monday morning sweet self-care - how do you stay calm?

To be truly present for others, and for your work in the world, you must care deeply for yourself in body, mind, and spirit.


Last week, I told you about my goal to get through this potentially stressful time of pressure and deadlines without freaking out. Freaking out has been my default setting for dealing with pressure, especially at the end of important projects.


I'm learning so much simply by challenging myself to do it differently this time - respond differently, think differently, do differently. No, I'm not stress free right now, with ten days to go until my opening! But I am much more aware of the anxiety when it arises, which means I have lots more options for how to deal with it. I'm excited about setting a new pattern, so in the future I can embrace times like these as busy and exciting, instead of dreading the stress.


So, I encourage you to reflect on what your default setting is for stressful times. Do you freak out and allow anxiety to overwhelm you? Do you withdraw and go numb and become unable to enjoy the process? Do you throw yourself into your commitments and drop your self care? If you are aware of the pattern, you are empowered to change it. It's amazing the transformations we can trigger simplyby watching ourselves with honesty and compassion.


What are your self-care goals for the week? What is your pattern for moving through stressful times? Are you ready to change it, or have you found something that works?  Share here or on the Artful Life Facebook Page. Have a fabulous, calm, delicious week!

PS I just announced the launch of my NEW Artful Life ecourse, which begins September 15.
The course is expanded and enriched and I'm very excited to share it with you. During the course, we'll be putting together a customized self-care plan for your coming year. Plus lots of other fun things! Read all about it here.

monday morning sweet self-care

To be truly present for others, and for your work in the world, you must care deeply for yourself in body, mind, and spirit.

Today I just want to remind you that caring for yourself is not a trivial pursuit.  As I write and talk more and more about self-care for women, what I'm noticing is that everyone says it's a good idea, but most people still have it on the 'luxuries' list, not the 'necessities' list. And I'm going to go ahead and say this: I think one of the reasons we keep it there is because society actually rewards us for neglecting our self-care. Imagine these two women:

"I just worked an eighty hour week, took care of my sick Mom, and harvested and canned all the tomatoes in the garden by myself! I'm exhausted! I wish I had time for exercise but of course I don't!"

"I stood up and told my boss I couldn't work any overtime this week, my personal time is more important. I got respite care for Mom, and invited friends over to help with the tomato harvest. I made it to two yoga classes and had a massage."

So tell me, which of these ladies is going to get all the praise and encouragement? Honestly? And which one might be subject to some cool or possibly even resentful responses?

Please think about this. Self-care can be a bit of a subversive act. But it is definitely not a luxury.

As always, feel free to share your self-care intentions for the week here, or on the Artful Life Facebook Page.

monday morning - sweet self-care

To be truly present for others, and for your work in the world, you must care deeply for yourself in body, mind, and spirit.


This morning we got up early and went up to the northern tip of the island to run the stairs on the bluff at my favorite windswept, secluded beach. I've let my daily cardio habit slip in recent weeks so it was tough but gooooooood. The islands were stretched out languidly in the already warm summer hazy ocean air, the divine silence was filled with loon and eagle, wave and wind.  Strengthening body and spirit at the same time - so gorgeous. 


Back at home I made a quick scramble with eggs from the neighbor's chickens, fresh basil and tomatoes from the local farmer's market, and some baby swiss chard from my garden.


I feel great now heading into my work day. I know you know this, but your morning routine sets the tone and mood for the day. Can you change a little something in your morning each day to bring more loving self-care and beauty to the tone of your day? Here are some ideas of morning blessings that take 15 minutes or less:

• Take your yoga mat out to the garden or deck and do seven sun salutations
• Cook something fresh, or whip up a smoothie, instead of grabbing a muffin on the way to work.
• Sit outside with your journal for 15 minutes. Write in it or don't. Look at the sky.
  
• Don't turn on the news - turn on your favorite music instead.
• Stay in bed an extra half-hour ;)

What loving self-care can you add to your mornings this week?

monday morning - sweet self-care

To be truly present for others, and for your work in the world, you must care deeply for yourself in body, mind, and spirit.

Routines and habits can be powerful. Even a simple, seemingly frivolous monthly, weekly, or daily self-care ritual can become a powerful message to yourself that you are of value, you deserve care. The key is to practice regularly; make a commitment to yourself.

Which self-nurturing activity you choose to commit to is perhaps less important than the act of commitment to yourself, and the follow through, which builds self-trust, and a sense of worth. Simple things like a monthly pedi or the preparation of a daily superfood smoothie can become rituals of self love. You may be surprised by the power of a small self-care commitment over time.

What regular self-care ritual can you commit to today? When will you practice it? Mark your calendar for the rest of the year. Hold your commitment. Observe your sense of self-worth. It will grow.

P.S.  For today's post I really want to honour the
beautiful Kimberly Wilson of Tranquility du Jour - her work has been instrumental in my own journey towards true self-care. Check her out. And if you're interested, you can hear my chat with Kimberly about Artful Living here.

monday morning - sweet self-care

To be truly present for others, and for your work in the world, you must care deeply for yourself in body, mind, and spirit.

This week, I am committing to nurturing my body by getting some heart-rate-raising exercise, out in nature, at least four mornings (I say mornings because I know myself well enough to know that unless I do it in the morning it won't happen!)

What is your body asking you for this week? More rest? More exercise? More nourishment? Less of a certain kind of food? More of a certain kind of food? Some physical affection, or a massage? If you listen, you'll realize something in particular is calling out to be cared for. Can you care for it a little this week? Let us know in the comments or on my new Facebook page and we can share our intentions together.

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