Your Custom Text Here
As a dutiful daughter, wife, mom and even employee I have often put what was needed in these roles ahead of what I needed. Somewhere along the line I decided the outcome was more important than the process, that others were more important than me, that life had to be either or.
In serving others I was telling myself a false story that I could not serve myself. (Tweet that!)
Now, I realize that I can do both and so can you!
Read more
Feeding and caring for yourself need not compete with quality time with others. On the contrary, if we infuse self-care into our lives more generously, I believe we will have more to give...
Read more
In a past blog post I spoke of the power of female friendships, but this post is to share an epiphany of sorts that I had regarding achieving our heart’s desires, that may actually seem a bit contradictory.
Basically it comes down to this: you cannot expect anyone else to give you what you want...
Read more
I remember a time when my first son was an infant, when I believed all the people I needed in this world were my family…the little family under my roof and my extended family that supported us. I was so consumed by new motherhood that I barely had time for nights out with the girls.
Read more
Warmer temps and longer days mean it’s time to come out of hibernation and take part in the growth and rebirth that is happening all around us in nature.
Read more
What if I told you that instead of focusing on your weaknesses and working hard on improving them, you should first focus on your strengths and do more of them?
How would that feel?
What if you could shift yourself to see all of your amazing strengths and build on them...celebrate them...more of them?
Wouldn’t that be amazing?
I believe there are things we definitely can work on to improve, but sometimes it just makes more sense to delegate or ask for help from someone who can do it better, faster and with more joy.
How much time do you spend on things that truly strengthen you? Do you even know what they are? Is it time in nature? Time with family? Time alone? Are you energized when cooking a delicious, healthy meal or does that drain you?
Asking yourself what brings you strength is an important step to your self-care and asking for help with what doesn’t is just as important!
So, your assignment is to take some time to reflect on what gives you strength. Then, think about what takes away your strength or depletes you. Finally, find some creative ways to add more of what does and less of what doesn’t. How can you delegate?
Feeling stuck? Try this with a friend and see if you have some things you could swap? Not all of us are fed by the same activities. Maybe there is something you enjoy to do that your friend doesn't and vice versa.
I’d love to hear what you discover, so please share in the comments below or comment over on the Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/wholewomanwholeyou/.
As a good friend, caring person and loving woman you probably show empathy and forgiveness easily when others make mistakes.
But how about for yourself? When you make mistakes or feel less than perfect how do you treat yourself?
Read more
It's easy to forget to look for the blessings in the winter coldness, but as I seek rejuvenation from the activity of the summer and fall, I do cherish the privacy of winter. Being indoors offers a cozy cocoon from the outside world.
Read more
As I sit and reflect on a wonderful Thanksgiving break with my family, I am so grateful to see how far I have come in my own self-care practice. It has only been a few years since one of my most stressful holiday seasons landed me in the emergency room.
What has changed?
What’s my holiday self-care secret?
Read more
So today my car was hit in the parking lot of my school before I could even get to a spot. All of the dangerous highway miles I commute daily, minutes from arriving safe and sound, and boom this guy hits me directly in my rear drivers side tire.
Understandably, I was quite shaken up. The force of the hit jolted the car, and I was certain the damage was bad. Shaking, I got out and examined the damage, only to find to deep gouges on the hub caps and a small dent in the panel near the tire. I was amazed, baffled really, by the lack of visual damage.
I called in to the officers on duty, while the gentleman who had just dropped his daughter off apologized. We both gathered our paperwork for the report and again he apologized. I could tell in my heart he was truly sorry and I really tried to stay calm and hold my emotions that were bubbling up. I wanted to blame, judge, even yell, but instead remained as calm as I could and thanked God for the outcome.
The situation was not an easy one for me, though, because although the damage appeared to be minimal, my nervous system and body disagreed. For them this was serious sh**.
Read more
Through-out all of my work with busy, caring women and of course my own life experiences, I have found that there are several signs that we are in need of some big loving and self-care. These signals start out as temporary, but if untreated can turn into entrenched habits if we continue to deny ourselves of the rest and self-care we really need.
The problem is that many of us still believe that self-care is selfish, costs too much, takes too much time, or should come last after you have taken care of everyone else!
Guess what, we are no good to anyone if we are run-down, depleted, and burnt out. We can’t possibly give the loving, intentional caring energy we wish to give to others if we can’t give that to ourselves. We have nothing left to give. It is all about energy. Loving energy. And frankly if you are showing some of these signs, you're probably not too pleasant to be around … even for yourself.
So what are the signs that it is time for a heavy dose of self-care?
Read more
This past weekend I was away on a family trip to Vermont. A three day weekend during peak leaf peeping season on a beautiful property in Woodstock. The gratitude for this gift overflows. As I was counting my blessings for all that surrounded me, I realized that one of the reasons why this weekend was so powerful, was that is was fulfilling to all five senses.
This had me thinking about my favorite self-care treats and I realized the best experiences are truly a buffet for the senses. Smell, touch, sight, sound, and yes ... taste! Not only do our senses help us enjoy the experience, but by pulling our five senses into our self-care, we can be more present and in the moment.
Read more