Taking some time out from your illness – tips from Life Coach, Alexandra Christina Bauer

Alexandra Christina Bauer is an Author, former Podcast Host and a certified Mental Health Naturopath with six years of life coaching experience. She is the founder of Serenity Therapy  and specializes in working with people who feel stuck in overwhelming situations. Her mindfulness-based approach helps her clients to make positive changes in their life and find inner peace. She talked to us about the importance of moments of pleasure.

Alexandra, you specialize in mindfulness and staying in the present. How does ‘enjoying the moment’ impact our quality of life?

Truly enjoying something brings us into the here and now. This means that everything that is currently going through our head, be it fear about the future or the memory of things we have experienced in the past, is put to one side because we are focusing our senses on that moment of pleasure. Enjoying something means we are doing something good for ourselves, and practicing that self-care piece is essential for our quality of life.

In your experience, how does mindfulness help us switch off?

For me, mindfulness means aligning your senses with the present moment. It could be standing in the garden at home and taking a deep breath. It could be the pleasure of your favourite food melting on your tongue. You don’t have to make much time for it. Real enjoyment is more like an accumulation of many small, beautiful moments. Everyone is born with a strong capacity for pleasure.

How can we build these practices into our lives and make a habit of them?

It’s important to make it clear from the outset that you are only doing this for yourself. It is also helpful to remember that you don’t have to do anything too big or complicated – small pleasures work just as well. The ultimate aim is to get as much joy out of things you do as possible.

What happens when major and unforeseen life changes happen, like a diagnosis of liver disease for example? What can you do when it feels like your world is turned upside down?

Receiving a diagnosis like this can at first feel like the ground is being pulled out from underneath your feet. This is normal. The important piece here is to let yourself go through the emotions, to feel your feelings, and above all, to talk about them. If you don’t feel you can speak to family or friends about your diagnosis, seek professional support. The more you withdraw from such a diagnosis, the more your fears can grow. Healthcare professionals and psychotherapists can give you valuable tips and advice and support you in ways that relatives and friends can’t.

If you’re not sure where to start with talking to people, it can also help to write down how you’re feeling. Now is the time to make time for yourself and listen to what your body needs, as this will help you to figure out how you want to live your life now, and how to shape your future.

In your opinion, what are the most important factors for achieving satisfaction in life, despite a diagnosis like liver disease?

I believe it is important to practice gratitude and do things that are really fun. When you’re unwell, it helps to take note of the things that you can still do, especially things you enjoy, rather than focusing on what you can’t do. They don’t have to be big things – ‘little joys’, like walks in the woods, for example, will do just as well. It can also be an opportunity to discover new things that bring you joy.

Go out, be true to your emotions, and let others share in your joyful moments.

If you’re not sure where to start with talking to people, it can also help to write down how you’re feeling. Now is the time to make time for yourself and listen to what your body needs, as this will help you to figure out how you want to live your life now, and how to shape your future.

Keen to find others going through a similar experience? Find out about patient support groups in your country.