Emotional litesracy is about being able to identify your emotions and speak your thoughts accordingly . When we identify our doc emotions – we are able to give words to our feelings . This gives us a level of control as to how to manage our feelings

When we have control of our feelings – we are able to manage ourselves better .

So what are ways to develop emotional literacy

1. Learn to identify feelings

2. Name them – the tricky ones are feeling scared , feeling angry and feeling sad

3. Once you have identified your feelings and named them – choose one or two steps of action to deal with each of the tricky feelings

4. For example when we feel sad or angry – talking to a friend or doing some physical activity or excercise helps – it is a positive way to express your sadness or anger

5.When we feel scared – talking to the people who give comfort or being with someone we trust helps

6. Taking some time everyday to breathe , to stretch or to engage in any quiet mindful activity like going for a walk or working on an art project … helps you to become calmer …. and stronger to manage your feelings and therefore your actions

7.So having positive thoughts… making a choice to have positive feelings guides us in making positive choices / actions …As someone wise said As you think so you become ….

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The intention of the blog is to write on the nature of dogs – how they help us in our wellness journey .

Dogs : research indicates that having a dog improves wholistic wellness. Dogs enhance spiritual wellness, physical wellness, social wellness and emotional wellness.

Spiritual wellness : Dogs live in the moment – when you are with a dog they engage with you and not worried about what’s coming next …

Physical wellness : Dogs love walks – so they help to keep us fit…

Social wellness : Dogs make great company – and create new socialising opportunities for us…

Emotional wellness : Dogs emanate love in the way they greet you , look at you and speak to you in woofs

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Dogs teach us about commitment and consistency – when we own a dog we have to feed them , walk them and care for them when unwell. Taking ownership / and being consistent is also about enhancing your own personal growth and Character

Last week we lost our dog Simba – he had the liveliest warmest and the kindest of spirits. I still feel sad for the loss and the void he has left in my home and heart

I am mindful of the feelings of sadness that comes to me and grips my heart in bouts. I embrace my sadness and I also remind myself of the precious memories and the lessons in love ,togetherness and patience that Simba brought for my whanau / family He lost an eye to glaucoma in 2018 and he still carried on with just as much strength and cheer abd zest for living and loving – so he also taught us resilience

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Talking of love …some lines from Elizabeth Barret Browning

“How do I love thee?….let me count the ways I love thee to the depth and breadth and height.-My soul can reach when feeling out of sight -For the ends of being and ideal Grace .”

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I am blessed for having experienced that love – thankful for being able to connect to share the story of love and resilience 🍀

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Claim:

INTENTION: SHARING 5 KEYPOINTS OF CHOICE – A STORY ON RESILIENCE

Evidence:

Data on the scientific nature of resilience = matches = author`s experience

Reasoning:

Author`s first hand experience –working through her challenges – towards healing and resilience is an excellent example of how each of us can make an informed choice in moving towards courage, resilience and wellness…

Adverse experiences can also be teaching experiences: The story captured my interest as it highlights how people can find and make meaning through challenging traumatic experiences –so instead of feeling victimised …..find a pathway of empowerment. Freedom – the joy of living and loving comes only with responsibility .

Find a purpose and connect to it: Trauma is real and each person`s trauma is significant – however each of us can make an informed choice to come out of the suffering. The way to come out of trauma is to commit to a purpose that is outside of us.

Be Kind to yourself: The author speaks of adhering to“ a moral centre”- when we pay attention to kindness, integrity and cooperation …..we shift the focus to the present – what we have –nurture yourself- choose to be your own parent.    

Have Faith: Put away the language of blame – Accept your loss – grieve – but do not get stuck in it….. give yourself plenty of time to invite all of the feelings – go through all of your feelings –but do not get stuck in it see “the light and see the gift in everything – every moment.”

Forgiveness is a gift : Any loss also involves anger -When you own and feel the anger about your loss- we help ourselves to come to terms with it. When we have that awareness then we are also truly preparing ourselves to let go of the pain…. By not allowing the past to rule your life  we give ourselves permission to go ahead and live

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Books play an amazing transformative role in widening our experiences and our world.

In my work I always share that words are powerful tools in informing us and transforming the experiences that challenge us at times. For example – when anxious , sad or scared  we can always inform ourselves by using  safe and affirming words that bring down our levels of anxiety.

Books are similar in allowing us to look into author`s perspectives on the world, on experiences – that might sometimes be real or unreal. Books widen our understanding of the world – books help us to have insight into information, experiences , and thoughts  – Books therefore are also inspirational in helping us make our own stories.

Books that influenced me : The two books that I read in detail last year are Dr. Edith Eger `s book– The Choice and another book on resilience is Tara Westover`s Educated – it is about looking at challenges and your own perception of life with a new perspective and making an informed choice of moving forward …

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Hi dear all, the intention for this post is

• To advocate for exercise so you feel motivated to make time to add some form of movement into your routine.
• To go into some details of why movement /exercise has such a positive impact on wellness.
• I am sharing here two of my art works … on Yoga and Riding

Movement can be the best form of therapy that is freely available to everyone

Why is movement therapeutic??

The brain: Going back to the structure of the brain (refer blog brain and wellness) imagine the brain as a four layered box; each layer has its own exclusive function…. The bottom part or the lowest part of the brain is the stem….

The stem of the brain is very sensitive to any uncertainties that we face … so when we feel uncertain, unsure or worried or angry the brain becomes dysregulated; we are not able to hold focus, or think with clarity.

The part of the brain just above the stem looks after our movements …So when we feel uncertain, we feel displaced and our movements are not the best – we are either fidgety or restless or displaced –

Fascinating truth: The study of the brain is fascinating because how we think and what we feel is also seen in what we do ….

