Create A Comfort Basket For Self-Compassion | S1E041

Hello and welcome to a call for love. I believe the most powerful gift you can offer yourself is to give and receive love more freely. I'm your host Linda Orsini meditation guidance spiritual coach. Everyone has the desire to be seen, heard, respected and loved. The journey to becoming more connected to your greater purpose lies within the ability to live from the deep source of love within you. Let's begin.

Welcome to a call for love. How are you feeling today? There's so much going on in the world. And life can feel overwhelming. I woke up this morning. And I have to say I actually felt crappy. And it's just the way it is. Sometimes we have a heavy heart, sometimes we're feeling down. And sometimes we need to be okay with not being okay.

And today I want to share with you a message about how I feel when I'm feeling blue when I just don't want to feel vibrant, upbeat, happy. Because the truth is some days are hard. Some days are just not our best. And I was really contemplating not recording an episode today because of how I felt. But then I had mentioned it to my sister Patricia, who we often talk in the morning. And she says you know we all have those days, Linda, just be authentic, share how you feel in this moment. And so I decided that here I am today, feeling you know, not my best. There's so much going on in the world. The energy feels heavy, and it is what it isWe all have moments of sadness. And we all feel discomfort. It's okay to not be so upbeat every day. And she mentioned to me something that really inspired me. She was saying that she's heard of people creating a basket of comfort. When you might be wondering what a basket of comfort is? Well, it's a collection of items in a special basket or box. And it's a refuge for you for when you're feeling blue. And it can provide you comfort and solace. And it's doesn't mean that it asks you to slip to switch to not be okay. It just offers you self compassion. Because when you acknowledge the full range of emotions you're feeling including sadness, down, maybe depressed. You can offer yourself compassion and care during these difficult moments. It's just like a soothing touch, like kindness.

I really love this idea. And so I asked my sister Patricia, well, what would you put in your basket. Now after some deliberation, we came up with her thing. So as she came up with her things that is, and she decided the first thing that she'd want to put in her basket is loving and kind cards and letters from loved ones. Maybe people aren't writing so many cards and letters these days, our family does and she does and she has a great selection of cards and letters from others. So she would put one or maybe a couple in the box. Say second, she's a very good cook, and she loves cooking. She's collected so many recipes over the years. And she never gets to them all. So she said she'd put in a couple of recipes. Something that she could look forward to cooking that day. Maybe with ingredients that were accessible in the house so she might not have to go out and then a reminder to go for a walk and connect with nature. She says it always uplifts her. It just reinvigorates her by being out in the fresh air. And even though it may not shift her mood, it will just help her connect with the Earth, the weather the season, and that's always something that comforts her.

The fourth thing is she would put in a package of a facial mask for self care is something that she hardly ever does. And that would be like a little self pampering self care. And lastly, she has a cherished book called simple abundance by Sarah Ben breath. And it's several years old now. I remember reading it many years ago, and it has just tips and readings for how to invite simple abundance into your life. And those were her items. Now, we were discussing that it could be five items, I would say five to 10 items Max, you don't want to make it overwhelming. And the key here is that you create this box for the days that you're going to feel a little down or a little side or a little heavy. And that will be available to you just as a self hug. Then I was talking to my friend Kathy, aka Wonder Woman. And she said she would put in her basket. Campbell, she loves candles, and the beauty of a candle and the candle light is just so warm and inviting. She would also include paper and pen, maybe even coloring crayons. And she was thinking a cozy blanket or warm socks for comfort. Something to just offer that little snuggie hug.

