February 1, 2017

How to Find Some Inner Peace and Beauty Amidst Chaos

We all live busy lives whether that life includes kids and staying at home with them or a full-time job that you’re communicating to daily or going to school and getting your course work done. Everyone has a life, a story, and tasks that they do daily to get through their day. It can be beautiful chaos at times where as other days it can be incredibly difficult. I am, ever, always an optimist. Even during some of the worst times, I always tell myself that this, too, shall come to pass. Because we can’t have the good times without the bad. Life would be boring if it was always good, all the time. Hell, we’d be here sitting around ranting because nothing bad ever happened if it was sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns daily. Sometimes the bad times add a little spice! And most days, if you’re lucky, you can look back on the bad times and laugh about how worried or horrible you felt at that point in your life and how silly you were for letting it get you down.

Lately, chaos is the order of the day.

But I have good news for you.

The world is not over, the world is not ending, and the zombies are not roaming the earth in terrifying hordes. And you know what? You’re going to be just fine.

But as chaos reigns supreme at the moment here a few ways to find some inner peace and beauty amidst it all.

Game On!
First off, do yourself a favor, visit Steam.com. Buy yourself a new game and get lost in it. Not a gamer? No problem. Buy yourself a game anyway! Completely zoning out while playing some new adventure or RPG is a great way to leave your troubles behind and give yourself a little me time.

Binge
Stranger Things, Coffee Prince, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Supernatural, find something you love on demand and binge it. Getting caught up in your favorite shows or some new show or drama is a great way to not only relax but just to tune out the chaotic buzz around you. Better still? Do it with your boyfriend, or your girlfriend, or your best friend. My recs? Check out Tom Hardy in Taboo it’s oddly compelling plus he sure does walk around a lot without pants on.

Take a Bath
I like to turn off all the lights in my bathroom, light a single candle, and play the Pride and Prejudice Soundtrack while dunking half my head under warm water (just to my lips and upper ears). There’s something terribly soothing about listening to classical music when half your head is submerged under water. And no, you can’t tell me you aren’t a bath person. We aren’t doing this to gt clean, relaxing is the word of the day here. Go to Lush, pick up a bath bomb, toss it in, run some warm water, and just sit there with your eyes closed listening to your favorite music. Believe me, you’ll feel like a wet, relaxed noodle after 10 minutes of soaking.

Retail Therapy
Most people will tell you not to shop when you’re depressed but I say do it. Don’t go horribly crazy and buy everything in sight! But take a $10, $20, or $50 bill and blow it on something pretty. Believe me, buying something nice for yourself goes a long way to making you feel a little cheerier!

Read!
I’m avid reader, total book worm as far back as I can remember. I remember at like 11 I was carrying around my Christopher Pike, RL Stine, and Sweet Valley High books like they were great philosophical works of literature. Remember the Scholastic book club? I’d beg my parents for money every other week to buy books. My tastes evolve constantly when it comes to reading. Manga, comics, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Kristen Ashley, you name, I’ll read it! Grab yourself a new genre by a new author and get caught up in another world and a great adventure. Read a cute manga that will make you laugh and sigh. Or honestly, get yourself a copy of your favorite magazine and immerse yourself in silly how to guides, new beauty buys, and fashion! Believe me, reading Teen Vogue sometimes totally relaxes me, laugh all you want. And P.S. I miss YM! Those Say Anything reads were hysterical, fake, but totally made me laugh!

How do you find your inner peace when you’re stressing?

Do share!

P.S. You’re strong, compatible, confident, beautiful, and able to get through all the bad.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Elaine G

    Hey Muse, great post! I love and accept that encouragement! I am also a reader and music listener from way way back. Art and poetry are also great ways to feed the soul. Looking at art, making art, reading about art (try Strapless and Girl with a Pearl Earring) and reading and writing poetry (even bad poetry) is awesome. Send someone a poem for Valentines or Galentine’s Day. I appreciate you. And I needed this today…too much time watching news.

    • Isabella Muse

      Hey Elaine! 😀 Ahh Vermeer! I think looking at art, reading poetry, and readying about paintings is a great way to relax. I always get my friends a small v-day gift every year. It’s a nice way to remind them I love them 😀 gifting a poem or a card is a lovely way to brighten someone’s day and also to make you feel great too! Turn off the news for a while, take a walk in this lovely cool weather, and all will seem very right with the world again!

  • Jennifer

    All great suggestions! I’m always been an avid reader and it is probably the one thing that really lets me get outside of my own head or just away from it all. When I was studying to take the bar exam I didn’t have the time or mental capacity to read for pleasure. I went through withdrawals!

    BTW our teen book lists must have been identical!

