Your Friday Five

At the beginning and the end of the co-working sessions I hold twice a week for the incredible community inside The Catalyst Membership, I read something that inspires me or makes me think. I usually read a few paragraphs from a book or something that came across my inbox of interest. Inside of those readings there are oftentimes sentences that jump out from the page. Here is one that really resonated with me this week.

"Make sure your psychological center of gravity is your real world. Here's what I mean by 'your psychological centre of gravity': I've been puzzling for a few years now over a shift I first noticed around 2016, when various acquaintances – and me too, in some ways – started doing what I called 'living inside the news.' They seemed to view the world they accessed through news sites and social media as somehow more real than their immediate surroundings. The latter was a place they merely dropped into from time to time, before hurrying back to the main event."
Oliver Burkeman

I invite us all to spend more time living inside our life and outside of the noise.

Okay, this will not be for everyone, but I recently rewatched this brilliant Netflix Special by John Mulaney. It is basically his story of his journey to sobriety.

I don't think I have laughed this hard in months, and this is the fifth time I have watched it. The writing, delivery and the seemingly effortlessness memorization of an hour plus long monologue is simply brilliant and best in class.

Again this is not for everyone, but was a 10 stars for me. 

You can find it on Netflix here 

I know you are busy, but if you open this section up and have 3 minutes to spare, could you write back and let me know the following:

• What song makes you get up and dance every time you hear it?
• What song throws you back in time and makes you smile? Perhaps you remember an old love, or dancing around your handbags with friends at a disco?

Thank you in advance. See you on the dance floor.

These have been helping me recently. While simple to do, I need to remind myself to do these throughout the day. They have really helped me manage my mind and heart.

5 Minute Joy Anchoring

Set a timer for five minutes daily to engage with something that brings you pure joy - play with a pet, listen to a favorite song, or enjoy a cup of tea without multitasking. By fully immersing yourself in this brief pleasure without guilt or distraction, you create "joy anchors" that help stabilize your mood throughout the day.

5,4,3,2,1 Ritual

I mentioned this in a previous Friday 5, but in case you missed it:

When feeling overwhelmed, practice a quick sensory reset: identify five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This mindfulness technique grounds you in the present moment and gently interrupts anxious thought patterns.

Practice the "News and Nature" Technique

After consuming news, balance it with 10 minutes outdoors. Even briefly stepping outside to feel the sun, notice the trees, or watch clouds can help reset your nervous system. This creates a healthy pattern of counterbalancing potentially distressing information with direct connection to your immediate surroundings.

What small action could I take today that would make tomorrow just a little bit easier for myself?