Wrap yourself in the cloak of peace. Settle into your own inner softness of being. Open your heart to your own radiance. Heal and nourish the scars of sorrow. Soak in the truths you seek in the quietude. Choose you first, to fill your reservoir of love for others.
How many times do you wait until your stress levels have peaked to the unbearable before you take a step toward self-nurturance? How long do you put off coping with heavy emotions, until finally they can not be dammed up any longer? And how many areas of chronic tension are held in your body, inhibiting free movement, deep sleep, and unfettered joy?
"All of us receive messages from our bodies regularly about what serves our health and well-being and what doesn't. Our bodies know immediately when we are doing something or even thinking of something that doesn't support us."
Christiane Northrup, M.D.
Well, if you are like many of us, you wait until you can't put it off anymore! And then how many of you get the feel-good fix, only to turn your attention once again away from your own self-care?! There is an ease in ignoring what is good for us and a challenge in doing what is healing, healthy and nourishing. For whatever reason for this upside-down perspective, it all to often seems to be the norm, unless we recognize it, remain conscious of it, and with a commitment to our well-being make a decision to take care of ourselves. Self-care is really a way of communicating to ourselves that:
"I matter. I love and respect myself. I value my health and well-being."
Recently I had a client/good friend who had been under tremendous stress. Her life was in transition on all fronts. Her stress levels were running very high, she had numerous false stories running around her brain, and her body was holding layers of tension. In the midst of her own turmoil, she was also trying to care-take for others in her life with her own empty tank. She finally had made some time for a much needed session, only to feel the day before, that she was much to stressed and had so much to do, she needed to cancel. As we talked on the phone, her voice cracking with near tears, I offered a couple of questions.
The answers to the questions allowed her a few moments to think clearer and realize what she really needed was the relaxation and decompressing of stress from the session she had scheduled. During our time together, with some discussion about all the aspects of her life that were out of balance, a Yoga Nidra meditation and Reiki treatment, she found her footing again. She gained clarity of the truth of her situation rather than being chased around unconsciously by her internal stories. Her body relaxed, she had a good cry and she was able to get in touch with feelings she had been holding in. She gained a deeper peace and clearer mind. She was so happy she had decided to make time for the session, which in reality allowed her more spaciousness and a clearer sense of what really needed to take place and what could be let go of.
"In order to create health daily, long before illness ensues we need to pay attention to the subtle signals from our bodies about what feels good and what doesn't. . . aches and pains are common but subtle symptoms that often signal that it is time for us to start letting go of what we don't want in life and start using our own power to improve things."
Christiane Northrup, M.D.
This is in no way an isolated event. Many of us often find ourselves in these circumstances. Self-care allows us to flow through our lives, not unaffected, but better able to cope with the effects of daily stress. For many of us, we need to learn that we deserve to take care of ourselves. And further, that with self-care maintenance, our body, mind and heart is better served. As we learn that we feel better, can manage stress and emotions better with a regular regimen of nurturing. We also find we can be more helpful to others and remain centered in our hearts.
When we learn to take care of ourselves, to love ourselves, we are then more available to love others in our lives. When we are harboring stress and contraction, the spaciousness that love needs to flow freely is cut off. Relax, open, surrender, soften, expand, settle, and release into Self-Care and Self -Love. You nor those around you will regret it! It's the best discipline we can develop!
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