    • Isabella Muse

      I totally know what you mean! When I was in school, I felt like I had zero time to read for pleasure. Mind you, I wasn’t taking the bar so I can imagine how you felt. Haha! Remember those awesome days? Don’t tell anyone, just between us, I still totally enjoy YA from time to time 😀

  • Eraser

    I’m surprised you didn’t mention getting a mani/pedi or a facial, or doing one or all of the above at home. The other day I came home tired and stressed out, and I gave myself a facial (double cleansing, which I usually don’t bother with, followed by a mask) – after almost an hour of that pampering, I was a new woman!

    • Isabella Muse

      excellent plan and def goes along way at making me feel better too! Sorry I didn’t add that one in here 😀

  • Kimmwc03

    Good tips. I don’t find taking a bath relaxing usually (because my mind will wander to all the things I should be doing) but sometimes I will put on a sheet mask and lay on my bed with some music playing until Siri tells me the 20 minutes is up. 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      awww you can always read while in the bath ;-D But laying in bed with a mask is just as awesome as far as I’m concerned 😀

    • Isabella Muse

      Mary Shelley 🙂 Doris Lessing, Suzanne Collins (debatable considering she’s a dystopian author but on some levels I consider her sci-fi, Nalo Hopkinson (brown girl in the ring is a good place to start imho), Seanan McGuire (fantasy sci-fi), Julie Czerneda, Charlie Anders, Laurell Hamilton (more fantasy than sci-fi)

    • Gillie

      I really enjoyed the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas.

      And, of course, there’s always Anne McCaffrey, Sheri S. Tepper and Madeleine L’Engle.

    • Mariam

      Tamora pierce is more fantasy but I’m still adding her to the list of suggestions 🙂

  • varya

    Yeah,I do music and reading and games. But my favorite destresser is a bath with candles,bubbles and wine after dance class. Also too, rice pudding.

  • Colleen

    Thank you for the perspective Muse. Recent events have alarmed me and I needed the reminder that the world is not coming to an end. I am trying to step back from social media as I find that it feeds negatively. I’m trying to read more and I love spending time with my husband and cats. Did some retail therapy today with part is the NARS Wildfire collection. The blush is pure spring.

    • Isabella Muse

      I think we’re all fairly alarmed but I always remind myself, we’ve been through tons of crazy, we can take a little more right? We’ll be ok, we’re strong! I think social media takes things and blows it out of control. Granted, things are bad, but social media makes them 100 times worst. So it’s a good idea to step back from it instead of reading all the crazy! The blushes look lovely from that collection! Enjoy! Wear in health!

  • Terri

    As I read this, I have on a 20 minute Kat Burki Dual Action Peel doing its thing on my stressed out face! Thank you for sharing some of these ideas. I do read, do some “retail” therapy, and listen to music. I kinda really really hate games- all games…lol. They stress me- too competitive! But my all time favorite thing in this world to de-stress is my Massage Envy twice a month 60 minute massages!!!! I became a member last year, and it’s been worth every penny!

    • Isabella Muse

      noooooooo don’t say that! try one, I bet you’ll find at LEAST one you’ll like haha 😀 I could use a massage right now! 😀

  • Ashley

    Retail therapy, pamper ING sesh, everyone needs a hobby, mine is quilting.

  • devon

    When I am stressed out (like today for example!) I make my pilgrimage to mecca (Sephora :] ) and pick out a thing or 2. Today I got another ‘frome barre to bar’ supergoop set–which is AWESOME btw..tons of spf and moisture! and a new mascara. Then I headed to Wegmans for Halo Top ice cream, which is about 250 calories for the entire pint and full of protein. You’re welcome :]

  • Lauren

    I like to take a trip to the mall and go sniff new perfumes at a Nordstrom, window shop, eat a horribly calorific meal with dessert (preferably the white chocolate bread pudding at the Nordstrom Bistro), and get tea or coffee at a good coffee shop.

    Or better yet, spend a day or two wandering around a great museum, zoo, or aquarium. I spent a week in NYC around the middle of January, and had a great time going to a bunch of the museums. I did the Met (for the 5th time, lol, and still haven’t seen everything) and the Cloisters, MoMA, and the Tenement Museum. Also visited Little Italy for a prosciutto and fresh mozzarella panini and canolis, went to the Harney and Sons tea store and parlor in SoHo a couple of times, and visited Twisted Lily (twice!) and Aedes to do some perfume retail therapy. Other than being under the weather for most of the trip (getting over bronchitis and strep), it was so relaxing!

    • Isabella Muse

      Lauren, I love this idea 😀 Let’s do it today but skip on the bread pudding, I’ll get something else hehe 😀 I think wandering around New York is one of the best times you can have, you honestly don’t have to buy a single thing either, just looking at the windows, the people rushing around, it’s so soothing to me. I love my city 😀

  • Claudia

    When I worked I used to paint my nails and read books there(though it was prohibited). It was a call center and dealing with angry/ frustrated people(that drove on a toll road and felt their tax dollars were used to build a road(they weren’t) wanted to bitch before paying the bill) was very stressful. I had killer nails though and eventually acquired a skill to read while actively listening to people. Now I am a stay at home mom and I don’t have the time for either . But if you still like YA fiction look up the GONE series by Michael Grant. None of the angsty stuff.
    I wish I could do games, any of them. I just can’t sit still there long enough. My husband still laments that since he wishes I would play video games with him.
    Lately I like to shop even if it is just window shopping. It gets me and my two years old out of the house while the baby sleeps and resets me. Have you been to Target lately? They have redone the beauty section.

