves, does not come naturally to everyone. We may not even be aware of what we are feeling; often it takes time to recognise what it is and to feel comfortable enoug...

A little while back I attended a workshop on recognising our vulnerabilities and embracing them. It is what makes us human. Which made me pause and reflect on exactly how I had been doing that in my life. I realised that at times I actually shied away from being vulnerable as it meant that I would get closer to someone. It meant opening up to another person and permitting them to see my true self. But if I shut down my vulnerability, I could protect myself from the fear of... the fear of what exactly? Disapproval? Rejection? Judgement?

If we continually dismiss our vulnerabilities, it could become a behavioural pattern and we may lose out on the positive effects of being vulnerable. Lose out on a deeper connection with another person, self-acceptance and feelings of empowerment. Being vulnerable allows us to get to the core of any deep rooted issues we have and accepting them allows us to move forward. If we want to remain blissfully unaware, then how can we experience the joys of deep connection? And in the same vein the possibilities of the unknown? 💛

Compassion – What Is It And How Can We Practice It? Compassion, according to the Cambridge dictionary, is “a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them”. It has been shown to enrich workplace relations, enhance leadership styles, increase employee satisfaction and improve mental health. ...

To love and be loved 🥰 there is such a lightness in loving, it feels like a warm hug for our soul. Today let’s celebrate not only loving those around us (romantic or otherwise) but loving ourselves too! 💛

This made me giggle, as it reminded me of that childhood rhyme “I’m a little teapot” 🫖 Recognising when we are ‘empty’ is as important as knowing how ‘to fill up’.

Weekend thought: what can you do to ‘fill you up’?

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Compassion is a choice.

Today is World Mental Health Day, a reminder to check in with ourselves and others around us.

Doing it in a compassionate way helps — it prompts us to look at things from another perspective and cultivates empathy.

How do we do this?
🔅 send a caring message to friends / family
🔅 smile at a random person passing by
🔅 in conversations, really listen and try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes
🔅 notice any judgemental thoughts and shift these to trying to understand instead
🔅 treat others how you want to be treated
🔅 gently acknowledge any unhelpful behaviours / thoughts and seek help to resolve these
🔅 be kind to yourself

In choosing to approach mental health with compassion, we not only feel better but those around us do too 💛

Embrace every part of yourself… there is only one You.

Self-acceptance is liberating 🕊

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Stillness.

In our busy world, that state of stillness may feel hard to reach. But it is possible. We need to take action that’s all (oxymoron I know! 🤷🏽‍♀️)

How? Simply carve out 10 minutes for yourself each day - whether it’s breathwork, meditation, a walk or self-reflection - and notice how gradually over time these small acts slowly build to feeling more centred within. Trust me… it works 🤓

YOU are important. So nourish your mind, body and soul with what you feel is good for you. Even the smallest act makes a difference and helps us strengthen our relationship with ourselves.

What can you do for YOU this week to feel good?

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Are you ok? Such a simple question but it can make a world of difference.

Yesterday we were reminded to check in with others through R U OK Day but imagine if this was something we did every day. Not only with others but with ourselves too. We often don’t even realise that we aren’t ok, until we pause and reflect. Or if somebody prompts us to.

For guidance around how to ask, check out the following helpful tips from : https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask

It’s okay to not be okay ❤️

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Walking forward... with my mind in the present🔅

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Therapy. It can be seen as daunting 🌩 or as a light ✨

How about both? Delving internally helps us uncover why we behave / react / think the way we do. In taking the journey to understand ourselves, as tough as it may be, we start to see what it is we want to change and how we can change it 💫