This Quiet Moment – A Way To Cope Better With Life

“Feel your emotions,
Live true your passions,
Keep still your mind.”
~ Geoffrey M. Gluckman

Hey, Lovelies.

One of the skills I have honed (by necessity) over many years is coping.

Yep. Coping.

Here’s the definition according to the APA Dictionary of Psychology:

coping

n. the use of cognitive and behavioral strategies to manage the demands of a situation when these are appraised as taxing or exceeding one’s resources or to reduce the negative emotions and conflict caused by stress.

This is what coping looks likes for me right now: a mug of hot water to sip, a chair overlooking the waving bamboo and the gentle dawn, a rug over my knees, two sleeping dogs at my feet. Quiet time, before the onslaught of my day.

Right now my regular schedule is out the window, I have many demands on my time, and my capacity to care for others and myself is stretched thin.

What helps?

Quiet times get me through.

So do hugs, teary moments, laughs with family, trash tv, warm drinks, raising the middle finger to life occasionally, audiobooks, a good diet, perspective and reflection, being gentle with myself and others, a game of soccer in the backyard with Ben and the pups, better boundaries around my time and energy.

What else?

Stolen moments of writing time, text messages with friends, stopping for a minute to anchor myself through my breathing, and to truly be in the moment. Writing lists, pulling a card for the day, meditation, music. Reminding myself that this too will pass. Reminding myself that every moment is precious, no matter what is happening. Reminding myself that this will all be good fodder for a book, or a character, or for my own growth.

I can’t fight what is. Better to flow with it, to co-exist, to do what I can and let go of the rest.

After the storm I’ll reassess and figure out something else, but for now this will do. Maybe some of these musings might help you too.

Much love, and the peacefulness of the early morning, Nicole xx