You can get through this.
Yes, you really can.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by life, by whatever situation you find yourself in, or whatever emotion you are experiencing, I am here to remind you:
You can get through this.
Most of what we experience in life is temporary. The overwhelming emotion of sadness or grief or anger will pass. You will find your way to the other side. While I know that healing is not linear, that it is not something you just happen upon, and that healing from trauma takes time, you can find small ways to be with the struggle and find calm again.
If you are finding that you are having a hard time today, I am here to offer some gentle ways to soothe yourself, move yourself, and take good care of yourself. And these are all things you can do by yourself.
Let’s get to it!
Find yourself on the floor and move through a healing yoga break brought to from Adriene, our favorite YouTube yoga teacher.
Tune into a gentle calming meditation with Insight Timer’s Vanessa Loder to regulate your nervous system if you find that you are feeling jittery and upset.
If you need to separate from your feelings and just notice them, check out this beautiful (and brief) meditation with Sarah Blondin. Her voice is soothing, peaceful, and encouraging.
Fill up a cup and drink some water.
If you need to get out of your body, let’s dance it out! Shake your hips, lift your arms, swing your head around! Maybe turn on some tunes like Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off (obviously), maybe a little Iron Maiden’s The Trooper is more your style, or maybe you just need to express yourself a little bit with these guys!
Writing out and naming your feelings can often be helpful as well. Putting a feeling word to our experience can sometimes reduce the intensity of it all. Here are some thoughtful journal prompts from
to help you write it out. Remember that your journaling setup need not be fancy or inspiring. Grab a marker from the drawer, an old piece of mail, and get to writing.
Did you eat something? Is your tummy full? Grab a snack and see if that soothes you a bit.
Throw your phone in a drawer, put on your walking shoes, and get outside and move. Take a mindful walk, notice the crunch of the leaves or grass under your feet, the smell of the freshly cut lawn, or just notice the sky above. Maybe pick up the pace for a minute.
Grab a towel or a blanket, walk outside, put the towel on the ground, sit down, lay down, and look up at the sky. Notice your body touching the earth. Breathe in the moment of sky above you.
Need some balance? Take this 13 minute balancing breathwork class with Adriene. Desire something shorter? Try this 5 minute calming one.
Find your safe/calm place! Check out this piece I wrote about visualizing a place that can bring you a sense of calm and safety.
Ask yourself, what do I want to do right now? What do I need? Place your hand on your heart and listen for the answer. Take a deep breathe and keep listening. The words will find you, just listen.
Maybe it is time to call that therapist you have been wanting to connect with? Sure, you might have to get on a waitlist, but it is the first step in showing yourself that you matter and you deserve to have a space to share all of your thoughts and feelings.
There are so many amazing Substack writers that are also therapists that might offering soothing words and practices to help support and guide you in this moment. (in no particular order) Check out
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I don’t know about you but I needed all these resources this week. My friends have been having a hard time, my sweet brother experienced a big loss, and many others seem to be grappling with tough stuff. I hope you will take the time to offer yourself kindness, compassion, and a gentle urging to find a moment to take care of your heart.
If you think you know someone who might need these tools, I would love for you to share them. Remember, too, that sometimes these things won’t work and they certainly don’t fix. They are simply tools to try and get through to the other side of a feeling.
**Disclaimer: The stuff you find on this website or in our online yoga and therapy antics is meant for laughs and general info only. It's not a stand-in for serious medical or therapeutic wisdom. Before you embark on any new yoga moves or delve into our therapeutic shenanigans, consult your healthcare pal. Participation is your choice, and we won't be held responsible for any sudden interpretive dance injuries.
Think of the links we share like those quirky friends—we're not vouching for their quirks. By using this place, you're saying, "I get it, it's all in good humor." If you don't agree, kindly exit stage left and seek advice from the serious folks. Laughter is the best medicine, but sometimes you need a prescription.” -Thank you ChatGPT for this lovely disclaimer.
If you are in crisis and need support, please call 988. If you would like to find a therapist, I suggest going to psychology today, filtering for your zip code, insurance, and issues and seeing who might feel like a good fit.
Sounds like a ton of great ideas!
It really has been heavy times. Thank you for such a great post. <3