- Gratitude journal. Take a few minutes each day to write down gratitude for things in your life that are positive. Look for the good, and open your eyes to see the silver lining in every situation. This is something that has really helped me.
- Prayer and meditation. I love to start and end my day with these. Ground yourself with God and the earth and get quiet. Ask for help when you need it, express gratitude verbally, ponder on positive actions you can take.
- Reframe negative events. Step back and look at the big picture, put your thoughts into perspective. The present situation will not last forever, there will be better days ahead.
- Create positive experiences. Find ways to spread light and love to others. Be compassionate and kind. It warms my heart how many examples of this I have seen these last few months.
- Keep good posture. Standing, even sitting in good posture helps our bodies feel good.
- Smile for at least 20 seconds in the mirror. Find a way to laugh at least 5-10 minutes per day. The release of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin is a sure way to lift your mood and it feels so good!
- Exercise at least 30 minutes per day. Exercise releases norepinephrine, endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, improving both general health and mood, and it's fun, too! Since my preferred place of exercise was closed, and I had so much to do at home with my kids and their school, I let this one slip for awhile - but I am back on track and can already feel the positive benefits again!
- Do service with a group. Finding unity through service is even possible from a distance.
- Listen to positive music. Put something on that makes you want to dance. This lifts my mood immediately!
- Give yourself 3 step goals. Set goals that involve simple steps, then work to achieve them. A sense of accomplishment goes a long way to feeling good about yourself and lifting your mood.
- Positive affirmations. Repeat these throughout the day to keep yourself in a positive mindset.
- Essential oils - Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Orange, Citrus Fresh, Joy, Cypress, Grand Fir, Frankincense, and Peppermint are good mood lifters. Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Geranium, Jasmine, Juniper, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Ylang ylang, Peace & Calming, Stress Away, and Valor are calming oils. Diffuse, or apply topically. As you inhale, the aroma passes through your olfactory system into the limbic region of the brain which controls memory and emotion. These can have immediate effect and are my first go-to for a quick calm down or pick-me-up. Find these here.
I have been performing my violin since I was 6 years old but I have only had stage fright since I became an adult. I usually feel fine until I'm on stage and then I start sweating and shaking with anxiety. I always wonder if people can see my knees knocking together. I know my tone suffers when my hands shake because my bow shakes, too. I am so happy now that I have found a few things that actually help me settle down! I feel so much more calm when I use these things along with deep breathing.
My favorite oils for nervous jitters before a musical performance or public speaking:
Here's a video of me at the Beauty School talent show hosted at the Young Living Highland Flats farm in Idaho just for fun!
Essential oils are the best thing I have found to help with emotions. I apply them liberally a half hour before, and then again right before my performance time. I breathe them all. I also like to put Frankincense on my head, Valor on the back of my neck, Stress Away on my wrists, and Peace & Calming on my heart.
Close your eyes and imagine the smell of baking banana bread. You can smell it, right? Our noses (olfactory systems) are amazing! Could you see your mom's or grandma's kitchen? How did you feel? Our sense of smell is linked directly to the part of our brain that controls both memory and emotion. When we smell something familiar, we can immediately remember where we were and how we felt the last time we smelled that aroma (or stench!). Baking bread is something that takes me back to my mom's kitchen. I feel happy, and contented, and my saliva starts flowing in anticipation! I never get a picture of my bread because it disappears too fast! One day I will capture it. I added Lavender Vitality essential oil to my mother’s delicious banana bread recipe, so now, the scent of lavender fills my home along with the wonderful banana bread scent.
Lavender blueberry banana bread
1 cup butter- softened
1 ½ cup sugar
3 eggs
cream
6 tablespoons milk
2 -3 mashed bananas – add applesauce to equal 2 cups
mix
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
mix
add 1 cup blueberries
4 drops lavender vitality essential oil
mix gently.
Butter and flour bread pans
Bake 350 1 hour until knife comes out clean
(darker pans cook faster)
Enjoy!
