I hope you are all well. A couple of days ago, I attended the launch of Sharing Young Women's Stories - a campaign run by Equality Rights Alliance to fight negative body image. It was a great night and I felt very privileged that I was able to talk to many inspiring people doing good work.
Postcards being handed out at the launch. Photo by GR from Equality Rights Alliance and published here with her permission.
One of the people at the launch, Carly Jacobs, gave a particularly great speech. She talked about her "feel good diet". After years of dieting, calorie counting and unhealthy obsession over her body type, Carly finally hit upon a feel good diet. She started to eat what made her feel good. This doesn't mean binging on junk food (that often made her feel sick, not good), it also didn't mean she starved herself. Rather she ate what made her feel healthy and energetic.
The last couple of days, I've been reflecting on what Carly said and I realised that her philosophy can be applied to so many more areas of my life - my health, my consumption of goods and also my ongoing simplification of my life.
So here is my top 20"feel good list":
1. I feel good when I hang out with my kids, my family and my friends
2. I feel good when I am outdoors, riding my bike or paddling on the lake
3. I feel good when I am at taekwondo
4. I feel good when I eat home cooked meals
5. I feel good when I eat out at a really nice restaurant
6. I feel good when I have a clean house
7. I feel good when I declutter
8. I feel good when I do a good job at work
9. I feel good when I get a good night's rest
10. I feel good when I get a letter, an email, or a comment from others
11. I feel good when I make the time to just enjoy the view from my house
12. I feel good when I help others
13. I feel good when others help me
14. I feel good when I iron (yes I know its weird but I really do enjoy it)
15. I feel good when I make the effort to look nice
16. I feel good when I play the piano and when I sing
17. I feel good when I am painting, crafting or sewing
18. I feel good when I massage other people (I think this is related to my thing with ironing - smoothing out knots and all that hehe)
19. I feel good when I read a good book, blog post or article
20. I feel good when I achieve my savings goals
The times when I have felt overwhelmed and anxious is when I do the opposite to the list above - when I don't take time out to be physically active and enjoy the space around me. When I've been frivolous and ended up with a leaner bank balance and with too much stuff that I barely use and don't really need.
Now looking over that list, I realise that basically I feel good when I respect myself and the space around me, when I connect with others and when I act in accordance to my values.
What about you? What's your top 20 feel good list?
11 comments:
I don't think I can do 20 but here are a few of mine. Thank you so much for sharing yours with us.
I feel good when I do something for others.
I feel good when I have a long bath.
I feel good when I make a great meal.
I feel good when I bake something new and it works.
I feel good when I read a new book or an old well loved one.
I feel good when I complete a project.
I feel good when I am out farming on a weekend.
I feel good when I collect eggs from my hens.
I feel good when I get a hug from my partner/stepdaughter.
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Such a simple notion, but such a fantastic idea...how often do we ignore the things we get the most from? Crazy. Thanks for this.
I have been thinking about the same things since hearing Carly's speech. This is my list...
I feel good when I spend time playing with my kids
I feel good when I pay attention to my partner
I feel good when I have a productive day at work
I feel good when I organise my wardrobe and play with clothes
I feel good when I go for a long walk
I feel good when I am alone
I feel good when I realise something I have done has made a real difference to someone else (even if they are a stranger)
So it seems I feel good when I look after myself and my family, and do things that make the world a better place. Except for feeling good when I organise my wardrobe, no idea what deeper meaning that has (probably none).
This is such a wonderful idea!! I want to blog about this! I will link back to you when I do. Thanks so much for the post!
Thank you everyone for your comments!
Christie - it is crazy isn't it how we seem to ignore/sabotage the things that make us feel good? I do wonder what makes us do that...
I posted about it! Thanks for the great idea! :)
Hello,
Since you wrote that it makes you feel good when people make comments, I thought it was a good time to delurk...I am a sporadic blogger and not much of a commenter but I thought no better time than the present! I really liked your list and counted 13 of the same things that make me happy. I think I probably even found your blog because it makes me happy to save as well. I really can't remember.
I too have often wondered why I seem to be attracted to things that make me unhappy and I have to consciously work at starting things that make me happy instead. Once I am over that initial motivation I realize how happy I am. It really is weird.
Sorry, I'm not "Sarah", I am Elise....
Reading your posts makes me feel good. You're a big inspiration. By the way, I find your blog so influential and this eco-fashion might interest you in inspiring others to be eco-conscious. Thanks a lot!
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