You are not alone!
Feeling a bit down, unmotivated and over it?
Living during a pandemic is having an unprecedented detrimental impact on mental health around the world. A recent study has shown that self-compassion and compassion from others helps to promote resilience against the harmful effects of the pandemic on our mental health. *
A simple compassionate body scan has many positive impacts on the way we feel. If you are suffering physically after having covid, this simple meditation can help you to accept what is happening for you right now, while appreciating what you are still capable of doing, no matter how small that is.
If the pandemic is having more of an emotional toll, bringing compassion to yourself has been proven to help to combat this.
Matos, M., McEwan, K., Kanovský, M. et al. Compassion Protects Mental Health and Social Safeness During the COVID-19 Pandemic Across 21 Countries. Mindfulness 13, 863–880 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01822-2
Meditation Practice
6 x this week
This meditation is created to be practiced lying down, but of course you can do this in any position that is most comfortable to you.
I would grab a blanket and get yourself cosy to make it feel like a real act of kindness towards yourself. Perhaps have a nice cup of herbal tea ready for after you are finished to sip away at as you are doing your journaling.
Journaling Exercise
Write the following out daily, once you have, place your hands over your heart, repeating silently x 10 the sentence that calls out to you most that day.
May I be safe.
May I be healthy.
May I be peaceful.
May I live with ease.
May I be free from inner and outer harm
May I love myself completely, just as I am.
May I love and accept my body just as it is.
May I bring kindness and compassion to this body