    • Isabella Muse

      Thanks for the rec Claudia, just looked up the Gone series and def looks like something I’d love. I think stay out home moms have the hardest job of all, props to you and every mom who does it! Oh my gosh you should def a minute to try and take up a little gaming, believe me it’s relaxing 😀 as for window shopping, that’s the best shopping of all 😀 My wallet loves it hehe! I have! Walmart has redone their own too and so has CVS. Everyone is really breaking into beauty lately!

  • Gillie

    I recently took a day off from work for no other reason than to distress. I went to the museum and saw the “Shoes: Pleasure and Pain” exhibit that’s been touring. It was brilliant!

    • Isabella Muse

      I wanted to see that, how was i? It was in Mass. this past Fall and I was in Mass. at the same time but didn’t get a chance to go! I think taking a little “sick” day just to go to the museum is an awesome plan 😀

      • Gillie

        Oh, man. I didn’t realize that autocorrect got me. I meant “de-stress” not “distress!”

        The exhibit was awesome. Each room held something new and different, and being on my own, I was able to go at my own pace and just enjoy. I got such a kick out of the “little old ladies” who were either reminiscing with each other about their days in heels or joking with each other about where the tall boots would come up to on them.

        At one point, there’s a video of Manolo Blahnik talking about why he designs shoes. He says something along the lines of clothing design is too utilitarian, but shoes can be pure fantasy, and that’s what he enjoys. I love that sentiment!

        I love being on the East Coast – there are so many good museums to visit on my “sick” days! 🙂

        • Isabella Muse

          oh don’t worry, I make a ton of errors haha 😀 no worries at all! Awww too cute! 🙂 I’ve heard him say that before and always thought it was a lovely sentiment! Me too! We def have tons of museums around the East Coast!

  • Millay

    Muse, you are my kind of gal 🙂 These are my favourite ways to feel better, whether supporting a new indie game on Steam or watching some new k drama (speaking of k shows, have you watched this game show called The Genius? Found S1 on YouTube and burnt through 3 seasons already. ) Going to have a bath now with some bath salts (still can’t bring myself to buy those Lush bath bombs) and a chick lit novel.

    • Isabella Muse

      haha Millary 😀 You sound like my kind of girl too! Yeah, I watched it towards the beginning of it’s run a few years ago, I haven’t watched any of the newer episodes though from 2015. I got through two seasons but I quit because others weren’t available. I’ll have to re-look it up! 😀 chick lit novel=YAASS! sounds good to me!

  • Jes

    Thanks for this, Muse. The events of the last few months have been difficult to deal with, and sometimes it’s very hard to keep perspective, and constructive. I’ve been reading more books, learning korean, spending time with friends, and indulging in my faves (makeup and skin care).

    I really ought to play more video games again. I have the amnesia trilogy on ps4, and I need to finish fallout 4 now that I decided which faction to support. Lol. Btw, have you ever watched the daigo umehara street fighter video, called the daigo parry? I spent like an hour going down the youtube hole. Mesmerizing.

    Glad you are staying sane!

  • Kay

    Thanks for this post Muse. I’m moving house next month and I’m job hunting already – I feel mega stressed a lot of the time! Now I’m thinking, yeah, I really should take the time out to just do something low pressure.

    My big weeknight wind down is crocheting, I always seem to have a hundred projects on the go so I can pick up whichever I fancy doing. On the weekends I like to get down to long reading or gaming sessions. FNAF though – :O Way too scary for me 😉 I hate to play it but weirdly love watching let’s plays though!

    • Isabella Muse

      aw my pleasure! Moving and job hunting at the same time I can image how you’re feeling right now. Haha! I’m an awful FNAF player, I like to sit in the dark play it but I’m also sitting there wishing I can put my hands over my eyes. It makes my heart raceeeeeeeeeeee! 😀 I wish I knew how to crochet! I think it would be a rather great way to unwind!

  • genevieve

    I’m a bit late, but I do a number of the things you suggested to de stress:
    Read a book: life is never boring if you have a good book to read and joining a library is fantastic. You get all the good books for free to read and if you don’t like one – you just give it back without wasting your money.
    Retail Therapy – there is nothing like an inexpensive lipstick to cheer you up.
    Visit a beautiful place: whether it be the botanical gardens, a drive in the countryside or visiting a museum.
    Bath – yep – that’s a good one for me.