Exercise/ is energising – has a positive impact on our mind – thoughts , feelings and actions

Any rhythmic movement has a calming effect on the brain stem and helps with self-regulation- helps to manage our emotions.

Movement oriented activities are rhythmic, repetitive – allows amazing scope for social connect and mindful wellness.

Collective wellness: Think of the times you have joined a good game of something and have come out feeling tired but happy refreshed and calm. There is a collective happiness that comes from shared sport or walk or movement   –this is very beneficial to individual health and happiness.

Mindfulness: Exercise helps us to connect to ourselves; we are immersed in the moment – sheer joy of participation and we follow the steps that are needed for the action…. Long walks are also incredibly calming and regulates movement and breath – which improves wellness,

A tale on swimming: Swimming was not easy; the fear of water was a potential barrier- I had to teach myself to overcome the fear before I could take my first lesson. For days and months I just watched people swim and then noticed that swimming has a beat to it – one –two- three -breathe- which for me was a learning point …. And now I feel blessed for being able to swim a good 40 lengths!! I tend to use flippers though … as it makes my swimming quicker, easier and for me more joyful. Yoga, and swimming are the activities that have helped me fill up my wellness reservoir …..

Breathing has a powerful influence on mind body and wellness. Yoga, swimming and running are all exercises that focus on the breath. So this was why I made sure that my wellness workshop would have a movement component in it ….

In my practice I have always included exercise as integral to interventions and seen the benefits; individuals who access regular robust fitness consistently make steady gains.

In my next blog I will share some highlights from a very commended book SPARK I read in 2016 ; In sharing I  hope that this adds to your knowledge on the scientist benefits of exercise on individual and collective wellness

“ The mind is everything … what we think , we become.” Gautama Buddha

Art and Connections ….

http://reach4art.life/2020/04/25/art-and-connections/
— Read on reach4art.life/2020/04/25/art-and-connections/

Intention of this post is to share and simplify the concept of resilience – add more wellness to our everyday lives

My story of choosing resilience  

Personalising the concept  I always knew the meaning of resilience – yes – it seems simple and easy – but there are times when I have struggled to be resilient in some circumstances.

I have needed to break things down for myself –what are my values goals and experiences that are meaningful to me.

I have found immense value in the power of words and language

Making scripts , using words to describe the current context and my goals

Breaking it down to personalised snapshots has helped me to embrace resilience and wellness.

The power of words : Using words as how it has helped me to internalise the concept of resilience ….

Resilience for me is about

Being able to manage ourselves, being calm even when we have new challenges

Finding positive and meaningful ways of connecting to our experiences. Feeling healthy and happy within ourselves

Having the readiness to take on new experiences.

In my next post I will  share a visual of how resilience happens ….so you can get creative in crafting your own journey of resilience …..

Swimming for fitness , music and art are some of my interests that adds to my reservoir of wellness ….

I write this with conviction …… as having grown into a better version of myself through my creative ventures.

The intention of  sharing this is- you might want to find a simple way to identify and connect  to the artist within you.

Art creates a forum for meaningful talk…. and helps us to connect and relate to our social world. As a young mum, I introduced both my boys to art at a very early age – as a family we had and continue to have heaps of fun with paper, pencils and lots of colours.

Here is the story of my Love4acause

Initially I did my art for fun and I realised that I loved it so much. The bonus was my family and friends were appreciative of my art. My friends who have received my piece of work as a gift were sincere in their appreciation. This motivated the start of my community artwork project. I began to make a portfolio of my art. I contributed some of my work as cards to some of charities close to my heart.

I began a community page called Love4acause in 2011- the year I organised a fund-raising event for Totara Hospice ….This was a simple sweet and most rewarding experience.Am still so thankful for the support and encouragement from friends old and new. The event was hosted at one of the local schools with performances from David House Music School and Jaye`s Dance Studio performing…

Art build on new and existing connections

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give – Kahlil Gibran

I choose to call art as an excercise in quiet thinking …..

Art and Wellbeing

To my dear readers,

In today`s post I write on art and reflection . When I work on my art – I find this an intensely peaceful and calming exercise …. This has a significant impact on wellbeing.  

Art helps us to connect with your inner self – you choose the colours you like and create shapes that is unique to your liking.

When we engage in art we grow quiet and still; this quietness is very calming for the brain.

When we spend time in thinking or reflecting – we create a very calming space within us.

Taking time to reflect facilitates qualities and values such as kindness and compassion.

Practising any creative activity that is nurturing allows us to be better thinkers and learners.

 Cherish routines that has ample scope for thinking and reflection …. walking, swimming, meditating and of course painting. I love to walk and swim; I take time for ,myself to think and feel sheer joy in painting.

INTENTION : In sharing this, my wish for you is to take up something creative, get immersed in the joy of creating – be it making a delightful meal, or learning a new song or painting your unique picture.

I have shared 3 of my artwork with a wee history of it`s making …..

Faith – was a picture that I created for my friend ; I painted on a coaster – and it turned out right 🙂

Tagore- was an artist, musician , and poet – he was also the first non European to win the Nobel prize for Literature. I have a great respect for him and did this piece of work for my study.

Abel Tasman: Was about remembering our hike across the spectacular Abel Tasman on a beautiful summer day

Taking up art:

• Focus on the feeling of calm when  you sketch or paint
• Give your art work a name – even if you think it looks like a scribble – it is still unique
• Keep a visual diary
• Tune into nature 
• Use nature as a visual for inspiration
• Familiarise yourself with artworks that please you
• Visit exhibitions, galleries, museums
• Enjoy the present moment &
• Have a lot of fun ….. 🙂