Stay strong in body and soul this Christmas with these energy-boosting mantras from holistic wellbeing expert Alison Davies
Stay strong in body and soul this Christmas with these energy-boosting mantras from holistic wellbeing expert Alison Davies
1. Start as you mean to go on
It’s true that we often set the tone of the day in those first few moments of waking. If we feel grumpy and listless, this tends to staywith us and affect the way we handle challenges and experiences. If however we leap out of bed with a spring in our step, then we’ll probably face the day with a big smile and lots of energy..
Morning checklist
When you rise, follow these steps to set you up for the day.
Try and make your first thought of the day a positive one, and if it isn’t, then simply turn it around. So ‘oh I wish I didn’t have to get up this early’ is followed by ‘but it means I’ll get a great head start on the day and achieve lots of things.’
Do something physical. It can be an easy stretch, extending your spine and stretching your arms up to the ceiling, or your favourite yoga move. If you really want to get your energy levels fired up, jump up and down on the spot for a minute. Make sure you breathe deeply and take in lots of oxygen.
Throw back the curtains and greet the day. Make this a morning ritual and make sure you combine it with a positive statement like ‘today is going to be a fantastic day in every way!’ It doesn’t matter if you don’t really believe it. It doesn’t matter if the sky is gloomy and grey. Make the effort to embrace the day, and the day will respond with lots of surprises!
Have a cleansing drink. Hot water and a squeeze of fresh lemon is great for giving the body and mind a boost. Add a sprig of rosemary if you want to feel mentally alert, or a dollop of honey, if you want a soothing sweet treat.
Try and eat breakfast within that first hour of rising. Your body is crying out for sustenance after all those hours of fasting during the night, and this will fire up your metabolism and power you up for the day ahead.
2. Protect & deflect
You might not be a gladiator fighting in the arena, but you still need armour to help you cope with the bustle of Christmas shopping and demanding relatives!
The silver shield
Another technique is to imagine you’re carrying a silver shield which protects you from head to toe, reflecting back any negativity transforming it into positive energy. So if you feel under attack, you’re able, in the spirit of goodwill, to deflect that energy and turn it into something good, making you instantly attractive to all and sundry!
The golden egg
This technique works wonders, particularly if you’re dealing with difficult people. Imagine an egg shaped sphere of light surrounding you. This golden egg moves with you as you go about your business. It’s flexible and can extend or retract depending on where you are, but the outer shell is stronger than steel. Any negative energy or emotions bounce off the surface. If you’re feeling nervous about attending a Christmas do, then keep visualising the golden egg, this will help you feel more confident, and give your aura a dazzling sheen!
Melting moments
Another great way to increase your protection and personal power, is to introduce a cleansing ritual. Run a bath at the end of the day, add drops of orange and bergamot essential oil, close your eyes and feel the warmth and security as the water covers and supports you. Imagine that it is washing away all the cares of the day, that it is cleansing your aura, getting rid of any negative emotions. As you emerge from the water state ‘I am refreshed and invigorated. I am powerful and energised. Do a similar thing in the shower, as the water hits your skin, imagine it is cleaning your aura. Or you can incorporate it into a smaller ritual like washing your hands, or your hair. All you have to do is visualise the cleaning process as a way of invigorating your aura, helping to get the energy moving.
Magical mayhem mechanisms
The days are counting down, the time is running out, and the in-laws have descended. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how prepared you are or how much energy you have, there are always moments when you feel like you can’t cope. Here are some top mechanisms to help you get through those pinch points so you don’t lose your cool:
1. To clear your head and get an instant release of energy and power, try lightly tapping your scalp. Screw your fingers up loosely, and using your knuckles gently tap over the top of your head for a few minutes.
2. Inhale tea tree oil. Put a couple of drops on a handkerchief and keep with you for moments of stress. Breathe deeply taking in the cleansing scent for about a minute. Close your eyes and imagine the pressure falling from your shoulders.
3. Repeat this mantra over and over, starting loudly and then reducing volume until almost a whisper. ‘I have the power and I’m in control.’
