The Power of Happy Memories
It must be something about the colder months that make me think about Harry Potter because I pretty much use all of my HP knowledge to explain the natural phenomena. So when I was doing my research on Seasonal Affective Disorder and Winter Blues, I noticed that these disorders have several parallels to the Dementors of the Harry Potter Wizarding World.
They make you feel like you’ll never be happy again.
They make everything cold and dark.
They make you lose sight of who you are and your overall sense of self.
They make you lose interest in the things you used to like.
They make you feel lifeless and less motivated
What do y’all think? Am I right? Like Dementors, both SAD and the Winter Blues can make life a little more unbearable than usual, but according to Professor Lupin, the Patronus charm can help with that.
"A Patronus is a kind of positive force, and it works something like a shield, but in order for it to work, you need to think of a memory. Not just any memory, a very happy memory, a very powerful memory."
This caused me to conclude that happy memories hold power, and so you know I had to see if there was any merit to my claim, so I decided to dig a little deeper, and here’s what I found. According to Stephanie Watson, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch, “When you feel happy and all seems right with the world, you’re feeling the effects of serotonin. This hormone is responsible for boosting mood, as well as a host of other functions.”
So, naturally, it makes sense that when you are feeling like the shorter days, colder temps, and darker nights are causing you to feel down and lose your sense of self, think of a happy memory that makes you feel alive again, and give it all of your power, and find your way back to you again.
The big question is how do we do that? How do we create our own Patronus Charm? There are ways. According to Living Life on Purpose, “when we go back and bring out a happy memory from the past, the serotonin levels in the body increase automatically which leads to better regulation of mood and it also helps to regulate sleep, appetite and learning ability.” Wow! Increased levels of serotonin leads to better regulation of mood, sleep, appetite, and learning ability. All the things that you and I need to make it through these cold winter months.
Knowing this made me look for ways to recall my happiest memories, so that I could have them at the ready when moments of darkness began to settle in, and three of my fondest memories came to mind: the days my three children were born. Their birthdays bring me such joy. And there are others too. Like my graduation day (all 3 of them). Dancing at my reception. The day I received the title to my car in the mail. They are all my Patronus Charm because they fill me warmth and laughter. So today, I ask y’all, what’s your Patronus Charm?
Let's give it a try, shall we?
What's a happy memory you have that makes you feel alive? Now that you have thought of them, write them down someplace or add them to the notes app on your phone. Just hold on to these memories, so that the next time you find that you are losing your sense of self, you’re able to find a happy memory to ground you and bring you back not only to yourself, but back to those you love and who love you.
You will find that as soon as you give those happy memories power, the cold and darkness will no longer matter, for you will be filled with so much warmth and light that you begin to blush and emit a glow. See you are thinking about them now, aren’t you? I sure am.
So now that you know a few of those memories, I would love to hear them. Please feel free to let them live here with mine, and in that way, we can face the blues together.
As always, you are not alone in this.
With the spirit of creativity and inspiration,
Sources: Live Your Life on Purpose and Harvard Health Publishing
