5 Steps to pull you out of a downward spiral

My own downward spiral...

I've been there recently, I am sure you have been there. I felt hopeless and heavy and uncomfortable in my MIND, BODY & SOUL. I forgot how amazing I am, that I am enough already and that I am supported. My wounds surrounding my eating disorder resurfaced and I sought sugar, and Netflix as a comfort to ease the pain. Something triggered the wounds and I was back to how I use to feel as a teenager, desperate to escape the body I lived in. We ALL have our wounds.

However once again I gain so much insight as I hoisted myself back onto my feet. I do actually believe that these periods are a necessary part of our own growth, and that if we are aware, can bring us deep and profound insights on life and everything that encompasses it. READ my article on Harnessing our natural cycles. I am sure you will agree that whilst it is so deeply magnetic to stay in this darkness, hopefully there are still tiny parts of us that wish to emerge after such periods. So this step by step guide is my personal offering of love to help you put yourself back together again with meaning and transcend!

PLEASE NOTE: I am not suggesting that you forfeit any professional medical help if it is required.

Now before we get started please be totally aware that your mind will tell you that none of this will actually work, it will be particularly insistent if you are in a lot of emotional or mental despair right now, so let’s make a pact now to be conscious beings and CHOOSE to override the mind in this situation and follow these steps. You never know, you might actually enjoy it!

Remember...right now all you have to do is take it step by step.

Step 1: Watch something inspirational.

The likelihood is that you are watching alot of tv anyways, plus you will mostly feel pretty drained, so start by finding something inspirational to watch. In order to pull yourself up, it starts by looking up. Listen to the stories and words of inspiration, from people who have been where you are, and not only pulled themselves out of it but gained alot of invaluable insight and growth in the process. This always makes me feel inspired to resist the downward pull towards gloom, and begins to reignite my inner zest for life. My people are: Maya Angelou, Oprah and Kyle Cease.

Step 2: Get outside!!!

This always removes my feelings of contraction and heaviness, and jolts me out of my mind. Nature, by its very nature, is abundant in life energy. So as you immerse yourself in nature of any kind, you may notice that you immediately feel yourself more energised and softer around the edges. Take your shoes and socks off and receive healing from the earth, the earth has no ego and is pure love energy, so as you plant your feet on it, the chakras in your feet act as a door way to receive this revitalising energy. You are made on this earth, so babes, it is only inevitable that you can connect to it physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually when needed. For a potent combination, spend time with a nourishing friend in nature - where I can I avoid energy vampire people during these times.

Step 3: Do your favourite kind of movement and play MUSIC

Now this is my JAM. Moving immediately brings your focus down into your body and gives you space from your heavy mind and emotions. A moment to breathe and perhaps see a new perspective. If like me, you have a tendency to feel uncomfortable in your body and weight, focus on the sensations of your body moving, let ALL sensations be there and rejoice in the sacred pleasure of your magical vessel moving.

Now, I want you to move in away the gets your heart pumping and feel good endorphins flowing. Something like passionately dancing, playfully jumping, madly running, or simply waving your arms around in the air! Combine this with music for another potent combination. The right music uplifts our souls, relaxes us and connects us to the raw beauty of life again. On another level the vibrations of music and instruments, i.e. crystal bowls, actually has a healing effect on our energetic body. During my periods of downward spiralling I know my energetic body (different from physical body) is not in great shape, so music provides me with an extra source of realignment. Music and movement together should be part of the building blocks of your daily experience of life.

Step 4: Go on a juice cleanse

Or even just remove all processed foods and sugars from your diet. I recently went on a juice cleanse during a tough time as I realised that all of the ‘comfort food’ I had been consuming was fused with the heavy emotions I was experiencing. This cleanse gave me an opportunity to flush out all of the stuff (mind, body & soul), that was weighing me down. Alongside this, the benefits of removing processed foods and sugars, meant that I was just consuming ALIVE food. You know, food that is as close to nature as you can get. So it made ME feel more alive. This was pretty pivotal for me, as it changed the way I see and think about food. When you look at food now, question does it look like it will make me feel more alive? Now I am not suggesting to only consume juice or go raw vegan, because there are many other factors that come into play when we look at nutrition. However, I think that this shift in perspective and consumption of food will have a powerful effect on hoisting you back onto your feet again.

Step 5: An attitude of gratitude

Lack is such a heavy way to experience the world. Habitual thoughts of not being enough, having enough, doing enough or getting enough, intensify when I am in my hopeless pit. It is so draining. However it IS part of our animalistic survival mentally that hasn’t quite left us yet. So WE have to make the conscious effort (because we are more evolved than animals) to remind ourselves of what we already have. For me, it is better to WRITE out a gratitude list, because once I start writing (as with this post), more and more flows out of me, and I end up with a huge list of things to be grateful for. And if you think well "why should I be grateful?", I would say, well really why shouldn’t you? If we take it back to basics, mother nature provides for you without asking for anything back. Why shouldn't you give a little thank you once and a while. And on a more selfish note, the simple science of the universe means that the more you are grateful for, the more you attract things to be grateful for. Now, I am by no means telling that you to put a rose tint on life and pretend that there is no darkness, I am simply suggesting you spend a little less time focusing on it.

Final words...

As you move past this period; which is a necessary part of human life, I hope that you will take the time to reflect on what you learnt as you met the dark parts of your being. I hope that you share your experience and the new insights you gained on spiral down, as well as the spiral back up again. I am a big advocate for holding all sides of yourself, and so it is important not to resist sad or heavy emotions. But it is also important to feel empowered, and with these tools, I hope you regain your strength and move through the period and beyond. Every time I pick myself up I feel stronger in myself, I know myself on a deeper level, I have more compassion and have more inspiration to create and share!