These are the longest nights, the shortest days and the closest most of us get to singing the blues. It really doesn’t matter whether it’s seasonal depression, a post-holiday emotional deflation or we’ve simply forgotten to take our fish oils, at this time of year, the blues can visit us all.
When I’m hit by the blues, I feel myself contort emotionally, withdraw from people and seek a metaphorical dark hole in which to sleep. It is almost as if I wish to erase the lines between myself and the world, and disappear into some sad narrative.
Are there thoughts or triggers that pull you under or disconnect you from your clarity and confidence? Take a few moments to contemplate these questions and write down the thoughts and triggers that make you spiral down. How do you feel once you have written them? Less stuck? More whole?
We have all faced those kinds of days or moments – from the very dark – moments in which we no longer wish to exist, to just feeling heavy. In both cases, we need to seek pathways to lighter moods and healing of these emotions.
I would like to share this exercise with you to help you release the blues, and reconnect to the luminosity of your soul.
Ready?
Find a quiet place to sit, and begin to breathe into your body, allowing it to relax. Even if you are feeling really lethargic or lackluster, follow these instructions and plow through.
Now, on your next deep breath, begin to tightly squeeze and then fully relax your body. Squeezing and relaxing your whole body this way will reconnect you to your physical self in the present moment (thus ending the dissociation), and pull you away from your narrative of the blues.
Practice the above exercise several times. How do you feel? More energized? Warmer? Lighter?
I thought so.
Remember: you are not alone. We are all here together to lean on and support one another.
If you are feeling blue due to an of lack of direction, or find yourself struggling, I invite you to do a Discovery Session with me. It is ideal for figuring out what is happening in your life, where you are and what you want. In our session together, we explore your unique question, and discuss solutions, meditations and exercises to reveal the most rewarding and impactful direction to take in your life now. Now it is up to you!
Oh thank you so much Navjif for this wonderful article and this simple and so easy to use technique to beat the winter blues. I really like the idea of connecting with the physical body by squeezing it and-and releasing. I have always tried using light therapy or meditation during the heavy winter months, but this one seems to do the job better! The magic of the physical body! Now I can have a happier winter 🙂
Hello SmilenLucky,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I also find this to be super helpful. I am in the process of making a video to teach a very simple meditation technique that takes no more than a minute to do. Once you can do that meditation it will help you to reconnect with your deeper self and become more present.
Thank you for reading my posts and taking the time to comment.
Much love,
Navjit