One of my most challenging, daily issues is keeping up my self-nurturing practices. I am not alone in this balancing quest. It is difficult to follow through on a number of daily activities that are all about oneself. That's sad, isn't it? We can be much more focused on other necessary routines each day, and devalue our need for personal nurturing, reframing and recharging time. Yet our health requires it and for our own peace of mind, we deserve it. The 'we' includes both men and women, although personal experience tells me that women generally find this more difficult than men.
The article presents some suggestions for realigning our practices and some ideas for daily practices to lovingly soothe body and spirit.
One constant in life is change itself! Naturally, we continually go off track and need to gently bring ourselves back. Instead, what we tend to do, is put a heavy guilt trip on ourselves or give up entirely, much like falling off the wagon and excusing ourselves that it is too hard or that there is no time. What we can shift towards is a belief that ANY amount of time or ANY practice is a healthy option for us. If we are perfectionists then we will need a strong desire to accept that each day we do our best and that some days are better than others.
Suggestions:
1. Do the practice if even for 3-5 minutes.
2. Do some practices during the day, taking 3 -5 minutes of space..
3. Some days, do less and be happy that you can do at least some of them.
4. Practice deep breathing in the car, in line-ups, on the bus, while walking.
5. Sing or say your prayers, intentions in the car or bus.
6. Sit in the car for a few moments before beginning or finishing your day and breathe.
7. Before getting out of bed and once in bed do some of your practices.
8. Develop intentions, mantras that keep you focused on what you want.
9. Stop what you are doing, check in with your heart and feel gratitude, love in your heart.
10. Repeat to yourself the feeling that you are enough, worthy and loved.
Some self-nurturing and self-loving suggestions:
Repeat silently a prayer or a statement of your intention:
It is my desire to experience honest and open interaction
To learn to feel genuine emotions
To find my inner strength
To accept and love myself as I am in each moment
To be in my heart joyfully
To experience and express gratitude for all the abundance that is present in my life
I choose to connect with my higher self and ask for help living my life more authentically making time to reacquaint myself with all parts of me experiencing myself daily on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level being more gentle with myself finding ways to acknowledge, support and honour myself for all that
I AM.
Make a 7 day schedule and jot down anything you do that increases space for healthy routines: exercise, breathing, meditation, creative expression. How can you expand the opportunities? Make these routines a priority by putting them in your schedule first and fitting other responsibilities around the nurturing practices.
Improve breathing techniques to increase energy. Eliminate poor breathing habits (shallow, rapid, holding, gulping and sighing ).
Learn to breathe abdominally, into the gut, gently deepening as you proceed. Try counting down by 1 on each in and out breath, from 25 to 1.
Or, as you breathe in, silently say, "Calm in" and on the out breath, say, "Worry out". Choose the words that best apply to you. These exercises and many others like yoga or tai chi, will oxygenate your blood, and help to turn down the analytical thinking and help you focus in the moment, leading to increased energy and calmness.
Drink enough water and fluids daily and eat smaller, more nutritious meals to keep your glucose levels high enough so that you don't crash energetically.
During the day take a break every 60 - 90 minutes. Take a short walk, stretch in your chair, or at a door jam. A break from the electro-magnetic energy, resting your eyes is also beneficial. Breaks during the day help you to remember that you have a body that has needs. Listen for the signals.
Sleep 7-8 hours, getting to bed earlier and waking up earlier.
Plan a personal quiet time of at least 10 minutes before your day begins, to renew your commitment to increasing the amount of self-nurture in your life. This may be a convenient time to list all the positives in your life, all the abundance and good fortune that you do have or a few minutes to journal or do some quiet sitting. Remember that what you focus on expands in your life so be rigorous about positive thinking and feeling habits.
Each week, create an hour of power: an activity that expands your imagination, or gives your heart joy or inspires you to celebrate life, within a mindset of gratitude.
Meditation can take many forms, and a quiet mind, for short periods of time helps to find the space for healthy renewal on all levels.
Give yourself hugs and express your self-love. As you wake up, hug yourself and state that, " I am a blessing to this world! " And you are! How different would our world be if we all had high self-esteem and we were full of genuine self-love, not to be confused with false pride? Our world would radiate love and kindness.
Friendship with yourself can become your dearest and best friend. When you are complete within yourself to nurture and cherish yourself, many fears are relieved and released. The inner strength that comes from self-nurture improves all relationships, which is a bonus!
I challenge you to come up with 20 ways that you are a loving, nurturing friend to yourself and keep working your daily practices each day for the rest of your stay here on planet Earth. Have fun, celebrate who you are and love deeply!
Copyright Ligthworks for Well Being 2008
