February Joyfulmind Newsletter: from my neck of the woods 😀 🌳


... not procrastinating or anything.	View in browser

Hello February-March 2023, off to a flying start!

Let's dive right in.

Image: Gemma Correll

Me, procrastinate?

Are you a good procrastinator? I love to put off my tax return (do you?) and then put it off even further (is January okay?). When the day of reckoning finally comes, tax task ready to start, a flash of procrastination does my house proud: the pantry cupboard gets a rare clean with Jiff.

Spectacular!

Do you get a kick out of getting stuff done by putting off other stuff you're supposed to be doing?

There's an upside to procrastinating!

Procrastination upside

"Why stop at the kitchen cupboard?" I said to the Jiff bottle. "There's that big ugly wall on the veranda that needs painting." I've been promising to do it for so long. Tax pushed aside again, wall duly painted. Took two whole days. *Satisfaction.*

The tax documents look sideways at me from the table.

"Work expands to fill the period of time available for its completion."

- Parkinsons's Law

Procrastination downslide

Oh oh. It turns out PROCRASTINATION has a negative side (hey you knew that). Particularly when we strap on self-criticism and get tangled in feeling bad.

We can untangle by taking a self-compassionate attitude instead.

Speaking to oneself in an empathic way (with a dash of humour) sparks a spacious and receptive headspace. Fertile ground for clear thinking, lightbulb moments and stumbling upon solutions.

Want to practice?

Online course

Meditation from a Self-kindness perspective.

A four-session course to give a taste of how self-kindness can impact your mind and your life.

I invite you to join me online, four Wednesday evenings March 8th thru 29th. 6pm-7.15. Early bird price $65 for a limited time. Find out more.

An online course to chooff you to

a truly delightful headspace.

“What is deferred is not avoided.”
― Sir Thomas More (1478-1535)

RECOMMENDATIONS

ACAI BERRIES

Have you sampled acai berries, the current new-agey superfood prominent on breakfast menus? I'd always thought them another wanky commercial fad.

Then I chanced on a forgotten packet in the freezer (bought some unremembered time at IGA). Tipped it into a smoothie (rather than the bin).

Ye gads. Went from zero to zing instantly! I'm a convert.

Apparently the "polyphenols" in the berries do good things to the brain, protecting from oxidative stress and inflammation.

MY FAVOURITE POWDER

No, not that powder.😝 Best thing for mouth ulcers (as I discovered recently), even better than gargling with salt water or dabbing on Bonjela, is to swill vitamin C powder diluted in water. A potent antidote.

My fave brand, Melrose Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids, is available in many chemists.

Magnesium marvel

You could forgive me for being scoffingly sceptical about a miracle ointment purchased at a market for Nish's stubborn shoulder. Turns out not all snake oil is snake oil. The magnesium concoction worked wonders. I'd forgotten it until Nish offered me some the other day, after I'd semi dislocated my knee. (That's what you get for hopping up and down off a stepladder painting the goddam wall- I'd have been better off doing my tax). Ointment shockingly effective, immediate relief (re-applied once a day.) No more hobbling about, no more ouchy-owchy. From Magnesium Australia, whose website cautions: “We are not doctors and when sick always seek the help and advice of a medical professional ... and do your own independent due diligence.” Ditto to my suggestions.

What's to watch?

GUILT

Rave reviews greet this Scottish splash of brilliance.

Set in Edinburgh, two mis-matched brothers accidentally run over an old guy while driving home from a wedding. When they make the panicked decision to cover their tracks, the fun begins. That is, the fun for us the viewers, not for them! Clever, witty, unexpected, a bit different.

Comedy, Crime, Thriller [BBC/Scotland]. Catch it on SBS On Demand

Podcast

Pioneer researcher Dr. Kristin Neff discusses the fierce side of self-compassion, including how it can help us draw healthy boundaries, take necessary action, and stand against injustice. With Forrest and Rick Hanson on the Being Well podcast.

"Shame is an innocent emotion that calls for self-compassion".

- Chris Germer

Procrastination prize

It's not really counted as procrastination anymore once you get the thing done. Even if it's posting your Xmas presents at 3 a.m. in the morning from Sydney airport, just before boarding your Christmas holiday flight to Europe. Is it? You got it done in the end, right girls? 🤪 🤪 🤪