Five Simple Ways To Maintain One's Sanity

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5 of the most important methods to keeping my madness in check are:

1. Breathing:

     An anonymous sage once said: "When you own your breath, nobody can steal your peace."
I maintain my sanity from moment to moment by focusing on my breathing- it calms me and I immediately notice a marked difference in my mood.

You see, I get angry- ALOT- and when I do something so basic- like putting the focus on my breath- it takes me out of that "fight or flight" mode that I so often find myself in.  I've found that it has helped my students a great deal as well- think about it- How much does it piss you off when someone tells you to "Calm down!" when you're angry or frustrated- it's the last thing on MY mind. BUT- if you (calmly) tell someone to just "Breathe," they are far less reactionary- and if they decide to do so- it will calm them down immediately.

I focus on my breathing before I go to sleep and while I'm praying before I want to get some good rest. I find that the stresses of the day and the weights on my mind diminish rapidly- and those"rapid thoughts" slow right down so I can actually rest.  Which leads me to number 2...

2. Sleeping Well:

     Getting quality sleep is THE most essential element to maintaining my mental health.  When I am not sleeping well it is a serious red flag that I gotta get some good zzzs soon- or I will soon be boarding the one way train to a manic episode.  Some important sleep routines I follow are: NOT watching tv right before bed, and certainly not having a tv in my bedroom; drinking herbal tea before bed; reading a bit before bed- which usually puts me to sleep; and turning my phone OFF.

3. Eating Well:

    When I eat healthy foods- I feel better...  When I consume junk food, too many sweets or processed foods- I feel like crap.  "You are what you eat" rings true to me here.  I've struggled with my weight for as long as I have struggled with my mental illness- and I must say- the meds I've had top take over the years have completely messed with my thyroid- which has made food and diet a tough issue for more than 20 years.

     Oh well- at least I'm not using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate... I guess food is my "drug of choice" now.  I know that a healthy food focus is essential to my well-being.

4. Spending Time Outdoors:

     When People ask me why I moved to Santa Fe- I answer with the cheesy but true response: the 360 degree views, the browns and greens, seeing the moon and stars at night, and the clean air.  Yep...  Walking the dogs every day, taking hikes in the mountains, traversing trails with running streams and waterfalls- call me crazy- but these are the experiences which truly keep me grounded.  It may sound very "crunchy granola" Santa Fe- but- I am an Earth sign- and being out in the natural world does keep me grounded- literally.  It also keeps me active, connected to the simple joys of seeing the dogs smile, and when they discover new smells as they happily romp along- I feel a true sense of gratitude to be alive.

5. Being Kind and Grateful:

     Kindness and Gratitude develop my spiritual and emotional well-being.  Being kind to others makes me feel more of a part of the world- rather than an isolated and alone soul.  Empathic living and caring makes me optimistic and empowered to keep growing and evolving into a better person.  Maintaining ongoing gratitude keeps me focused on my recovery, how far I've come, and the desire to press on.  My prayers are often those of gratitude for all of the blessings of each day and the opportunity to be free- literally.


When I don't focus on these 5 elements- I put my mental health AND recovery in jeopardy.  When that happens- I've bought myself a ticket on the one way manic train to nowhere- which is a mental institution or jail- where I have NO freedom at all.


So- the old: H-A-L-T from NA comes up for me here...
If I'm hungry- I gotta eat well
If I'm angry- I gotta breathe, focus on being kind to others, and get outdoors
If I'm lonely- I gotta focus on being kind to others and getting out so as not to isolate
If I'm tired- I gotta sleep well- STAT!