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A Simple Antidote to Existential Dread

Hello Friends

Happy Friday

It feels like it has been weeks of endless fog here. But you know what? Under those heavy, still skies, the autumn leaves are hanging on and looking so beautiful. Making an effort to look for the light definitely helps. Image by me © Ryland Peters & Small, taken from our book, A Home for All Seasons.

p.s Having problems viewing this image in your email? Hit the ‘Read in App’ button up the top to view it.

It’s been a tough week, huh? I hope you’re doing ok.

I did not want to get up on Wednesday. I didn’t want to check the news and see my fears made real.

But in the end my curiosity won out and I’m sure like all of you I felt sick to see the news that Trump was going to win.

The more I scrolled the news, the more the nausea intensified.

I felt a craving for sparkling water. Ice cold sparkling water. 

And do you know what? The funniest thing happened. As I took a sip of that water, as I felt the fizz of bubbles on my tongue and the icy pop of the bubbles tickling the back of my throat. My existential dread subsided. 

I successfully talked myself down from the hellscape my mind was creating and back into reality. Into my body, in my kitchen, where, in the here and now all was well.

As Milton very famously said, ‘The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven’.

We can’t predict the future and imagining the very worst possibilities does us no favours.

The best we can do is plant ourselves in the present. Grounding ourselves in our bodies—whether that’s through making art, cooking, gardening, walking, cleaning, or even sipping a cold glass of fizzy water. 

Any activity that engages our felt senses and takes us out of our minds is the antidote to overthinking.

Yes, take time to feel disappointed, to grieve that vision of the future you hoped for but wasn’t to be. But take care not to make yourself ill fearing the worst. Some random ‘hot take’ you read on the internet, on why it happened or what it means is not reality. 

This weekend, try to concentrate on creating rather than consuming. If you feel the overwhelm and dread taking control, put down your phone, take a breath and ground yourself in your body.

Oh, and never forget to hold onto that hope either.

Until next week.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

Becca x

P.S  If you love Interiors and Seasonal Living then please consider purchasing our book, A Home for all Seasons.

If you have already purchased the book, firstly thank-you SO much for your support and secondly, we would love it if you would consider leaving a review?

Thank-you, Becca & Kay x

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