And for a treat, she wouldn't include a chocolate bar. She also said she liked crystals. She loves crystals in the energy of crystals, I have to say, I'm right on there with her. And a nourishing body creams, something very luxurious and not expensive, but luxurious in terms of something that is brand new and fresh that she could open that day. So that would be her box of comfort. And then it was my turn, I was thinking what I put in my basket. And I thought I really love connecting with water, I have this real deep affinity with water. And so, of course, I'm not going to put in a bath or a hot tub in my little box. But I could put in some bath products. I really like maybe a bath balm, or Himalayan salts, or Epsom salts, something fragrant, maybe with lavender. So I got to get a package of bath salts or product. And the next is this is a biggie a permission card. You might ask what is a permission card? Well, I am notorious for pushing myself pushing myself to create to produce to get things done. And I would give myself permission to let go of one task for the day, a task that is not life or death. And I'm going to write that on a card. Give yourself myself permission to let go one task today and instead use one of these items in my comfort box. And the fourth item would be similar to Kathy's I would add an essential oil. I love essential oils. I love the sense of them. I always when I'm teaching or guiding clients, I offered them an essential oil in their left palm and left palm means the receiving side. So I put one or two drops in there. I asked them to rub their hands together and then cup it over their nose and take long, long deep inhales and long exhales just breathing in the scent of that essential oil. And then after I like to personally place it around my neck as like a cologne. I think I will include an essential oil in my comfort box.

Next, I love inspirational readings. I would include an inspirational item, like a card deck with quotes or inspirations or readings, I have many of them in my home. I think I will put one in reserve and put it in the box. The next is an empty card with a stamp because I always feel the best way to comfort myself is to give love to others are going to write a card or write a card to someone who I care about just sending them a message thinking of you hoping you're well love you. Maybe we'll see each other soon. I'd love to see you something along that line. And guess what? In a week or so when they receive the card through the mail, they'll probably respond to me and it'll bring me back to this moment of not feeling 100% and saying you know

That day was air quotes, a waste, there wasn't a waste, because I did a kind act of service, just sharing thoughtful message to somebody else. And lastly, I would put a feather. And you might ask, why a feather. Because it'll remind me to be still enlight find a little bit of turning inward through meditation. Meditation for me, is a great place to be, just be with myself, and hold space for whatever is going on within me, knowing that I will survive. If I'm a little down one day, that's okay. It's not going to kill me to be down. There's so many people who are worse off. And that doesn't mean that it negates how I feel. It just means that I can honor and be okay with where I am in the moment.

You know, finding comfort is an act of self compassion. It's an act of self care. By practicing self care, you actually address your emotional and physical needs. It's a practical tool on your growth in this life, through the day. And if you hear me my voice is a little low. It's a little soft. I know feel energetic today. And I have to really honor that. And there is a word I don't know if it's from the Danish or Norwegian for capillary, but it's called hue get huger. And it's spelled H YGG II. And it's a concept of creating cozy and comfortable. I love that word. It's a philosophy of inviting cozy and comfortable into your life, when the weather is cool, or when the weather's damp, or when you're feeling low. It's a great way to promote comfort and well being. So this little basket of comfort, to be okay, with not being okay, to really hold space for all your feelings. Even if you're not feeling great.

Creating a comfort basket is really taking a hold of your life and knowing that you can hold space for all your emotions, and you don't have to be anyone different than who you are in the moment. I do believe we're very hard on ourselves, expecting ourselves to always be happy, always be vibrant. I mean, all you have to do is look on social media to see how glamorous everyone's life is. And everyone else's life does have ups. And if they have ups, then you bet they're gonna have downs. So on your down day, if you have a basket or box of comforting items that you can turn to, for self soothing for self compassion. Just a way to honor who you are in the moment. I think it's a really great idea. I have a question for you. If you were to create a comfort basket, what would you put in it?

Better yet, if you're looking for a gift for birthday, or for the holidays, why not create a comfort basket for someone you know, you know, these items do not have to be big, they're thoughtful. They're thoughtful items that show loving kindness, self compassion, self soothing. And you know what, I bet anyone would love to receive that. Just knowing that you care, and that you would be there for them when they're down or low. That's a great sentiment.

In closing, why not create a comfort basket, take a photo and posted on Instagram. You can tag me a call for love. And then share the love. Share the ideas. I'd love to hear and see what you put in your basket. You can even put the hashtag comfort basket. I hope this helps in a time where you need a little self compassion, a little self love. From my heart to yours. I wish you peace and comfort. Namaste

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