Diane von Furstenberg’s famous quote, “The most important relationship you have in life is the one you have with yourself”, could not ring more true today. The relationship you have with yourself can look and sound and mean many different things. But this I know for sure, treating yourself kindly and working to understanding your life and taking good care of yourself are all good starts. And they are the only ways to treating others with kindness, showing compassion and taking good care of those around us. I have broken these ideas into 3 actions to practice this month.
Being Mindful. Becoming aware of what it is you believe, what your values truly are, allows you to align your thoughts with your actions. Ways to practice this is through praying, meditating and choosing 3-5 values, or principles, to really connect with. What are you focusing on in this season of your life?
Keeping Small Promises. By keeping small promises to yourself daily you build confidence. Through movement, eating whole foods and forgiving yourself and others, you can move forward with a sense of purpose. Dr. Nicole LePera says, “Make one small promise to yourself that is so small it’s seemingly insignificant. Keep it every day. If (AND WHEN) you do not keep the promise forgive yourself and begin the next day. Repeat.” Building on this is the path to success.
Practicing Gratitude. Neurological research data states that feelings of happiness are directly related to a sense of thankfulness. Saying thank you, preforming random acts of kindness and being creative are all ways in which to express gratitude. Do you have a gratitude practice?
One of the biggest acts of self-care is keeping a journal. Whether you use a diary type format, track what you eat or what your expenses have been, or write down things you are thankful for; the practice of documenting your human experience can be huge. Over time this reveals your thoughts and habits and moods and brings you closer to understanding yourself. Which in-turn can assist with taking better care of yourself. Which is right back where we started this conversation. So, practice the art of self-care this month and begin to write your own story.