it’s fateit’s fateYou don’t need an expensiveholiday to feel good this summerIf you want an instant mood boost, you don’t need to fork out for a fancy
holiday abroad. Summer is buzzing with feel-good energy, and all you
need to do is tap into this. Sunshine a natural pick-me-up, but even if the
sun doesn’t grace us with its presence, this is the perfect time to connect
with nature. A swim in a wild lake, or even just a simple walk beside a river,
can be an uplifting spiritual experience to beat any trip to Greece or even
Bali! From fl ower remedies to stargazing, here are some summery ways to
lift your mood and get you feeling good.Don’t worryMIND YOURSELFFeeling blue? Mindfulness can help. In the
summertime, the countryside comes alive with
natural beauty, so get out into the country and
immerse yourself in nature to feel the benefi ts of the
great outdoors.
Feel the sun’s warmth on your skin. Take off your
shoes and notice the fresh grass growing beneath
your feet. Feel the gentle breeze, notice the birds
singing, the beauty of your surroundings, the bees,
butterfl ies and summer blooms. Immerse yourself in
a sense of now, and feel uplifted by the experience.
A study published in the Journal of Consulting
and Clinical Psychology in April 2010 demonstrated
that mindfulness-based therapy was moderately
effective for improving anxiety and mood
symptoms. By practising mindfulness regularly,
you’ll learn to live in the moment and your
emotional and spiritual health will improve.be happyWellbeingWords: Susie Kearley Images: Alamy
FLOWER POWERBach’s Original Flower Remedies are designed
to restore balance to a distorted energy fi eld.
There are 38 remedies available, each using
the extract of a different plant to target different
emotional problems, from lack of confi dence to
hopelessness and despair.
The fl owers are picked at full maturity just before
the petals start to drop, which is when the essential
energies are thought to be most concentrated. 20 of
the remedies are traditionally made by fl oating the
petals on spring water in the heat of the mid-day sun
for three hours. The remaining 18 remedies are made
from plants that fl ower earlier in the year, so they
are boiled and left to cool.
It’s the energy of the plant – literally its essence- that is the key ingredient here. This homeopathic
approach to self-care is often met with scepticism,
but in 2003, Mark Masi, a psychologist from
National-Louis University in Illinois, used
individualised Bach Flower Remedies on two
depressed patients, with positive results. One
had failed to respond to three different
conventional treatments, but felt better
following treatment with fl ower remedies.
Immersing yourself in
nature for half an hour, on a
weekly basis, can reduce your
risk of high blood pressure and
depression. Get outdoors and your
body will naturally generate vitamin
D when the sun shines on your skin.
Vitamin D is a mood booster and
rejuvenator, which supports your
immune system too! Just don’t get
burnt! Studies show you’re less
likely to have a heart attack
in the summer.Did you know?