4. Hold a piece of quartz crystal over your solar plexus, the area just above your naval. Imagine that as you breathe in, you are taking in vibrant energy and power and as you breathe out, all the stress and negative energy is released into the crystal. Do this for a few minutes or until you feel relaxed. Take the crystal and either bury it in the soil over night, or leave in a bowl of fresh water with a sprinkling of salt, to cleanse it.
5. Fake it. Smile, roll your shoulders back and tilt your chin. Imagine you’re taking on a role. You are the one in control. You are empowered. Others will respond to your power and energy by being supportive and encouraging, this in turn will reinforce those feelings and promote success.
3. Party power!
Try these simple energy rituals to help you get through the party season:
Egyptian eyes
If you’re heading to a party and you want to look your very best, try this simple make up trip. Use a lovely turquoise blue shadow on youreyes. It will accentuate the whites and make them sparkle. The ultimate diva Cleopatra apparently used crushed turquoise and lapis lazuli to colour her eyes and give them their famous hypnotic allure!
Energising oil
Take a quarter of a cup of sunflower oil, add three drops of frankincense and one drop of lemon essential oil. Mix and then rub in a circular motion on each wrist for about a minute. The combination of these uplifting oils and the gentle massage will stimulate and re-balance energy. You can also use this combination in oil burners to create a positive atmosphere, and add it to your bath for a rejuvenating treat!
Wrap it up
The colour red is great for increasing energy levels and giving you a power boost. So in keeping with the season, wrap yourself up in it, like a present! You don’t have to wear red, although this will help keep you motivated and firing on all cylinders. Just visualise yourself drenched in the colour from head to toe. Imagine you’re taking a giant roll of shiny red wrapping paper and covering yourself in it. Breathe in the colour. If it helps hold a sheet of red paper or material in front of you and imagine you are drinking it in. Say ‘I am energised, I am vibrant, I am ready for action!’
Candle capers
Light a candle and let your attention fall to the flame. Watch it glow and rise, and now imagine that the flame is attached to the top of your head. Feel it grow taller and imagine that it’s pulling you up. Stand straight, and picture the flame touching the ceiling. Feel the energising warmth tingling your scalp and helping you become focused. This simple trick is something that you can do whilst entertaining, as the candles will enhance the atmosphere, whilst helping to keep you on the ball!
And if you want your party to go with a bang…
Try picturing the event before it happens. Imagine you are sitting in front of a huge cinema screen and you’re watching a film. See yourself as the star of the show, dazzling your audience like a true screen siren. See the party as you’d like it to be, with everyone getting on and having fun. Imagine it’s a documentary, and people are making comments as you pass them by, telling you what a great time they’re having. Hear the music and really feel the party atmosphere. Now take one final image that sums up the mood of the event. Imaginepausing the camera and freezing this image. See it surrounded by a frame of gold light, and then imagine letting it go, as if it’s attached to a balloon that is flying up into the sky. Now forget all about it. Concentrate on getting ready and feeling fabulous, and have faith that it will all go brilliantly!
Party princess
Finally, to really perk up your power and shine like a diva at any festive celebrations try this easy visualisation:
It helps to do this standing in front of a mirror. Start by breathing deeply. Let your attention fall to your face, and smile. See yourself standing there, and imagine you are all dressed up and ready for your party. But rather than seeing yourself as you would be, see the very best image of yourself. Imagine that your skin is glowing beautifully, your eyes are sparkling, and your little black dress fits perfectly to accentuate all your best features. As you smile the expression lights up your reflection, and it’s almost as if you have a super human sheen to your aura. Imagine now stepping into that reflection, so that you join and the dazzling image becomes one. Breathe deeply and make a positive statement like ‘My beauty shines inside and out, I am a powerful being of light and love.’
To reaffirm this to yourself, you can repeat the process once you are fully ready for your party. Always make sure you smile at yourself, and mean it, and take time to focus on your favourite assets. See your inner charm and power shining through, and know that you radiate light and love.
The beauty of this visualisation is that you can repeat it throughout the night if you’re flagging. It’ll top up your personal power and give you confidence. So when you nip to the loo, spend time looking in the mirror, and making those positive statements in your head.
Article by
Alison Davies
Well-being Expert
Article by
Alison Davies
Well-being Expert
By Alison Davies
