positive mindfulness | Uniquely Yours Craft Journal

Writing in the midst of Covid19

05 Aug 2020 Comments Off on Writing in the midst of Covid19

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Mindfulness Tags: Covid 19, positive mindfulness

Dear Felllow Journalers,

It’s been a long time since I’ve written anything about mindfulness. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about ways to cope with all the negative feelings I’ve been having. As this forced isolation goes on, and some areas reopen, we all hold our collective breath and hope that life will go back to normal. There are so many things that try to drive us down. Death and fear, loneliness and isolation, lack of food and jobs, anger and violence. We wonder if the world is coming to an end. We loose hope. We think that there are no longer any good people in the world.

We all try and find new ways to cope. It’s to hot to craft so I write stories. A friend of mine tries out new recipes, a neighbor makes scrapbooks, in short, we all try to forget. Some of us, those not working, spend a lot more time watching tv.

So, this month, I thought I’d go back to my roots. More ideas about getting ourselves to hope, to love, to join the human race- to fight stress, to listen to music and to find ourselves, our best selves.

The video below is a good start:

~Sallie

Good Intentions

08 Jan 2020 Comments Off on Good Intentions

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Mindfulness, Paper Daydreams, Perspectives, Self-Care Tags: positive mindfulness, Self-Care

Dear Fellow Journalers,

You know that saying, “life is full of good intentions?” Well, I started out with pen and paper in hand and then old habits reared their heads. It wouldn’t hurt to just check out e-mail would it? Just for tonight? The more excuses you make the more the intention (habit) fades away and before you know it you’re back doing exactly what you wanted to stop!

I knew the benefits of mindfulness (see past posts) so I didn’t have to talk myself into a new way of thinking. I didn’t want to be affected by the angst in the world yet there I was reading about it BEFORE I turned out the light! So much for that idea, I thought to myself.

Before you make a resolution you have to think it through. I read that statement once in a self-help book and it held a lot of water for me at the time. I needed to go slowly down the path. Baby steps get you where you want to go but slowly. There is a great ad on tv these days about quitting smoking featuring an animated turkey that is dressed in hilarious outfits who slowly “kicks” the habit of smoking with the aid of the product being promoted. Well, if a turkey can do “it” (whatever “it” is to you) than I guess you and I can go slowly too.

The next step is to show myself some compassion. What is my current situation? I have to find what works and makes me more comfortable. If I stop reading the newspaper every day (except for the headlines will that help my peace of mind?

Is there someone else I know that feels the same way I do? We all need buddies to travel the road with us.

Have you ever been in a situation where the triggers to your “habit” rears its head and you sucked into the “rabbit hole?” It might be a slice of chocolate cake in the break room at work or a new book that has just been published and you just have to buy it. How do you conquer triggers? I ‘re-discovered music.

~Sallie

Gratitude Journaling through the years

14 Nov 2018 Comments Off on Gratitude Journaling through the years

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in gratitude Tags: grateful, positive mindfulness

Dear Fellow Journalers,

Mary Beth shares her Gratitude path with us…

~Sallie

I’ve been keeping a Gratitude Journal for years. My first one was a composition book covered in wallpaper samples. I was in High School and I remember that my comments were mainly centered on friends, grades, hobbies. Later in college, my habit of writing in the journal waned due to the excitement of new relationships, college courses, experiences. My notes were few and scattered among the many notes on my calendar. I didn’t pick up writing again until I was married and expecting our first child.

My pregnancy journal reminded me of my “Things I am grateful for” journal so I started a new attempt. Over the next few years in between raising our young family, moving, New careers etc. I wrote. Most of my journal notes were written on pocket calendar pages. When I noticed a pattern of my repeating myself “I am grateful for the good weather, TJ’s grades etc.” I realized that I had to make a change. You see, I wanted to be true to myself and I felt that my writing was forced and oftentimes written just for the sakes of being written.

I began to surround myself with pictures and inspirational music. Solitude was hard to find but the times I did find peace and quiet were the times I was most grateful. Now, repeating phrases (mindfulness practice) , looking at picturesque landscapes etc. helps me remember who and what I am grateful for. Next time I will share some prompts that worked for me.

Mary Beth

Self-Care Strategies

19 Sep 2018 Comments Off on Self-Care Strategies

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Self-Care Tags: positive mindfulness, strategies, Super Soul Sunday

Dear Fellow Journalers,

Self-Care journaling is the ultimate self-care activity. It’s something you do for yourself. We’ve been on this journey of self-discovery for a while now (see post on mindfulness) so for those of you who have been journaling and reading this blog, some of what I am about to say will sound familiar.

When we write we tell our stories. We translate experiences to words, feelings to language, senses to thoughts. We have to be honest for this to work. Remember, we can still destroy our journals – wait! Did I just write that?? Our first great step is to breathe. Set a timer for 5 minutes. Create a sanctuary and focus.

Be your own best friend. Sometimes we get really down on ourselves. We reach the end of our rope and hang on waiting for someone to notice, pick us up. We cry for help and then realize that help is coming from us. When we’re writing “stream of consciousness” we need to remember to let our thoughts and feelings drift. Don’t second guess yourself. Don’t correct your grammar. Don’t forget to have fun! If your journaling becomes annoying or confusing be good to yourself. Put your pen down and do something to bring joy to your life.

Thinking of you,

~Sallie

Living in the present moment

05 Apr 2017 Comments Off on Living in the present moment

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Momemt Journal Tags: positive mindfulness

Dear Fellow Journalers,

What does living in the present moment really mean? Remember when you were in school and the teacher was calling the roll and you had to answer “I’m here?” Is that the same as being ‘in the moment’? Nope, not really.

Everyday and in every way we are present in our life but maybe our minds aren’t really with us. For example, it’s Sunday and you’re in Church and your pastor is speaking and you try to listen but that grocery list of things to do/buy/go is rattling around in your head and you drift off. Are you present in Church?

Our minds have been programmed to think we always have to have something to do or somewhere to go even if we had planned to relax. We always have to be in control. Some of us, feel that we have to control others too. Have you ever just stopped and let go? You have to give up the unwillingness to let go of control and everything else that you’re hanging on to be in the present moment.

WOW! If you’re like most of us, giving up the idea of control is scary. You think to yourself ‘if I lose control of the situation what will happen?’ Maybe the outcome will be better than what you’ve been working on for so long. In any case, giving up of the actual control and the illusion of control can be life-affirming. Once you start experiencing freedom the world begins to change in front of you. Everyday is a new canvas. Everyday is a new journey.

There are thousands of relaxing techniques. I discussed some of them in my Mindfulness posts. Here is a quick guided meditation to help you practice living in the present moment:

Sit in a chair that supports your back.

Put both feet on the floor.

Relax you face and neck.

Let your arms rest comfortably in your lap.

Feel your breath going in and out of your body.

Focus on the silence.

Do this for 5 minutes. ( I use a silent timer to do this.)

Now whatever comes into your mind, brush it aside to deal with it later.

Do this for 5 minutes.

Bring your mind back to stillness and open your eyes.

Give yourself some time and then, if you wish, write about your experience of your moment in your journal.

‘Til next time,