What feels really good to YOU?

In an ever-changing, complex world, and a society that still tries to make us believe that there is only one path to happiness or “success”, I invite you to stay true to your unique self, your values and authenticity: What feels really good to YOU?

When we look at how we react to a new situation, a surprise (or danger), our brain and heart are in constant communication with each other. Our brain is here to protect us so it will always try to find a memory or a technique that that helps us to cope with the situation. If we don’t find it, our body raises our stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) and prepares – just in case – to defend himself, to attack or to shut down. This all happens within seconds. (There are techniques that can help us to improve this cycle and our coping mechanisms, with time and practice.) There is more and more neuroscientific research on the role that plays our interoception and, especially, our heart. Nazareth Castellanos writes about it in her book (Neurociencia del cuerpo / Neuroscience of the body) and there are different articles researching the role our heart plays as a first impulse to what could be happening – based on our story and experiences – and the sensation the situation or person in front of us provokes (eg: BBC article on Interoception). I personally think it’s no coincidence that the heart is connected with love. Love is the feeling and energy that truly guides our life as emotional human beings. And I believe 100% that the more we connect to our heart and love, starting with self-love, the more we notice what feels good and what doesn’t. And that’s what this article is about.

1. What feels really good to YOU?
   Some people ask me: “So what is your daily/weekly routine?” Or: “Which habit do you recommend me to change or integrate into my life?” And of course I will happily provide some guidance and tell you my top tips. But the exact hours of sleep, nutrition plan, kind of movement? How much time you need with your family and friends? What really helps you to reset? How you should live your life? It is so personal and if anyone tells you something different then please don’t listen. I do want to encourage you to improve your habits, yes. And I do think that especially yoga, conscious breathing and introspection really help us in many areas of our life. But this is YOUR life so please ask yourself: What activities or people put a huge smile on my face? What activities or people can I not wait for to arrive, these moments I’m excited about already days or weeks in advance? After what kind of activity or break or moment do I feel recharged?
   
   
2. Life is about balance and about being human
   To make my point very clear: I have a lot of healthy habits in my life but my routine is not the same every day. I adapt to new circumstances and to how I feel as well as to what I feel that my body needs. What really counts is that you find your personal balance. I personally think it’s about feeling that 75-80% of the week feels like we recharge enough and take good care of our health routine but still leave space for life and new circumstances, for surprises and spontaneous suggestions like: “Let’s go away for the weekend!” Or: “Let’s take a walk and watch the sunrise / the moon.” Life is enriched by saying yes to new opportunities, to experiences, to moments of fun and joy and fulfilment and sensations that make us learn and grow and make mistakes and learn from them and also to just be human and to just enjoy. Not everything has to be done with a certain purpose and not every activity has to be efficient and your body will guide you well – if you let it and if you stay true to yourself. Not to this society’s expectations.
   
   
3. Where to start?
   If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know what I will say: Spend time with yourself, to reflect. Write down what comes up. (More insights in this blog: Time with yourself.) I tell you from the bottom of my heart that starting to write/journal was the biggest game changer in my whole life because I could go back a few pages and I would read over the same things over and over again and reading my thoughts of what I was feeling and what I thought I needed. And at some point it made me react. If you write down how you feel and what you think honestly then you will find a pattern. And then the question is: What can you do to change this pattern? What activities would you like to do more? What people would you like to see more? What do you need more of in your life? And what or who do you need less of? When do you feel the best? What makes you feel the worst? All these questions help so much. And I really hope you take the time. And if you need me and would like to go through that in a team workshop or in a 1-2-1 coaching conversation, you can write me: julia@littlehealthyhabits.com.
   
   I really hope you take the time to reflect and find out what you need, for nobody else but for yourself. To find your unique path. To live according to your own philosophy of life. And once you do, I promise you, you will reconfirm or find the activities and people who align with exactly that path.