“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
~ Oscar Wilde
I’m working today, conducting some psychic appointments. There’s such a joy for me in that – both the joy of spiritual connection, and the joy of being of service.
And I’m also choosing to be extra kind to myself today. Why? Because I’m unwell still? Partly. But it’s much more than that. In fact I felt the need to blog about it because so many people tell me that they either don’t feel deserving of putting themselves as a priority in their own lives or they don’t really even know HOW to treat themselves well.
I was once notorious for NOT treating myself well. I’d drive myself into the ground, pick myself up and then do it all again.
No more.
How can I ever reach sustainable heights if I’m flying with broken wings?
Now I make a concerted effort at the start of every day, or as I go to bed the night before, to identify five things I can do that will be a kindness for myself. I look for ways to comfort, nurture, support, relax, ease my burdens or to create moments of stillness. (Pssst: Wanna know a secret? I prefer to be clear about how I’ll be kind to myself and list these things so that I actually do them. Otherwise my day might go by in a blur and I won’t have done a single thing for myself at all…)
Treating ourselves as precious and worthy sends a strong message to the Universe that we ARE precious and worthy. It helps magnetize us to relationships and opportunities that treat us with respect, with goodness and with integrity.
Treating ourselves with kindness fills up our cup, so that we can more sustainably keep giving to others. And I know how many of you are big givers, how much you support others, and how many demands you have upon your time.
Lovelies, treating yourself with kindness keeps you sane, helps you cope, and makes even the hardest days more bearable. And on the good days, your world will take on a new luminosity and grace. Things will simply flow better.
Treating ourselves well might feel odd at first, or even wildly wrong – especially if we have entrenched patterns of self-sabotage or low self esteem. But I promise it gets easier, and after a while it even begins to feel good.
Here’s how I’m being kind to myself today:
- Yoga breathing and meditation to start my morning while I burn a favourite aromatherapy oil blend.
- Early coffee with a friend for hugs and a catch up. (See you soon! xx)
- Home-made Thai pumpkin soup and salad for lunch and a half-hour sit in the sunshine doing perfectly nothing – with Bert the dog for company.
- An epsom salts bath with lots of lovely fairy-approved crystals at the end of my working day to ground, cleanse and relax.
- I’m then planning an early night, tucked up in bed with a good book (Inga Simpson’s Mr Wigg), before I head off to see my Lyme Doctor tomorrow.
How about you? How will you be kind to yourself today?
So often we have advice for our family and friends about self-nurture and the need to take care of themselves. Isn’t it about time we did the same?
Remember to talk kindly to yourself too. More gets done with love and encouragement than angry words, blame and meanness.
Bless xx
I use to teach parenting classes and I had a story I told the parents. When you board a plane one of the instructions the stewardess/steward gives you is on the use of the oxygen mask. They STRESS that when the masks pop down you MUST put yours on first even if you have children with you. Now to parents this, at first glance, seems contra-indicated because, of course, we want to make sure our children are okay first. BUT you may pass out from oxygen deprivation before you get the children cared for and then you not only can’t finish caring for the the children and they may perish, you yourself may perish. If you put your mask on first even if one of them passes out when you get their mask on they will revive and all will be well, all have their masks on BECAUSE you took care of yourself first.
After the past week, back and forth to doctors, tests and back for results I was beginning to feel like the butterfly. The Gratitude Challenge, which I still do, gives me 5 things to be grateful for and I’ve found 5 things /ways to be kind to myself. Sometimes it’s difficult and some days I feel I’ve lost it but the practise makes bouncing back easier. My biggest challenge and way to learn to be kind to myself… Being isolated, my husband is my sole daily support so…..Learning to share my thoughts and feelings with others on places like WP. It’s a start 😊
Praying for an easy day/week Lyme wise for you Nicole. ❤❤❤. Susan
Creating change keeps the commitment fresh…thank you for that also.
Enjoy your day of self-kindness too Nicole. These words were pretty profound for me, “Treating ourselves with kindness fills up our cup, so that we can more sustainably keep giving to others” and I plan to share it with a few of my friends who are serial givers and often suffer from burn out!!! xox
love this post! enjoy your day! sx
❤️ 😊
I take time and spce for my self, I speek honest and positive of myself, I take healthy food and body care products and I am thankful for compliments. Love, Jetske <3 🙂
Good advise! Thank you xxx
Enjoy your da of loving and kindness to yourself and others! Love xx
Nicole,
I love the broken wings analogy and sending you angel kindness for you day of healing. I am having a kindness weekend getting back in touch with nature and my creativity and it is bliss
I too remember the days where I was so unkind and thought I was superwoman and now I have my body to remind me if I push beyond
all my love
Suzie xxx