As someone who helps to facilitate the healing of beautiful souls, I’m discovering more and more, the incredible importance of caring for myself first.
This is a point that I tend to drive home in all my Reiki trainings, and I feel like the old adage, that we teach what we most want to learn, really applies for me.
It’s always been very easy for me to care for others. I love the feeling of helping, uplifting, and seeing those around me thrive. It’s such a beautiful experience to witness someone come to me feeling uncomfortable in some way, and then watching them transform as the Reiki, Feng Shui, or healing jewellery does its work for them. Those transformations are so exciting, and it truly makes me so happy to have a small part in them!
At the same time, as the momentum of my personal and business life picks up, I do find that I want to listen to my own needs more, so I can find more balance in my life. I want to tune more deeply into how I am feeling, honour my desires, and fill my own cup first.
When I take the time to tend to myself first, I’m so much more effective in my life. My business flows more smoothly, my energy is higher, I’m more productive, but most importantly, I’m happier. When I’m happy, I know I’m tuned into my Higher Self, and I can flow through my days with that deep wisdom guiding me and supporting me. For me, there is nothing more important than that connection.
Today, I’d like to share some ways that I make time for self-care in my daily life. While these suggestions are focused on those who are Healers in some way, they can certainly apply to anyone who wants to invite more self-care into their life.
Meditate.
Meditation has become a daily part of my life. I wake up at 6am (sometimes earlier) to make sure that I have plenty of time for my morning meditation. These days, I like to meditate for 30 minutes. After my meditation, I take another 15 minutes to connect to my Source through prayer, and I have intentions that I read to myself as well. After that, I feel fresh, connected, and ready to begin my day.
Minimize social media time.
Social media is such a wonderful resource. It’s the way I connect with so many people who are important to me, and also my main source of advertising for my business.
When I am on social media more than is necessary, I feel it. I don’t feel as connected to myself as I potentially could be, and that’s when I know I need to minimize my screen time. I do my best not to go on social media right after meditation, and to turn off at least an hour before bed. During the day, I also try to only hop on when need be. I keep my phone on do not disturb, and I always keep my notifications turned off. This helps me to focus on what's really important.
Nourish yourself with healthy, whole foods.
I’ve always been a fairly healthy eater. Lately, I’ve felt the desire to nourish myself even more, by making sure that I have balanced meals, drink plenty of water, and have more energizing juices, teas, and elixirs.
I also allow myself the space to have treats and fun little desserts. If I’m at the farmer’s market, I’ll have a Jelly Modern Donut if I feel like it, or a macaron. Part of nourishing your body is knowing when to give yourself a treat, so I always make that part of my self-care routine.
Learn to say no.
More and more, I’m finding the empowerment that comes from saying no. Whether it’s a class I’ve facilitated, a relationship that’s been a part of my life, or a routine that no longer serves, saying no helps me to free up my own energy.
It’s okay to let things go. You don't have to be all things to all people. What once felt like a fit, doesn’t have to continue to fit today, if it doesn’t feel right. Remember, we are evolving beings, and shedding what is no longer a match helps us to move forward with more ease on our path.
Rest.
Whenever I’m feeling off, I just lay down on my bed and have a rest. I don’t make myself do anything except enjoy the feeling of taking it easy. This practice changes my mood almost instantly. There’s something so healing about giving yourself permission to be kind to yourself.
I also love having a good bedtime routine. Switching off for at least an hour and a half before bed feels amazing. I take this time to offer myself Reiki, read, journal, put luxurious cream on my hands and feet, and rest. I like to be asleep by 10:30pm at the latest, as I find it gives me a beautiful rest and helps me feel my best for the upcoming day.
Know that you don’t have to do it alone.
When you’re running a business, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed with the sheer volume of things that need to be taken care of. Remember, you don’t have to go at it alone. You can always outsource tasks whenever possible. There are always people out there who want to help you.
It seems counterintuitive, but whenever I let my to-do list rest for a day or two, and just tend to myself, I actually have much more energy to tackle it, and what's more, I feel really inspired to. What seemed overwhelming at first, is so do-able, when your energy is high.
It almost seems like magic, but it's during those times of high energy, that amazing people connect with me, without my even needing to reach out. They offer up their help, or tend to things on my to-do list, without my needing to ask.
The Universe always gives you what you want, you just have to put yourself in a place of receiving, which means, feel as good as you can, and take good care of you.
Be gentle with yourself.
Sometimes, as Healers, we feel like we need to be perfect in order to help others or teach them in some way. The reality is, we’re human and we’re figuring it out just like everyone else. Sure, we have more practice in tuning into the energies and rhythm of the Universe, but we are always going to have moments where we don’t feel good and that’s okay. That’s part of life experience and it’s part of being human.
Whenever I don’t feel good, I do my best not to be hard on myself. And I just choose to do something that feels a little better, whether that means resting, doing yoga, taking a walk, etc. Eventually the feeling passes, and with it comes more clarity on the subject that was formally uncomfortable.
Treat yourself as you do your beloved friends and clients. You know how good it feels to offer space for healing to take place. Think of yourself as one of those amazing souls, and give yourself that same gift of loving-kindness.
Healing is an inside job and it begins with you. When you take the time to engage in self-care practices, you allow yourself to be so much more effective as a Healer. Even more than that, you give yourself the incredible gift of happiness, and that's what life is really all about.
Do you have some favourite self-care practices? Share them with me in the comments. ♡