Life is our greatest gift and every day is worth it
"It’s a perspective (I take on) to look at life in a state of awe.”
A podcast I enjoyed this week: Gisele Bündchen on Jay Shetty’s show, "On Purpose." The supermodel discusses how she has dealt with anxiety and the benefits of a routine, yoga, meditating and finding peace of mind. Here she is:
“From my own experience, I learned that nothing is permanent. Sometimes a gentle reminder that the bad feelings will eventually go away can work like a beacon of hope. Anxiety can feel all-consuming, and sometimes we need a supportive push to help break us out of our vicious cycle of worry.
"My own panic attacks were difficult for me, and I sought help. In moments like these, family, friends and specialists can help, and so can breathing and meditation tools. The most important thing is to move away from inertia and look for alternatives. Life is our greatest gift and every day is worth it."
Great insight from someone who has achieved a lot of external “success” and validation. Yet she has encountered inner roadblocks, like many of us.
A few other nuggets from Gisele:
“Nature is abundant. It’s always here. Feel the wind on your face. Even if it’s freezing outside, feel the sun on your face. Everything about nature is a gift.”
“It’s a perspective (I take on) to look at life in a state of awe.”
“Meditation is one of the most precious tools I have acquired.”
She talks about how she was crippled with anxiety in her 20s and didn’t know why. “My life was perfect,” she says. “I didn’t know what was wrong with me.”
She credits breathing -- getting centered by meditating -- as key to her progress. And she got therapy. “I chose to do something for myself.”
She wakes up around 4:30 a.m. to do yoga and meditate each morning, before the sun rises, before she gets to her phone or engagements or family commitments. This is her way of finding inner peace and choosing herself.
So today, let’s simply breathe. Let’s choose to do something kind for ourselves, let’s feel the sun hitting our face and let’s be mindful that life is our greatest gift and every day is worth it.
Picture of the week: I joined my girlfriend, Ally, in running a 5K for the Hope for Depression Research Foundation in Southampton. More than $300,000 was raised for the foundation, which funds advanced research on depression in the U.S. The cause is all the more relevant amid a pandemic that is not easing. The isolation brought on by COVID-19 has exacerbated mental illness, which is practically an epidemic of its own. Fewer than half of the people with depression/anxiety/sadness receive treatment. But based on my own anxiety in the past and conversations with friends, therapy can be a transformative experience. Meditation, exercise, journaling, cooking and being around friends/family/dogs all helps. No feelings are permanent. Let them flow like a river.
One good thought: “A writer—and, I believe, generally all persons—must think that whatever happens to him or her is a resource. All things have been given to us for a purpose, and an artist must feel this more intensely. All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that we may shape our art.” — Jorge Luis Borges
One more good thought: “Different meanings can be assigned to the same events. Look for evidence of how the world is encouraging you, and you will find it. Look for evidence of how the world is burdening you, and you will find it. Choose an explanation that empowers you." — James Clear, author Atomic Habits
Last one for now: “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” — Anne Lamott, 12 Truths I Learned from Life and Writing
Be joyful and celebrate your gifts,
Matthew
P.S — Open to all suggestions and improvements on this newsletter. Thanks for following along! Have a great week.