What does Self Care look like? ⚖️ (11.06.23)
This week I wanted to touch on self care, which looks different to each one of us. Several of you recently shared about a high level of intensity in your life right now, others feel out of balance, all over the place, or 'stuck'. I sure know both extremes, of bouncing off the walls, and of feeling so heavy and lethargic that nothing seems possible.
People often say that balance isn't the nature of things, that balance is 'stagnation', that growth only emerges from movement, not from stasis. While that all may be true, I also believe that in order to be able to stay present with whatever is happening for us, we need to balance rest and activity, healing and integrating, staring at the wall and looking actively for a vision.
For each of us, the balance between these will be different, and different at times in our lives as well. Since balance indicates a 50-50 share, perhaps it's easier to speak of 'proportions' that can be adjusted on a day-to-day basis. So this week I invite you to pay attention to the right 'proportions' in your self-care.
Reflection & Practice
What activities bring you a sense of nourishment and peace, that help you stay rested and present to the physical reality of your body and this world?
What activities bring you a sense of joy and fulfilment, that help you stay connected to your soul and your vision?
They may be the same, they maybe different! Are you giving enough time to both streams within your being - particularly if you feel a strong sense of overwhelm, burnout or stuckness?
Our world is still finding a new 'equilibrium' and the intensity of Brexit, Corona, and the Ukraine haven't really settled down yet. In addition, we have families, work and unruly bodies, and are generally going through a lot. What can you do this week to up your self-care, to stabilise where you need, and/or to catalyse where you need? Borrowing an idea from Lee Harris, integration is the superpower between healing and growing - we can't move forward by only tending to the deep healing and inner work, nor by only fuelling the big vision.
Some ideas for self care:
Yoga or Qi Gong, meditation, solitude, gardening, cooking, dancing, uplifting music or stillness, inspiring conversations, creative art practice, paying more attention to your dreams... Why not pick one or two this week and give them a bit more space?
Just make sure that you are 'in the driver's seat', controlling the speed, volume and intensity in whatever way you need, and creating moments of nourishment on a regular basis - and regular might mean 3x5 minutes a day, or a pocket of few hours in the week. It can also be effected by the temperature - so calibrate yourself to the circumstances and don't melt!
Here's the ZOOM link for our next Thrive Circle on Tuesday night, 19.30-20.30 and I look forward to seeing you there!
Here's to Restful Play,
Eline
For Your Diary
The next Thrive Circle Meetings (in Central European time):
Tuesday 13 June: 19.30-20.30
Monday 17 July: 19.30-20.30 NEWLY ADDED
Convert to your time zone with World Time Buddy if needed.