6 Ways To Create Calm

I believe CREATING CALM in your life is one of the biggest gifts you can give yourself✨

On a holiday weekend for us in the U.S., it feels a little strange… There's so much pain, sorrow, and grief happening in the world side-by-side social pressure to "relax" and "have a great weekend."

So let's agree together that creating calm, joy, and moments of bliss can exist in the same space next to 15 minutes ago when you were sobbing in your car, several nights of insomnia, or overall heaviness/sadness.

You can feel sad, awesome, grieving, and joyful all together.

"Creating your own calm" doesn't mean you don't feel all the feels, in other words. It just means you have a little toolbox you can turn to when shit hits the fan, when you need to fill your own cup, or when you feel anxiety creeping in.

It's like a positive "time out" for yourself.

For example, I created my "Pouch of Calm" from a purely personal NECESSITY to have a few tiny "comfort items" on my nightstand on our 8.5 week National Tour a couple years ago, sleeping in a different (disorienting) bed every night. (I'll tell you more about my Pouch of Calm in another post— it's the best little tool!!! Even when you're not traveling!)

This week, with a big transition to a new month and a Full Moon, I made it a point to SEEK OUT opportunities to create calm in a variety of ways! If it's cool with you, I'd love to share my photos from the week with you (below) as examples. You’ll see how easy it is to CREATE YOUR OWN CALM, too!!! :)

HERE WE GO!

6 IDEAS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN CALM:

(clockwise from top left)

1.    Cultivate stillness! Go sit outside and just SIT/THINK. I went out to the field one night at sunset, and brought one of my little favorite inspiring card decks with me. Of course I drew THIS CARD. Do you have any oracle cards, book passages, or devotionals that speak to you which can provide inspiration?

2.    Bring the earth inside. I harvested some lavender, rosemary, and sage from the garden. It smelled SO good. I'm making little bundles with cotton thread so I can have yummy smelling herbs indoors, too! (I might even try making my own little lavender "wands" to burn for aromatic energy clearing as the days grow darker.) Which pieces of the outdoors can you bring IN?

3.    Stop and notice little creatures. There wasn't a breeze one sunrise this week, and I saw this dew-covered spider web perfectly formed and suspended in the early morning mist. It was delicately crafted between two blades of grass. TWO BLADES OF GRASS. The lesson that came to me: We can do with so much less. Everything we need to build our home is within us! What's your favorite tiny critter to observe?

4.    Try a new hobby! Simple switch up! For me, it's CROCHET! I've never crocheted in my life, but learned the basics this week. Last Friday night I went to JoAnn Fabrics, bought a crochet hook and a giant "furry dragon's egg" of golden velvety yarn (in total, less than $10!), watched some YouTube videos, and BOOM! After a slow start (and many failed stitches) it's coming naturally a few days later, and IT. IS. SO. CALMING. What's a new micro-hobby or skill you'd want to test out?

5.    Sunrise coffee. I set up my hammock and french press of coffee at dawn, and it was super revitalizing. It felt so sneaky and fun to do something VERY SIMPLE in a slightly unique setting (for me.) What's something you do every morning? Can you find a new spot to do it in?! Can you see if you can find a way to make it mysterious?! :)

6.    More critters... I'm someone who's EASILY drawn in and captivated by the sight of little animals, creatures, their wings, and their evidential elements (like their feathers, fur clumps left behind, calls/voices/sounds, and paw prints). It really calms me down. My massage therapist a few weeks ago told me that "animals are drawn to me." I love it!!!!! (Except today when I unknowingly ALMOST PICKED UP A SNAKE in the garden... he blended right in and he wasn't very scared. It startled me so badly, I literally SCREAMED and HOPPED AROUND🤣 I'm trying to become less scared of them!) What little creatures can you embrace when you see them?

Hope this little list of 6 ways to CREATE YOUR OWN CALM helps inspire you to find tiny ways to incorporate calming elements into your life this week. Tiny steps are still steps— celebrate each one! :)

Love,

Riana

P.S. If you want to go deeper, please consider joining my free private community where I lead guided meditations LIVE every Wednesday, and provide inspiring journal prompts and "Monday Night Motivation" posts each week. I’d LOVE to have you!