Cosiness and my 'world-burnout'

I have a world-burnout. I can almost hear you thinking: 'a what?' I explain it all to you in this blog. Not to worry, it's not a lament, because I love focusing on things that help and make you feel good. Cosiness is exactly that. 

I have a 'world burnout'

Lately, I have increasingly felt that the world has gone mad. Wars, dictatorships, deforestation, winning western leaders with wacky haircuts, climate issues, refugees, hunger, death, disaster after disaster.... And I feel powerless. I used to be militant, seeing silver linings everywhere and going for all the good in the world. But over the past few years, I have lost that feeling. I feel jaded and sometimes even start doubting my own beliefs, because it seems the whole world is in on all the craziness right? 

How do I stand my ground in this world?

It is a question that has been on my mind a lot lately. I tend to withdraw. Let me live my own life and I focus on myself. In my opinion, a very good strategy, because you probably know 'the circle of influence'. You have influence over your own thoughts, behaviour and choices you can make. Anything outside that circle (including all the misery in the world) you have no influence over. 

It's not so black and white of course, for instance, I am very conscious about the environmental impact of every product I make and I choose as consciously as possible there. Within your circle of influence, you affect the big things too, of course! But on the misery of the whole world (everything in the six o'clock news so to speak) you have virtually no influence. So if I let go of that and focus on my own life, focus on how I could make the world a little nicer, the world-burnout does dissolve. Fine! 

Cosiness is my superpower

We don't all have to be, or become, activists. I don't need to use my 'reach' on instagram, for instance, to call on everyone to do or not do something. That doesn't suit me, I prefer to focus on another way of contributing. For me, that is sharing cosiness. 

First and foremost, cosiness is my own medicine. The self-care, softness, warmth, safety and security it brings make me look at life differently. Milder, more understanding and calmer. It makes me find safety even if all 'hell breaks loose' in the world.

It gives me a quiet moment where I can come back to myself. We are often so busy with others, with problems or simply with work or children, that the moment of rest is sometimes missing. And those very moments allow you to recharge.

When you are recharged, feeling safe, you can take steps in life again. For some, it will be to take action, for others to harness cosiness as a superpower and spread as much as possible.  

 

Practical cosiness

OK, this blog is quite philosophical. Time to get practical! 

So, how do you do that cosy living? I believe that is different for everyone. You might get really happy reading a book, while the other would rather meditate. But whatever you do, make sure you make a little extra effort for yourself. Light the candle, make a fresh cup of tea, give yourself a present, put your phone away and really create a moment when you pay attention to yourself. 

This afternoon I have a cosy moment planned. I've been looking forward to it all day. I'll continue reading my guilty pleasure series 'the little house books' (the long winter!), I'll make a cup of my favourite tea, light some candles and swap my jeans for pyjama trousers. Perhaps I'll swap the book for my journal for a while, draw a card for inspiration or knit a bit on my knitting project. It's about making an extra effort to make myself comfortable, taking and making time to be and feel with myself. Space to catch my breath and let the world-burnout melt away! 

What's going to be your cosy moment today?

 

ps. beautiful picture by merette kuijt!

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