Hope + power

When you're feeling powerless and things are a bit crap

I don’t know about you, but things are going down for me and mine at the moment. And that’s not even with the bigger picture of what’s happening around the world.

Things feel claustrophobic and uncertain. Personally I have a number of challenges and anxieties within my family that have come to a head as the year nears its end. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and depleted, and I do. But here are some things that are helping me - in case you need them too.

Do something for someone else – my daughter and I make up Share the Dignity bags for women and girls escaping domestic violence every year. There are also plenty of Christmas food drives where you can contribute to those who don’t have enough food over Christmas. It feels small and like it’s not enough, but I have to think it’s better than nothing.

Essentials for women and girls is a domestic violence refuge this Christmas.

Reading – I’m audio booking From Here to the Great Unknown, Lisa Marie Presley’s memoir narrated by her daughter Riley Keough. It’s a fascinating, deeply human account of being the daughter of Elvis Presley, but it’s also so much more than that. It’s about her many struggles but also the joys in her life. It’s about mothers and daughters. This is the part of the blurb that got me:

“Written in both Lisa Marie’s and Riley’s voices, a mother and daughter communicating—from this world to the one beyond—as they try to heal each other.”

I’m loving it. Also, Keough has the most calming, beautiful, otherworldly voice. I could listen to her read street signs.

Comfort TV – The second watch of Gilmore Girls with my teenager. We chat during it and eat snacks and it’s a little hour-long cocoon in our day.

Something to look forward to - I’ve just booked a family trip down south in December for a few days leading up to Christmas when my launch events are done. The place looks so serene. It’s on a river and looks out over water and trees. (See pic at the top, which was taken at a beautiful south coast beach recently). Sometimes just knowing there’s a break on the horizon can help with the overwhelm. Even if it’s just lunch or coffee with a friend.

Exercise – Here’s a reminder that this might be what you need to shift your energy and find some forward momentum. Running and weights specifically make SUCH a difference to my head space. Walking is good, too.

Which segues into nature vs screens – Get off the screens and into nature. It’s as simple as the fact that nature connects us to something bigger than ourselves. Social media is a lot about ego and our perceived place in the world. The news is full of things that feel huge and that we can’t really control. In nature all that falls away. This Mel Robbins podcast about the connection between neuroscience and religious experiences/mediation/nature is SO interesting.

Writing or creativity of any kind – It’s easy to wonder what value writing stories has when the world feels like it’s spinning out of control and there is so much fear, conflict, judgement and suffering. I feel hopeless and that it’s pointless sometimes. But I do believe that there’s power in creating stories and art. And I believe in the act of connection between reader and writer. Every time I put a book out into the world it feels like a radical act of vulnerability. It’s a lot of pressure, but I have to remember that it’s also a privilege. My new book The Last Illusion of Paige White is out December 4 and coming back to hope – I hope it resonates with you.