True confession: Television is often one of my primary support tools.
And, actually, the word "confession" shouldn't even be used here.
Because there's nothing wrong, secretive, or guilty about it!
And while I definitely don't do as well when tv is my only grounding resource (rarely do we need only one thing forever and ever), it has long been one of the things that's helped me feel held in some really important, immediate ways.
I go through phases where The Office is playing almost constantly, usually whenever my nervous system is frazzled.
I watched Friends repeatedly in college during one of my loneliest phases.
And discovering Pretty Little Liars (yup, you read that right) in my adulthood (again, you read that right) was one of the things that kept me hanging on during one of my darkest depressive phases a few years ago.
(In fact, I just gave PLL a re-watch slowly over the last year, watching it when I needed extra comfort...which was actually the inspiration for this email.)
Sometimes, I think we can get too "wellness world-y" about our coping strategies.
The messaging we often get can make it feel like the only "right" ways to be well are meditating or journaling or lighting incense in order to be really supporting our healing.
And those things, and other tools that look similar to them, can be incredibly supportive!
And also...
...what are the things that help to ground you, comfort you, center you, rejuvenate you, but perhaps you've never considered just how healing they can be because they may not look like how everyone else does it?
Those things—the things that are sacred to you—matter.
They're not silly.
They're not insignificant.
And they're not pleasures that warrant any kind of guilt.
If they help you, then they're helpful.
Often, I find that one of the most important things when it comes to our support system toolbox is simply allowing ourselves to embrace all the varied ways we can feel supported and be well.
Give yourself space to be creative. To be nuanced. To be curious, nonjudgemental, and uniquely you.
Trust yourself, take note of when things are no longer feeling supportive, and remember that you have a wide world of things to help you feel held in your longterm work.
TL;DR: Whatever wellness strategies and healing modalities feel supportive to you are great! Try not to judge or use terms like "guilty pleasure," and do embrace all the varied ways that you might feel more grounded and held.
* * *