~~~ GUEST POST with Author Kate Searle ~~~
How Can We Help Our Kids Soul Treasure Shine Bright?
Thank you Gina and your Insatiable Readers for having me on your blog! Today I would love to share with you two fun ways we can help our kid’s soul treasure shine bright!
But first let me quickly introduce you to the concept of our soul treasure. Every one of us is filled with treasure – these are our inner strengths! Our innate capabilities and talents that we are all born with. Our soul treasure shines bright when we feel joyful, connected, loved and safe. But as we know, the world can sometimes be a wild and woolly place. Upsetting things can happen that are outside our control, like we all experienced during the covid years.
So, what can we do to help navigate our lives with joy, even when we are faced with challenges? We can remember that we have a treasure-chest of inner strengths inside us, that we can tap into, which will help us navigate and ENJOY our lives. In my picture book, My Soul Treasure, I introduce you to seven of our soul treasures. Our rubies, opals, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts and pearls. Each gem represents an inner strength we have and is depicted in stunning double-pages of vibrant colourful illustrations.
So let’s explore two of our soul treasures today and find out HOW we can help those soul gems shine bright.
First – we have soul rubies. These are our cosiness gems inside our soul. You might be wondering why being cosy is an inner strength. Well, the significance of embracing cosiness as an inner strength can’t be overstated. Just picture how it feels when you are snug, warm and content. You feel safe and calm, right? And when we feel safe and protected, we feel less anxious, less stressed. So, in a way, cosiness is an antidote to feeling anxiety. It diminishes stress and promotes the feeling of tranquillity. If you are interested in delving deep into the physical and emotional benefits of being cosy, there is abundant research.1 One of my favourite books on the topic is ‘The Little Book of Hygge’ by Mike Wiking.2 Now, let’s move onto the fun part – how can we help our children nurture their soul rubies, their precious cosiness gems?
One fun suggestion is to encourage the creation of cubbies! By building pillow forts or creating a tent of blankets and pillows in your living room. My kids just love making cubbies. They bring in their favourite teddy bears, torches and books to read and could spend hours in there just being cosy and snug! Although it momentarily makes a mess of our living room, the benefits of allowing our kids to spend time making cubbies is invaluable. It not only teaches them about the importance of self-care but equips them with tools and coping mechanisms they can carry through life. As they grow, they will remember that by embracing moments of cosiness and warmth, they internalise the essence of safety and develop a vital coping mechanism. Then, in times of need, they will instinctively choose to seek solace in a snug environment, to restore their well-being.
Secondly – let’s explore our soul opals, our dazzling creativity gems inside our soul! In My Soul Treasure, the vibrant orange illustrations leap off the page, igniting a sense of exhilaration, boundless possibilities and the unlimited potential we each have, to shape our lives. At times, we may feel stuck in a rut or feel like we are trapped in mundane routines. Our kids might feel overwhelmed by school or life changes. How can our soul opals help them in these moments? Well, by tapping into our inner strength of creativity an amazing transformation can take place. It unveils a new perspective and we can start to see the myriad of possibilities or choices that are available to us. Again, lots of research supports harnessing creativity to help overcome anxiety and heal from trauma.3 When we express ourselves through creative activities, stress and anxiety dissipates, making way for positive emotions to flourish, like joy and optimism. So, how can we help our kids to be creative and nurture their soul opals?
We can encourage them to immerse themselves in drawing, painting, making artwork or even whimsical ‘bits and bob’ box creations. A favourite creative activity in our home is free-style cooking! This might sound a little bit messy, but the temporary chaos pales in comparison to the sheer delight your kids will experience. My kids love choosing different ingredients from the fridge and pantry - flours, cocoa powder, crushed up cereals, mashed fruits - you name it! (I keep watch to make sure it’s all edible!). They enjoy mixing it all up, pouring it into a tray and baking it in the oven. Surprisingly they often actually enjoy eating their unique creations! Through this process, not only do they get to enjoy eating what they have made, but they learn the profound value of being an active participant in crafting their unique expressions. They get to feel a sense of autonomy, which helps to empower them and teaches them that being creative is a valuable coping mechanism we can utilise, whenever we feel stuck or anxiety arises.
So there you have it – cubby houses and free-style cooking! Two fun ways we can help our kid’s soul treasure shine bright. I hope you and your kids enjoy giving these a try!
1 https://www.verywellmind.com/health-benefits-of-hygge-4164281; https://www.houseofwellness.com.au/wellbeing/advice/hygge-make-happier-healthier
2 https://www.meikwiking.com/copy-of-the-little-book-of-lykke
3 https://extension.sdstate.edu/mental-health-and-creativity
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