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R Wintergreen

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Why I'm NOT setting new year resolutions this year

January 02, 2022 in mental wellness, coping strategies, anxiety management

Yup, it’s been another gut-wrenching year, but we got through it.

You’re fu*king incredible for still being here. What a strong soul. Thank you for sharing the journey with me.


I know things are still a lot right now (I am particularly worried for my immune compromised friends and family right now and it’s taking a LOT of work to manage anxiety)…


…but aside from doing the things all the health experts are telling us to do right now, the most powerful thing we can do is keep coming back to this moment, and paying attention to what is okay right now.


One thing that fast tracks this for me is smell.


Take a sec to close your eyes and sniff.

What is one thing you can you smell right now?

If nothing in particular came into focus, grab a fruit or vegetable from the fridge and make a tiny indent in it with your fingernail, or open up a spice from your cupboard and sniff again.


Or (if able) get yourself outside and sniff a flower or a leaf (crunch it first) or a blade of grass (squish a little).


What do you notice? Are there layers of different qualities?


Take a few long, slow, deep breaths.


This is not a time for big New Years resolutions.


This is a time to keep it simple, remind our nervous systems we are okay (by returning to the present moment again and again whenever the fear train tries to steal us away), and to be as kind to our body and mind as we would to a dear friend.


Wishing you a gentle, sweet, present 2022. May you meet yourself and all your emotions with the same acceptance, kindness, love and care you meet others. ✨🌱

—

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Welcome to River Wintergreen’s Blog

I’m an abstract artist, award-winning singer-songwriter and music producer from Melbourne, Australia.

I make art and music as a daily act of rebellion against my inner critic and fear, building a relationship of trust with the unknown.

I share my creations and coping strategies to create a brighter world where we all feel less alone.

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