Let's rewind to October where I am on the floor having a dramatic crying fit. I'm sobbing hysterically, struggling to breathe. All alone in a flat in Tbilisi, Georgia. It's all gotten to me. The weight of self-employment, not having any financial or geographical stability in my life, missing my friends in London, and constant arguing with my boyfriend.

It was a lot. I needed rest. But I struggled to accept this. I felt broken and incapable. The voice of shame was loud: "Why do you choose to carry so many spinning plates, Haneen? 🍽️🍽️🍽️ Why do you need to be so obsessed with novelty and intensity? Why can't you have your sh*t together?"

For those who who might need to hear this message:

IT'S OK to not have perfectly optimised & happy lives. Please please be kind to yourselves.

So what did I do? I connected with my anchors:

🔧 I am making decisions for too many things in my life. I need to whittle down what choices I have and/or hire someone to make these decisions for me.

🔧 My external self-connection recipe: nourishing friendship time, moving my body, masala chai, zouking, a cosy environment with nice smells, wooden floors, soft linen & fresh greenery.

🔧 Remembering that I am ok as I am. I love and I am loved. I have many friends, calls, voice notes, to remind me of this!!

🔧 Lie on the ground. Connect to the ground. Feel the Earth. Feel my feet.

🔧 To stay with tough emotions (gahhh!!!). Emily Nagoski says "emotions are like tunnels, not caves. You'll get through the other side if you stay with them". When I feel discomfort, I turn towards the sensations and close my eyes. I stay with the feeling PAST the point it feels comfortable. And just REALLY SEE my feelings. At the core is a little upset Haneen. Connect with her!!!

🔧 To appreciate the mundane. I am so obsessed with bigger and better... What happened to the joys of just eating lunch? Folding clean laundry?

🔧 To remember that I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY OF IT. Yes. I can just sit in my bed. Do nothing. It's a daily practice to remind myself that I CHOOSE what I show up to. Because I want to. 😳😱 Until I reeeeally feel that conviction (could take 10-15 mins some days haha) I don’t do anything.

🔧 Remember: "Rest is not a reward, you don't have to earn rest. You deserve rest. You are worthy of rest simply because you are a living being. And don't ever feel guilty for taking time to rest". And more importantly Haneen: PLAY!!! Remember that thing called pleasure? Yeah.

🔧 Have therapy as often as possible. It really helps me confront what’s happening internally. I have a therapist who trained with Gabor Mate - he works magic. He works remotely - let me know if you want his details.

I would LOVE to hear if you have any anchors of your own. Especially if you're nomadic / an escapist. How do you create inner stability?