When I was a youngster, like most, I craved peer acceptance.
“Where did I fit in?”
Early on, I became an observer of the world. A friend who listened, offered advice.
Entering my teens with hormones percolating, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune skin disorder. I went to the dermatologist for what I thought would be a cream for the nickel-sized white spot on my back. Upon examination, the doctor said, “Marla you have a disease and although it’s not life threatening, it will be life altering – and most likely your thyroid will be affected when you get older. And it has been a temperamental gland that needs constant attention from Hashimoto’s, with symptoms of fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, hair loss, joint pain, and depression, for decades.
“Devastated, I pondered. Why had the doc asked if I was stressed? As an adult I learned that both environmental and internal stressors cause inflammation.
Turning my spot into the spotlight
At first, I tried treatments to repigment my skin yet the freckles were temporary and never adhered to the white patches.
Then a new stress appeared, unexpressed emotions internalized as overwhelmed by the motherhood juggle, set in. Unexplained skin rashes flared.
Something inside of me felt offbalanced, old aspirations had been dismantled.
Yoga practices, like lifting my legs up the wall in a restorative posture led me to calm. Mantra, music and meditation touched my soul and reshaped my mind. The transformation compelled me to share what I learned by creating an altar in my heart.
Now, as winter’s gloom arrives, with its barren trees and crumpled brown leaves covering my long-forgotten flowerbeds and vegetable garden, I reflect on the changes within and around me.
Not only had I craved a blue sky, but I also longed for mental semblance from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as the winter blues. For some, it disrupts daily functions like getting out of bed or taking a shower. It affects women four times as much as it affects men.
During these challenging months, Reiki, yoga and meditation, fresh air walks and weight training eases the tension in my jaw. When faced with any challenge, there is hope. The gloom of winter or dark thoughts reminds us to be vigilant about mental health, signaling that change, both internal and external, is inevitable.
First, identify a pattern.
Next, here are 5 Radiance Reset self-care tips:
Create a peaceful haven to cultivate grace, gratitude and glow
Tranquil vibes allow us to be better prepared for life’s hiccups and snafus. We have the power to offset wobbles through conscious intentions.
- Prep a calm space with a flower or a favorite picture, stone, crystal or quote.
- Light a candle (or a battery one) and gaze at the flame.
- Become a witness to your thoughts; watch them come and go without attachment.
- Write in a gratitude journal or reflect on something you’re grateful for.
Turn on your temperature gauge through movement
Are you feeling cold from the weather, a chilling conversation, or have you been sedentary too
long?
- Sweat it out with a breakout dance, steamy workout, or an infrared sauna.
- Hug yourself.
- Stand up and march in place.
Continue marching: tap right hand to left knee, and left knee to right.
Repeat for 1-3 minutes.
Nourish yourself
Having trouble focusing on a task or just want to build a peaceful muscle?
- Cool off with mint tea or a refreshing rose mist spray.
- Practice Sitali breathing (a cooling breath) to calm the nervous system.
Inhale through an O-shaped mouth (curled tongue if you have that ability) like
you are sipping an imaginary straw.
Exhale through your nose.
Repeat 1-3 minutes.
Infuse a mantra to pollinate positivity
When a negative thought comes, change your mind’s environment with this positive mantra or
personal motto:
- I am the mirror reflection of love and nature’s light – a radiant, powerful being.
Repeat any time of day.
Be of service to humanity
Volunteer your time to a cause that resonates with you. Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while; human interaction is key to optimal health and healing.
No one routine has all the answers, but we can take command of our presence by directing our attention to what we can control. Getting out of our seasonal sadness or emotional funk before it takes a toll on our mental and physical being is doable. As neuroplasticity has proven, with diligence, we can change our brainwaves. One way we can do that is to reignite our spirit with mood regulation.
Our lives are intertwined with family, friends, coworkers, and communities, as well as the currency of local and world events. Decompressing stress to feel our best in womanhood is our Birthright. It’s not if, but when our energy plummets that we need to honor our feelings, shift our perspective, and reconnect with our center.
Curious about how the ancient wisdom of a mystical path can turn your spots into the spotlight and your life steps into a walking meditation. Marla’s book The Radiant Woman Shines and her Radiance Reset programs are designed for any woman who wants to rise from the muck like the lotus and bloom again.
Name: Marla Sacks
Professional Title: Founder: The Radiant Woman Shines
Bio: Marla Sacks is a Radiance Reset mentor and yogic lifestyle guide, an artist, and the author of “The Radiant Woman Shines”. Marla guides overwhelmed women to slow down and awaken their spark through life’s ebbs and flows. Her Radiance Processes are deeply rooted in self-discovery and illumination through Mini-Moment and Shine Meditations.
Social Media Handles:
