How do you get everything you really need in life (the important things?)

You start believing you can have it. And when that’s hard, you can give yourself a creative push to help yourself along. It always pays to be creative!

The power of surrounding yourself with positivity cannot be overstated. Even the most hardened cynic will soften if forced to look at an image of an adorable animal, or even a nice, big smiley face.

Laughter and smiling are known mood-boosters. Try it right now. Force yourself to smile, or better yet, laugh, and see how it affects your mood. Watch closely—it’s unbelievable.

This is what I love most about the “Take What You Need” board, an idea I got from a beautiful friend of mine, Anna, who emailed me a version she did—just when I needed it the most.

You are essentially creating a love letter to yourself and anyone else you want to share it with. You are reminding yourself in a visceral, immediate way to love, nurture and be kind to yourself.

You’re also saying, “It’s okay not to feel great all the time. It’s natural to feel down. Let me help you bathe in that okay-ness—things will change. They always do.”

 

All you need is:

1 piece of paper

1 pair of scissors

1 (or a few, or many) things to write and/or draw with – pencils, crayons, oil pastels, you name it

 

Directions:

Write “Take What You Need” somewhere on the page, large enough so that you are constantly reminded to do so. Then, at the bottom of the page, write in the things you most badly need to be reminded to take—some popular ones would be Love, Compassion, Courage, Hope and Peace. You get the idea!

Use the scissors to cut spaces between the words at the bottom, so that you can actually tear off the item should you want to carry it around with you while you’re away.

Make it fun and fancy, or cute, or just really simple.

All that matters is that you end up with a recipe for love, and a willingness to receive.

 

 

Love elephant and want to go steady?

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Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photos: Author’s Own