THE 0% ALCOHOL HANGOVER

Oh it's a thing,

There are actually two styles of this...so let's talk about it.

Your eyes open,

You look around the room,

Take a big deep breath then exhale,

And try and muster up enough energy to crawl out of bed and plant your feet on the floor.

The heaviness drags behind you as you try and push through.

Getting up to prepare for the world.

Maybe if you had had some drinks and a fun night prior, you'd have a reason, or at least understand your reason for feeling such a way. You know you'll be right again in a day or two.

But no, this is different.

It feels the same, but it can be hard to understand why.

You may feel you have no reason to feel this way. To the world, everything looks good and dandy. You may look around and see that everything is good, you can see goodness, but still something feels off and your body is holding that.

THE FIRST ONE IS...THE ENERGETIC HANGOVER

It can come through even when things seem good.

Maybe you think, I have no right to feel this way - I should be more grateful,

But here's the thing, it takes just one thing in your world to start to make you feel this way - just one.

One person,

One space, environment,

One piece of work that just doesn't align with you.

And it's usually the one thing we think we 'Should' be ok with,

That we think we 'Should' be able to hold and live with, or do.

And the more we ignore it, the heavier it becomes.

Your body is trying to get your attention.

Trying to communicate to you that something's off, you're out of line from your values, from your truth, from the way you live & breathe.

You usually know exactly what this one thing is - it presses on you often,

But you continue to push it to the side.

All it needs from you is for you to correct it.

So how do you do that?

Well, depending on what it is, it could a conversation to express how you feel and what you need so you can move forward.

It could be removing yourself from a space and really putting your hand up to what others may think or say and choose another space to enter into.

Maybe it's time to look for another area of work, take another path.

Whatever it is, it's asking something of you, and you know the action that's needed - we all always know.

THE SECOND IS...THE VULNERABILITY HANGOVER

I've felt this so many times over the past 7-8 years,

especially in my work, my writing.

I also remember feeling it after my first exhibitions as well as with someone I cared deeply for.

It's when you share a part of yourself that you usually don't share.

When you put yourself out there with the chance to be criticised, judged or rejected.

You can think or say,

"I shouldn't have done, said, expressed myself",

"I should have held it in".

You can start to pull out where you could have done better, where it was messy, gosh all sorts.

Vulnerability isn't easy, but what I've found is it's where growth is.

Growth within yourself.

It takes time to get used it - ha not sure if you ever fully do, but it does get a little easier the more you do it.

When you choose to be vulnerable, the best thing to do is give yourself time & space to really take care of yourself. A walk, a swim in the ocean or just a shower.

And know that no matter what happens, no matter the outcome,

You were brave in that moment, and know it's the way forward so don't stop being brave & vulnerable.

In those moments, your shifting something inside of you, for the better, and it will ripple outwards to touch more of those around you.

The vulnerability hangover isn't there to hurt you, it's there to shape you...let it and step more into it. It's a beautiful space inside of you.

One of the best way's I've found to work through any of these styles of hangovers is through journalling. If you've been around my space long enough you'll know I'm big on journalling.

It really get's you below what you see on the surface, and starts to unfold more of you and who you're here to be. How you wish to express yourself and walk through your life. I see journalling as speaking to a best friend, who you get to share everything with.

You can join my '10 Days of Journalling' for FREE right here

https://www.theartofself.co.nz/10-day-journaling to get you started. Once you start and make it a daily practice, bit by bit more will come forward and open up to write about - that will bring you the answers you're looking for.