The art of getting high (even when you don't feel like it)

I heard a funny thing recently. It was an old friend who’d emailed and asked how I was enjoying my time in Lucerne. He wrote ‘you certainly look happy on Facebook.’ Ha! Maybe he was being ironic because who doesn’t look happy on Facebook? I mean, no one’s posting about their two-day crying bender or the hours they’ve wasted online when they could’ve been, like, watching TV and stuff. Right? There are plenty of cute kids but rarely tantrums or sleepless nights. It would appear we are all happy. In light of this, I bring you the news that apparently Facebook makes people depressed. Just begin typing ‘Facebook makes me’ into a search engine and see what options are suggested. Who can relate? I too may be giving the impression that everything is always so excellent, but the truth is that I fall off the wagon too and give into fear-based thinking. But then I get up, read or listen to something inspiring and get back to the version of reality of my choosing.

It’s not important if we come off centre, what’s important is how quickly we get back to it. – Tweet That

I have pretty high standards when it comes to the way I feel. Don’t you? So today, in honour of maintaining a miraculous mindset for our health and wellbeing, I present you with My Top Five for High Vibes, which will have you high fiving the plants and singing down the street (or whatever your version of happiness is). Because sometimes we just need a little help from our friends.

1. Sensual Sipping

Where would we be as a race without tea and coffee? We’d probably still be trying to rub sticks together to make fire. Personally, coffee can kick me into the best mood. It has transformative powers. It makes me more creative, focused, motivated and joyful. And that’s why I believe in the transformative powers of coffee. Coffee is often demonised, so it was with great pleasure that I inhaled this article about Turning Your Coffee Habit Into A Healthy Morning Ritual. Ahh sigh. Using our coffee ritual to practice gratitude is my kind of morning fun. Our beloved brew can set us up for the day ahead, like meditation. I wanted to write that drinking coffee is a form of yoga but a web search revealed it was not so. Dammit! There appears to be no link between coffee and yoga (under the search ‘what kind of yoga is drinking coffee?’). Let us not be swayed by this though, nor fear of coffee breath nor yellowing teeth, Coffee Time (or of course Tea Time) is our time for reflection. It’s the opportunity to take a break from our busy days and just be. A morning ritual is a reason to bound out of bed. Can I get an amen?

2. Mood-Altering Playlist

Music can change our mood in an instant and that’s why I chose to use it when I was feeling inconvenienced and not always so great. I had twenty uplifting songs on repeat that I played on my way to radiotherapy and I was certainly one of the happiest people in the waiting room. Music has the power to transform a mood in an instant – don’t you think? On a clear day I sang my way home through the quiet residential streets and got an illicit kick out of being crazy amongst strangers. It was part of my self-prescribed treatment. First up for me is a song I still love, Blurred Lines. Seriously, try not to a) dance b) strut c) bop your head a little at least. It’s impossible! I also love Rihanna’s & Calvin Harris’s We Found Love It’s not exactly a ‘happy’ song but it makes me feel ALIVE and has that jumping round the living room like you’re down in the mud at a music festival kind of beat. Obviously, it’s way better though because you don’t get dirty. Another song I kill daily is Rihanna’s Diamonds.

Shine bright like a diamond Shine bright like a diamond Fine light in the beautiful sea I chose to be happy

Those five words – I chose to be happy – that’s everything right there. It hits me hard every time. Being emotional is just as fun as being happy – right? 3. Helping It sounds like a mother’s cliché but isn’t it entirely true? Helping releases some first-class endorphins. And this one actually is a form of yoga – karma yoga – or being in service of others. My favourite form of helping is called ‘helping the tourists’. I have an affinity to the helpless group of lost wanderers. If you want directions, I’m your girl! I’ll scan the shelves for gluten-free products with you! I’ll tell you the best place to buy your ‘gelatto’! I separated euros and francs for a Chinese man at the supermarket last week and came home buzzing. Helping others totally changes up our energy. As Gabby Bernstein says,

When you’re feeling helpless, help someone.

4. Earthing

It sounds like something the aliens made up but this is actually something real people are talking about. Earthing simply means walking barefoot, grounding your body to the earth, and is supposed to reduce inflammation as electrons are conducted from the earth to our bodies. Seriously guys, when was the last time you earthed? It’s so extraordinary to lie on the ground and just be. We went to Lugano to see the sun recently and our favourite part of the day was when we lay under a tree on the grass and didn’t speak, except to talk about when last we’d done this and how awesome it was. We relaxed into the arms of Mamma Earth. And it felt so good.

5. Just Feel It

Rather than stuff our feelings down or try to be inflatably happy, we can just ask, ‘What am I feeling?’ ‘And given that I’m feeling that what do I want?’ Maybe you’ll find that you really want to have some fun… or do the work you’ve been avoiding… or deepen your friendships… or go to sleep… or become a better conversationalist… or be more interesting… or hold a one-man dance party… or sing at the top of your lungs in public… or clean your room… or hire a cleaner… or start your own business… or lie under a tree… OR forgive yourself a little more. Because we all need a little help at times. I hope you will let me know how you keep your vibe high in the comments below. What makes you sing? And I’ll leave you with the words of Rihanna,