Wear the Perfume …

My “fancy” perfumes, that I saved for ‘special’ occasions have tended to be Chanel or Este Lauder …I wanted something different …something that I husband enjoyed too …after searching the department store, we left disappointed …just outside the door, was a sample table of Elie Saabs perfumes …I had never heard of him before …but, why not …on the last and final try, I found the most heavenly scent …so ultra-feminine …flowery, yet woodsy …The perfume opens with notes of African orange blossom. Jasmine is in the heart, including both Grandiflorum and Sambac, whereas the base consists of cedar, patchouli and rose honey accord. (1)

I sat there wondering, “Why did I think that I should only wear it on special occasions?” …”Was not every day a miracle, a gift, something to be celebrated?” … “Was I not ‘important enough’?’ …

“I am to be loved, honored and respected solely because I exist. I am to be cherished, spoiled, celebrated because I Am! I was made to be admired.
I am a beloved child of God after all.”

 Emmanuella Raphaelle, After the Affair: Re-Membering

I sat there musing …light bulb eventually going off🛎…I have lived with a scarcity mindset, for as long as I can remember …not having enough to eat or having to wear hand-me-down clothes as a child …then after the divorce, struggling just to make ends meet … also, one of the factors to why I sabotage myself in building the healthy habit of cutting out the processed foods … giving up the ‘things that I want and crave’ …

The scarcity mindset overshadows so many parts of my life …not just with food …the emotional deprivation of feeling loved or important created also birthing a “deprivation mindset.” …always expecting the people, I loved to let me down …obsessing about love, food, and money …my brain always in alert mode, to being deprived of those same things …mentally fatigued …hyper focused …anxiety-ridden 24/7

This anxiety of ‘not having enough’ totally interferes with my motivation with eating for nutrition and well-being …making me more vulnerable to temptation …”after all, it might be the last time that I get to eat this food” …how illogical is that? … It has been a subconscious tape running in the background of my mind …and the ‘rut’ is deep …so, what to do to make this path less bumpy? …

What I kept finding, while researching the answer …the No.1 answer across the board was “gratitude” (2)…I am recognizing when the thoughts arise and rewiring …to create an ‘abundance’ mindset …when I review my life, I have always been provided for …there is always ‘enough’ …forgetting that God “owns the cattle on a thousand hills” and I am His child …

Appreciation for what ‘is’ …for the ‘creative aspect of the universe (I call Him ‘God’) …opening myself to the light of love that is available …to living in the moment …being mindful of the delight in focusing on each breath, in savouring a moment, in giving back, and in the feeling of the afternoon breeze on your cheek …mindful gratitude …

My ADHD brain always loves to run away with me …like the dog that finds the gate open …it’s goooone🤣 …meditation and breath work, has been great for reining it back in to the present moment in time …there are so many breathing techniques that it has taken me awhile to find one that feels ‘right’ for me …

Box Breathing is quickly learned and easy to remember, sometimes called the Four-square technique (3), slowly inhaling for the count of four, hold for four, exhaling for the count of four, hold for four…and repeat

My brain cannot focus on anything else, when I am concentrating on the process of breathing, it brings me back to the present …great for when I get anxious …”The slow holding of breath allows CO₂ to build up in the blood. An increased blood CO₂ enhances the cardio-inhibitory response of the vagus nerve when you exhale and stimulates your parasympathetic system. This produces a calm and relaxed feeling in the mind and body.“(3) …

EFT Tapping is another beneficial technique for mind and body regulation…tapping with the fingertips on meridian points, our energy points (the same points that acupuncturists use) …“During a tapping session, the participant focuses on an undesirable emotion, such as a stressful situation, specific fear or bad memory. While maintaining focus on the concern, the participant uses their fingertips to tap on each of the body’s nine meridian points. Specific phrases are repeated during the session to maintain the focus on the issue at hand. Tapping on the meridian points while concentrating on accepting the negative emotion or concern helps re-balance the body’s energy.” (4) …the beginning acceptance and acknowledgment of the problem to be addressed was satisfying to me …something like “Even though I [insert your issue or fear here], I accept myself and my feelings.” (5) …Breathing techniques are the quicker “whoa” for me …

Wearing the perfume and the sparkly sandals …why not?

Peace, love, and happiness for each moment of 2023 …with a sprinkling of magic ❣ …

• (1) Fragrantica, (nd), https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Elie-Saab/Le-Parfum-12258.html
• (2) Dan, July 27, 2014, The Psychology of Scarcity: Learn to Avoid the Deprivation Thinking Trap, https://www.lawyerswithdepression.com/articles/psychology-scarcity-learn-avoid-deprivation-thinking-trap/
• (3) Ana Gotter, June 17, 2020, Box Breathing, Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/box-breathing#-What-is-box-breathing?
• (4) Gretchen Pruett, May 26, 2022, EFT Tapping, The Recovery Village, https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/anxiety/eft-tapping/
• (5) Saundra Montijo, April 28, 2022, Can EFT Tapping Relax Your Stress Away?, Greatlist, https://greatist.com/health/eft-tapping-for-stress-relief