Tag: Brain

Thursday Real Talk: Being in the moment 🌱

~ melreviewsherbooks ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes, I think we have moments where we need to be present and let our body and brain catch up from the experiences you may have just rushed through or placed at the forefront of your brain, leaving behind the other not as important things.

I guess that’s prioritising, but sometimes prioritising quickly and in the moment can jolt your body and brain unexpectedly.

I think it’s important to have patience when the come down happens. The come down from the rush. The come down from the quick thinking and immediate decision making.

‘be where your feet are’ is certainly a good idea when you’re resetting into the calm, the present and your routines. Being present is one of the most valuable perspectives for me this week – it may just be for you too 💫

Thursday Real Talk: That 4am Brain

~ melreviewsherbooks ~ Leave a comment

How is it that my 4am brain conjures up thoughts that have not taken up space in my thinking for anywhere between 4 – 6 months. It’s like all of a sudden, everything is quiet and the gust of meddling thoughts circulating is so strong that anything will come to the forefront.

Such as;

Why did I respond that way in that conversation?

What if they felt a certain way because of the way you responded in that conversation, that you had 3 months ago, with that person who is practically a stranger AND whom you’ll probably never see again?!

Why didn’t I cook something else for dinner tonight?

I need to call that person back. I hope something isn’t wrong.

I wonder what the weather will be like tomorrow.

The amount of tabs I have open in my brain at 4am is ridiculous. They ebb and flow between pretty harmless thoughts, to worries, to genuine concern that then results in me staying up longer to try and resolve the hypothetic issue my own brain created.

Am I alone in this or is this a common occurrence for those whose body clock decides it’s time to start up your day at 4am?!

Thankfully over time I’ve come to realise the triggers for these 4am wake-ups (stress & wine) and what I need to do to ensure I’m not a total zombie the following day (set my alarm a bit later, give myself a good half an hour+ to drink my morning coffee and wakeup, wash my hair = the ultimate ‘starting fresh’ method).

I’ve come to respect that these 4am wake ups may not be something I can control all the time. So instead, it’s an opportunity to; practice wrangling those open tabs that are sitting there being unhelpful & not loading properly; take a moment to do some deep breathing; tell myself ‘everything will be okay in less than 3 hours’.

Comment below some of your methods during and after your 4am wake up 💬

Slow down, you’re doing fine

~ melreviewsherbooks ~ 3 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I have the ability to let my brain run at a million miles an hour and sometimes, this isn’t healthy.

I tend to have the skill of thinking about every decision I could, would, should and should have made in a span of 10 minutes OR I elaborate on the ‘what if’s’. Now sure, don’t get me wrong, reflection is a very very insightful and helpful tool for appropriate situations but when it overtakes your ability to think clearly – not so helpful.

To slow down my brain and emotions, I’ve taken to using a new skill introduced to me recently.

Spend a moment letting those thoughts in. Acknowledge them. Mentally tell yourself “okay, you have 2 minutes to catastrophise, hypotheticalise, reimagine what has and will be” – and then, after that 2 minutes is up, push them out of your brain. You run them out fo town, bat them for 6 and all that!

By giving the thoughts time to do their thing and then sending them away, you’re in control. You have the ability to let them in when you want too, when you’re ready and if it’s the right time. If it’s not the right time – see you later overthinking, I don’t have time for you today 👋🏼

So sometimes it’s good to remember, slow down you’re doing fine.

If you have helpful meditation and brain slowing tips, techniques and skills under your belt – drop them in the comments below. Let’s help another book friend out today 😊💫

🖼 @theeverythingadvocate

Thursday Real Talk: A Burning Desire for Change

~ melreviewsherbooks ~ Leave a comment

Do you ever get to a stage where you feel that if something doesn’t change in your life, you won’t have the space to grow? I like to call this A Burning Desire for Change.

I think I’m at that stage and sometimes it’s hard to understand where it’s come from, where it’s going and what will happen next. It’s a flow. And a somewhat terrifying flow for people (like myself as my friends and family would confirm) who do not like change.

Change is defined as; to alter or modify; an act or process in which something becomes different. Thanks Google.

I think the word that stands out to me the most here, and it could be quite different for you reading this, is process. Change is a process. Change is not linear, nor can it be sudden in some instances or can it be forever. But something about change is that once the idea has sprouted in your mind, body and soul, it can be hard to quiet it down.

Desire is defined as; strongly wishing for or wanting something. … Wanting.

So if we put together – a wanting to alter the process of things, we have A Burning Desire for Change.

My wanting the alter the process of things has come in the form of going back to study. I am currently underway in studying to become a Librarian Assistant. I love bookstores and have a want to be in them long-term. However, there is a burning desire inside of me to experience books and what we can do in the form of books and community combined. And this comes in the form of a library. I guess from the outside looking in, there is starting to be a melding of Social Work values and books.

What an exciting and nerve racking time ahead! But again, change is not linear and nothing in life goes to plan. Sometimes, as humans we just need to take one day at a time. One breathe at a time. One change at a time.

Are you a lover of change? At what stage of life did your Burning Desire for Change come around?

Mel x

Real Talk Thursday: That feeling of self-doubt

~ melreviewsherbooks ~ 1 Comment
@byholliestartup

I find it challenging to convince my brain sometimes that I am the best person for the job. Self-doubt can weigh in on decision making in my life far too heavily at times.

Let’s talk an example; recently, I decided to expose myself to a new opportunity/challenge and perspective. At the time of this challenge taking place, my thought patterns when a little like this … “YES! I can do this.”, “I tick all the boxes.”, “I have the ability to make this fit in my life and thrive.”. All great and probably truthful things, correct?

However, a day or so after being in that positive frame of mind, performing at a happiness rate and with confidence that is a true part of myself, I began to doubt my ability. Thinking thoughts of; “Maybe I won’t be good enough”, “I probably wouldn’t be the right fit.”, “What if I can’t handle it?”, “Surely, there is someone better than me to do this”. These overpowering negative thoughts tend to hold more traction in the human brain than the positive thoughts. Why do you think that is?

For me, I think the negative thoughts can trigger that overthinking part of my brain where hypothetical downfall is more and more inevitable. The hardest part is challenging those thoughts and proving to yourself why they are not true.

Therefore, I am attempting to change:

“Maybe I won’t be good enough” INTO “I am good enough and capable as I have succeeded in this task or identical before in X,Y,Z.”

“I probably won’t be the right fit” INTO “Why should I try and fit when maybe what this experience is asking me to do is be myself and that in fact might be the perfect fit.”

“What if I can’t handle it?” INTO “This experience may be hard at first but if I am strong enough to ask for help when I need it, learn from those with more experience and take on valid feedback, I most likely will be able to handle it.”

“Surely, there is someone better than me to do this” INTO “I am capable and strong. I am intelligent and have an abundance of experience in preparation for this challenge. I could in fact BE the BEST person for this.”

I think a lot of these affirmations are in fact transferable to many experience and aspects of life. As I can only speak from my own experiences, I have learnt that self-doubt will stop my personal self growth if I do not challenge it and remove it from my thought patterns. Growing is part of life and changing paths is also part of life. I guess that is just some of life’s beauty, we manifest what we wish to get out of this life and self-doubt is not on my list people!