Where is Your Happy Place?

Where do you go when you need to recharge your batteries, clear your mind or gain perspective?  What is your happy place?

For me, it is most often the beach, where the sound of the waves, the smell of salt in the air, the sea breeze on my skin, and the feel of sand between my toes always brings me peace and tranquility.  There's something, too, about the mix of colors and clouds in the sky, especially at sunrise or sunset, reflected in the water, that only adds to my gratitude for life itself.

Almost as easily, I can access this total sense of well-being --and the awesomeness of nature -- in the mountains, in the forest and even in the energy of New York City. To experience nature is to gain perspective and to recognize how much more there is to life than our daily challenges.

Given the level of chaos and uncertainty we've all experienced in the last few years, and the certainty that it will continue in some form, it's critical to have a place to go to escape.  Once you have the place and know the place, you can even return to it in your own mind when you close your eyes -- to access a quick reprieve from the stress of the moment. 

When we teach the importance of building resilience to leaders, as part of their leadership development program, activities include tools for physical, mental, emotional, and social resilience.  Knowing how heavily scheduled these leader's lives are, we favor the quick, yet highly effective practices that can be completed in only five or ten minutes.  The impact is often immediate and compelling. 

One of my favorite such rituals combines spending just five minutes out in nature while contemplating the things and people in life for which you are most grateful.  It is important to leave behind electronic devices and just to focus on the beauty in front of your eyes.  I encourage you to try this whenever you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, and experience the difference five minutes can make in your attitude about life.

Today more than ever, it's important to have tools to offset the cumulative stress of daily life.  Have you noticed how many people are edgier and more worried, experiencing sadness and depression more frequently, feeling overwhelmed and unable to move forward?  If you have felt this way, you are not alone.  More people than ever are facing mental health issues, ranging from mild and intermittent to the more serious and chronic forms.  And it's no wonder that we are all struggling in some ways at some times, given all we've had to deal with over the past few years.

Having a happy place to go to - in person or in your mind - is just one thing you can do to hit the reset button, clear your mind, refocus your energy, and feel refreshed.

If you are looking for more tips on how to build your resilience and rebuild your energy level, I contributed a Chapter titled Are You Prepared for the Inevitable? for the global bestseller Bright Spots:  Motivation and Inspiration to Light Your Path in a Changing World.  Here's link to download a copy of the chapter:  https://www.cherylboniniellis.com/bright_spots_chapter

This is topic I write about a lot because I've come to appreciate the need for and value of self-care in our world today.  My own health and well-being is something I pay a lot of attention to and I encourage my clients to make it a high priority as well.  We continue to live in an unprecedented level of uncertainty and it continues to take its toll. 

I would love to hear from you about your happy place and what it means to you, as well as any habits you've created to hit the reset button. 

Be sure to share this post --and the link -- with anyone you feel can benefit from the message, anyone who needs a little encouragement to take better care right now.  Or schedule some time to talk with me about your personal experience and generate some ideas for you, your team, and your organization.  I want to be here to cheer you on, to encourage you and I want you to know that I believe in you.