It’s 2 am, I can’t sleep. I’m tossing and turning. After pure exhaustion I finally fall back to sleep only to wake right back up at 6am.
During the day I can not focus. I’m not starting and completing as many tasks as I did before. I feel overwhelmed and anxious.
This has been my life since October of last year. After several personal challenges including recovering from a knee injury, fighting off a stalker, my brother being shot in a drive by, dealing with a business partner dispute and relocation after a breakup, I was at my ropes end.
One day I just so happen to being scrolling down my Instagram page and I noticed my best friend from high school and her sister had launched a new CBD line of drops and scrubs for anxiety and sleep. I immediately called her to reconnect and tell her what symptoms I had been suffering but also to express my concerns with CBD. I had never smoked marijuana let alone inhaled it so I was afraid I would be walking around high as a kite! To my surprise and relief she said CBD was not weed! CBD (a calming cannabinoid) unlike THC which is contained in weed, has no psychoactive effects. There is no “high” or other mind-altering effects from CBD. On the contrary: CBD on its own has calming, anti-anxiety effects—one of the reasons why it’s been identified as a useful supplement to treat insomnia and other sleep problems. However, CBD can have several positive effects including it may help you feel relaxed. That can feel a bit like a high, though it’s not intoxicating.
Within 24 hours of trying the “sleep” drops I immediately felt relief and could sleep. And during the day it took about a week for me to start feeling the calmness the “balance” drops gave me but I definitely regained my focus.
Trying to run 3 companies and balancing my brothers recovery has been the hardest thing I have had to since my dad’s passing 5 years ago. Asking for help is not in my nature and prior to these CBD drops I was not an advocate of aides like prescription drugs that people tend to become addicted to. That’s why these drops are a miracle and have really SAVED my life. So glad I tried CBD! I also like that her drops were made in mind for the busy professional woman especially women of color.
If you are interested in trying CBD this is a great starting place! Visit Browngirljane.com to purchase and learn more!
Leave a comment below on your CBD journey!
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why it is called present.”
This quote summarizes the power of staying in the present.
Focusing on the past is futile.
Planning for the future is important, but obsessing over it is counterproductive.
All we have is the present.
So, how do you learn to focus on the present instead of the future?
Well According to Dr. Rajeev Kurapati we have to first understand the nature of the mind.
The basic nature of the mind is to dwell in the past or to worry about the future. Our uneasiness about what’s to come is actually our strategy to prepare for the future – our mind’s ingenious way of ensuring that we’re equipped to survive. Without such readiness, the mind can’t prepare the body to thrive.
~Dr. Rajeev Kurapati
So how does this future-oriented mind know exactly what to prepare for the seemingly unknown? The mind relies on one thing to predict what’s to come: the past. We in short essentially allow the past to shape the future.
Our mind is constantly toggling between these two opposing tendencies: the fear of the unknown or the comfort in the possibility found in hope. How do you get your mind to find a natural resting place between the two?
Mindfulness! (AKA Being Present)
Here are 5 tips from Mind Valley to stay present now:
1. Pay attention to the full experience of walking.
Take a moment to focus on the sensations, the small and large movements you make while walking, how objects seem to move past you, the temperature, the wind, etc.
2. Pay attention to the full experience of breathing.
The sounds, sensations, smells, etc. Meditations you can find on free Apps like “Calm” and “Insight Timer”.
3. Change up your routine.
Drive a different way to work, reverse the order in which you get ready in the morning, and eat something new for breakfast. Change up your routine anytime you can.
4. Periodically stop and smile.
Become aware of the immediate physiological response in your body when you smile. Smiling can trick your brain into happiness — and boost your health. A smile spurs a powerful chemical reaction in the brain that can make you feel happier. Science has shown that the mere act of smiling can lift your mood, lower stress, boost your immune system and possibly even prolong your life!
5. Let the Rest To Go.
Whatever is not there in that moment let go. Be there, right there, right then. That’s all.
Have you ever been told you are too picky? Or are in the alternative, do you find yourself overwhelmed with saying “Yes” to often? This article will not only explain why you should say yes to less, but you will find more successful you become, the more you should eliminate things from your life, stop doing some activities, and say no to tens of seemingly tempting opportunities daily. Why? Because you want to stay sane and actually have enough time and focus for the things that are the most important to you and truly deserve your attention and efforts.
Start Saying No More Often
If you want peace of mind but also to be action-oriented and constantly move forward in the right direction, you’ll have to let go of the ‘say yes to everything’ mindset. And start saying no instead.
For starters:
you’ll be removing people from your life instead of making new friends all the time, you just don’t have enough time for that;
you’ll stop doing some of the things you’ve always been doing because they don’t give you the desired result and your time is better spent on other things;
you’ll be selective when it comes to consuming information too. You don’t want to be overwhelmed, so you’ll be reading only so much daily/weekly and only by respected sources. You’ll stop watching meaningless videos, will unsubscribe from all newsletters, will stop checking out the news (and dare I say it including social media) all the time, and focus on your most important tasks for the day instead;
other people will hear you say no to them more often than usual and may even get offended.
constantly review your life goals and daily schedule and ask yourself the following questions:
What’s the 20% that gives me 80% of the results and what can I do to eliminate the rest?
Remove in your life what does not give you pleasure and or does not get you closer to your goals.
practice daily planning with planning your day the night before. Put at the top of your list the 3 most important tasks and tackle them first.
When You Should Say Yes
So when should you say yes, then?
Derek Sivers explains it best in this article: “If I feel anything less than, “Wow! That would be amazing! Absolutely! Hell yeah!” – then my answer is no.
To make this decision easier for you, ask yourself does saying “yes” to this person or request contribute to your bottom line spiritually, mentally, physically, financially or emotionally? If the answer is “no” then you have your answer.
Now that you know that, sit down and do some brainstorming. Take your time and list your top priorities in every area of life, then see which area matters to you more than the rest. The key is elimination so what is left is only what truly matters. Put that list in a visible place, go through it daily so that you never forget what’s truly important in your life. And so that you don’t get lost, confused, overwhelmed or worst stuck living out other persons lives, desires and priorities.
Saying yes to less means you’re living your life with intention, one day at a time, constantly doing things that improve you and are the right choice, making time only for what’s necessary and gives you result.
This is an amazing way to live life, and something few have chosen to do.
If you ever feel bad about saying “No” keep in mind some pretty successful people out there are saying no every minute (smile).
So what’s the takeaway? It’s okay to be picky. Be picky with your money, time, energy and especially the people you surround yourself with.
One day I just so happen to being scrolling down my Instagram page and I noticed my best friend from high school and her sister had launched a new CBD line of drops and scrubs for anxiety and sleep. I immediately called her to reconnect and tell her what symptoms I had been suffering but also to express my concerns with CBD. I had never smoked marijuana let alone inhaled it so I was afraid I would be walking around high as a kite! To my surprise and relief she said CBD was not weed! CBD (a calming cannabinoid) unlike THC which is contained in weed, has no psychoactive effects. There is no “high” or other mind-altering effects from CBD. On the contrary: CBD on its own has calming, anti-anxiety effects—one of the reasons why it’s been identified as a useful supplement to treat insomnia and other sleep problems. However, CBD can have several positive effects including it may help you feel relaxed. That can feel a bit like a high, though it’s not intoxicating.
