Robbie is a 53-year-old woman who lives each day In His Grace, and shares her simple plan here for coping with holiday anxiety around food and overstimulation.
I remember when I was very young my mother had a beautiful maple rocker. When I would feel scared or sad my mother would take me in her arms, hold me and just rock me in that rocking chair.
Seemed like magic….. that mothers touch of true love and the gentle swaying enabled me to release the fear that gripped my mind and spirit.
That rocking chair induced a calming over me that always put a smile on my face and courage in my heart. I longed that it would last forever. The feeling of everything was alright in my core being, and with the world.
Writing this now, I can almost feel her warmth and hear her heartbeat against my ear. I would give anything to hear her heartbeat once again.
Holidays seem to really bring on the anxious feelings for me or, for that matter, anytime that is over-stimulating. Doesn’t matter if it is a positive or a negative, just too much of anything, and I react. Life in general seems to create feelings of anxiety due to overstimulation.
Not too long ago, Karly had mentioned rocking in one of her audios and it reminded me of the wonderful modality that I had set aside. Since then I have started to use my rocker again.
It is so useful to help me work through feelings of despair and anxiety. Just to feel the gentle back and forth motion while doing some deep breathing allows most of my cravings and uncomfortable feelings to pass.
It is not easy for me to be consistent with this. I have to make myself slow down and go sit, get quiet and just be for several minutes. I am not always successful with it but as Karly says: progress, not perfection.
I am learning that I may be a work in progress for a very long time and that is alright. After all, look at what trying to be perfect did…. Geesh, as if I could ever be. Learning to love myself and accept myself is a huge feat for me, but learning with firstourselves.org makes it a “do-able” thing.
So, if you have a rocking chair and you experience anxiety, next time try to calm your mind and soothe your body with a gentle swaying. I hope you will find that it is relaxing and filling in all the right ways.
