16 Ways to Comfort Yourself, Part 2/3

Whether gathering indoors or outside, it is important for your mental/emotional health to gather with your small group and family/friends regularly.

This is a 3 part series on how we can comfort ourselves. Part One is here. Part Two is here. And part Three is here.

Life is complicated, too busy, and so many facets of it are uncertain. Without a good support system and a way to self-sooth, we would go bonkers. A massage by a professional masseuse, evenings with my small group, and time with a friend are all comfort activities for me.

Below are some other ways to surround yourself with the healing of comfort. Two other posts in this series list comfort quotes and additional ways of providing self-comfort.

Comfort of Drink

I am so fond of tea that I could write a whole dissertation on its virtues. It comforts and enlivens without the risks attendant on spirituous liquors. Gentle herb! Let the florid grape yield to thee. Thy soft influence is a more safe inspirer of social joy. James Boswell

Actually, this seems to be the basic need of the human heart in nearly every great crisis – a good hot cup of coffee. Alexander King

Your Turn . . . Is there a drink that brings you comfort? Why?

English Breakfast Tea, Cinnamon Tea, and Hot Chocolate are comfort drinks to my body. The hot drink remind me of times I’ve had with family and friends and they relax my body. I also like the added comfort of a hand-knit blanket and a fire in the fireplace.

Comfort of Example

When I am about to embark on a difficult journey, I comfort myself by reading the accounts of the great nineteenth-century travellers, men like Stanley, Burton, Speke, Burckhardt and Barth. Tahir Shah, In Search of King Solomon’s Mines

I found the prospect daunting, but somehow comforting, too, because the counselors insisted it could be done, and, after all, many of them were recovering alcoholics themselves. Craig Ferguson, American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot

It struck her how eating was a comfort during a hard time because it reminded you that there had been other days, good days, when you’d eaten the same thing. Reminded you there were good days in life, when precious little else did. Ron Rash, Serena

Your Turn . . . What stories from others bring you comfort?

A friend shares the details of a hard life about wayward children with me. I share stories from my life and other stories of hope from moms with way-ward children.

After the words, after the tears, and after the prayers, she almost always says, “Tell me I will make it through this.” I tell her and I believe it.

Comfort of Food

I love to cook comfort food. I’ll make fish and vegetables or meat and vegetables and potatoes or rice. The ritual of it is fun for me, and the creativity of it. Reese Witherspoon

I like a well-roasted rotisserie chicken and eggs cooked various ways, like sunny-side up or scrambled. It’s comfort food for me.  Joel Robuchon

Never underestimate how much assistance, how much satisfaction, how much comfort, how much soul and transcendence there might be in a well-made taco and a cold bottle of beer. Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume

Your Turn . . .  Is there a particular food that comforts you?

Chocolate, Breyer’s Natural Vanilla Ice Cream, Pot Roast with Veggies, and Spaghetti are all comfort foods to me.

Sometimes I get comfort by making the meal. Sometimes the comfort comes by eating the meal with someone. Sometimes comfort floods me as I remember early childhood scenes associated with the food. And sometimes it is the high calories and the body’s immediate access to tons of sugar that improves my comfort level.

Comfort of God

Now, God be praised, that to believing souls gives light in darkness, comfort in despair. William Shakespeare

There was a lot of Southern Baptist preachers and some yelling ones but mostly we had a pastor who didn’t scream and I found a lot of comfort and joy and peace as a child hearing the Bible. Victoria Jackson

Your Turn . . . Do you find comfort in God? How? When?

This is honestly one of my favourite ways to find comfort. I find it by reading and copying Scripture into a notebook. Talking to God and then listening for His reply are also important in my comfort process.

Comfort of Home

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. Jane Austen

Your Turn . . . Are you a home-body or do you prefer to get your comfort in some other place?

If I am not at the ocean or at the Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs) my best place of comfort is at home. It is peaceful, safe, and houses artifacts of my life – my memories.

Comfort of Music

I like to say, jazz music is kind of like my musical equivalent of comfort food. You know, it’s always where I go back to when I just want to feel sort of grounded.  Molly Ringwald

Your Turn . . . Music is a powerful force. Does it bring you comfort? If yes, which genre?

I like smooth jazz and contemporary praise music. Praise music helps me focus on God and praise Him. Jazz does something positive to my emotions.

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16 Ways to Comfort Yourself Series

Two other posts in this series discuss other ways of providing self-comfort.

1. Go here for Part 1 (activity, animals, authors, being right, books).
2. This post is Part 2 (drink, example, food, God, home, music).
3. Go here for Part 3 (nature, people, possessions, rituals, words),                                             the final post in this series.

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During November I am writing or posting a photo about something for which I am grateful. This explains why.  

My gratitude posting for November 18: I am grateful for the freedom of worship I have. It is not a dangerous or outlawed activity. My place of worship is close to home and thus is easily accessed. While some of my friends and family may not have the same opinion about worship, I am not in danger of being killed or ostracized because of it.

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Your Turn . . .

• What are your favourite and most immediate ways of self-soothing?
• Which of the above tools do you use?
• What would you add to the list?
• Which one(s) would you like to try today or this week?

Related Posts

• 5 Reasons I Love my Home
• 7 Reasons I am Grateful for Music
• Grateful for Creativity and Life
• I am Creative