The Lo Down - My Journey to being more Positive

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Being positive, some people find it so easy to be just that while others find it almost impossible. I was the latter three years ago, I was so negative no one could say anything to me without me having a little hissy fit. It was during my bad mental health stage and most of the time I wanted to spend time on my own which of course wasn't the solution either.  I was beyond down and no one could bring me out of my rut at the time.

Fast forward three years and I'm in a much better place right now. I'm happy, I'm doing exactly what I what I want to do in life, I'm going out with a boy that seriously is my everything and things are just going well in general. It wasn't all that easy to get to this stage I'm telling you, it took hard work and determination on my part. Of course I had alot of support aswell from my family, friends and mental health professionals which was definitely needed.

So how did I become so positive you may ask? Mindfulness helped alot, I'm not going to lie it wasn't for me to begin with. I didn't like it at all and I dreaded going to be my classes but once you get into it it's really helpful. It's all about living in the moment which I don't think we do quite enough at all. I feel much more relaxed when I practice Mindfulness if you can't find a class near you, there's always really good books you can get on it aswell. Next I think it is really important to have like minded positive people around you. When I was being really negative I noticed that a good few of my friends didn't want to be around me which was hard I must admit but I totally understand why now. People don't like when you are negative as it does but a downer on everyone elses day which isn't fair in the slightest. Once I started being positive again all those friends came back and we're way happier to see me back to my old self. So I feel it's really good to be around positive people as nothing beats those positive vibes.

I think it's also really important to do regular activites, if I was sitting around the house all day I would just get more and more inside myself. To beat that I decided to make plans for everyday be it go out for a short walk or hang out with my close friends, both these things for me made such a difference to my life. I also found reading a good book helped me alot. If you sit down with a good book I automatically think you feel happier and you have something to talk to your friends about when you seen them. I think Ruby Wax books are really good. She's an amazing mental health advocate and I found her books interesting as well as really informative.

All in all I feel alot more positive over the past few years it definitely took time and effort but I got there in the end and I'm definitely feeling alot happier which is always a plus.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Healing Creations by Patricia Fitzgerald

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I'm just a little bit over two weeks into my series and I really hope you've found it enjoyable thus far. I was first given a colouring book from my Dad back when I was in hospital being treated for anxiety and depression a couple of years ago. I seriously wasn't too keen on it at all to start with. I didn't know how colouring was going to help me in my current predicament  but it did. 

Colouring was a release and it was great to see all the magical colours flow on the page. It was very therapeutic and definitely relaxed me. I have a pretty big collection of colouring books, Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Dr Seuss and Game of Thrones to name a few. I use them alot and alternate between them depending on my mood to be honest. I am going to do a post on my collection soon which will include my favourites ao certainly keep an eye out for that. I have alot of beautiful ones so its sure going to be a good post.

I was recently sent Healing Creations by Patricia Fitzpatrick from Collins Press and I wasn't disappointed one bit. This gorgeous book is beyond beautiful it contains 40 mandelas that you can colour in. It also has lovely already coloured in mandelas to get inspiration from. I think it's such a great concept, there's even journal pages beside every mandela in there too. For €19.99 I think this is great value as it's amazing and it's hardback too, it would make a lovely gift for someone. I feel having good tools when your colouring is important too e.g  markers and pencils is key cause your finished drawing always looks really good when you do. I tend to use the brand, I feel the range of colours you get in a set and the quality are next to none.

                                  

If you have anxiety or depression or know someone who does I'd recommend checking out some colouring books or even this one as it gives you beautiful quotes and that extra journal space which I haven't saw in any other colouring books that I have so this one is pretty different to others on the market right now.

Healing Creations is definitely one of my favourite mindfulness colouring books I own. This book is beautiful beyond words and if they release another I will definitely be the first to pick it up.

Do you own colouring books yourself? Do you find that they help with your anxiety?

Laura<3