Boost your immune system with these three things

“What happens when people open their hearts?”

“They get better.”

Haruki Murakami

Hello, Lovelies.

My inbox is flooded right now with messages from people who are scared and anxious about Coronavirus, or their job security or the health of their business, or the failing economy.

I know. All of these things are worrying. And they come on top of a hard year that has been filled with natural disasters and, for many of you, personal difficulties as well.

But Lovelies, all this fear and anxiety will not do you any good. In fact, it can actively harm you by creating cascades of stress chemicals that suppress your immune system, dis-regulate your hormones, disrupt your sleep and negatively impact cellular healing and your digestion and absorption.

Here are three simple things you can do, starting today, that will reduce stress and actively boost your immune system and wellbeing.

1. Meditation

Even five minutes a day of meditation starts to reverse the impacts of stress, and helps to create the kinds of chemicals, hormones and processes within the body that boost immunity and create an environment for cellular repair.

Here are five of our favourite short guided meditations that can help you connect to that calming and healing space:

5 Guided Meditations For Wellbeing

2. Gratitude and Appreciation

Fear, frustration, anger, resentment and anxiety eat away at our well-being. Practicing gratitude and having awareness and appreciation for the blessings in our lives powerfully reverses the impact of those negative emotional states.

Gratitude reminds us to keep bringing our heart back to what matters most. Not just in the good times, but the bad times too. Gratitude isn’t about having a positive attitude. It’s about finding the things that can comfort, soothe or support us, despite what else might be happening in our lives.

Literally counting your blessings – counting them off on your fingers – is a tangible act, and a way of really anchoring their truth in your life. Or maybe you’d prefer to write them in your journal.

Blessings to me are always the simple things in life, and often the things we take for granted.  A warm shower, a comfortable bed, a good cup of tea, a hug, the love of your family or animal companion, a favourite pair of shoes, a song that makes you smile, a flower. Even on the worst of days we can find something to be grateful for.  Counting blessings gets your attention OFF the things you don’t want, and back on the things you do. It’s an instant mood lifter that keeps things in perspective.

3. Quiet Time Reconnecting

Silence, solitude and soul time replenish us – body, mind and spirit. For you this might be time spent in prayer or reflection. It might be a walk in nature, or a cup of tea in front of the fire, or out in the back yard.

It might be time curled up with a book, or holding hands with a loved one. It could be a soak in the tub, listening to music, or making art. It could be baking or writing, or taking a nap. You might enjoy listening to the wind in the trees, or birdsong, or the sound of rain.

Slowing down does good things for us.

These three simple things, which cost nothing, can give much benefit to you and your loved ones. All it takes is a little time, and a conscious effort to slow down, reconnect, and live from love, gratitude, compassion and kindness.

Let’s use this time to live from the best part of ourselves.

I’m holding you in my prayers and meditations. Know that you are deeply loved. Nicole xx