Practicing self-care is important. When you feel scared or angry, you can feel helpless. Helplessness is often at the root of struggles. Finding healthy ways to empower yourself and create security is essential to your own well-being and for those around you. You can’t control anyone else, but you have power over what you think of yourself, how you treat yourself, and who you choose to hang around. Start with being gentle and kind to yourself. When you are experiencing challenging times, you need your own support. Let go of self-criticism and forgive your past self. Look at mistakes as learning opportunities. Help yourself figure out what you will do differently next time. You will move through situations more easily if you treat yourself like a good friend. You deserve your own support. Choose to be around supportive people; people who lift you up and don’t drag you down. Surround yourself with people who care about you. If you do have to be around people who are challenging, limit your time with them and set boundaries. Take a daily vacation for 15-30 minutes each day. This is time spent doing something you really enjoy, or choosing to do nothing. This is a segment of time where you can be in the moment and let go. When you take care of yourself, you can be more present and care for those you love. Become aware and surrender to the situation. You may not like the present moment, but when you accept it, you create space and calm. You can then move ahead with a more peaceful mindset that will help you resolve the situation more effectively. Change your self-talk and negative thoughts. Acknowledge the thoughts, and go beyond them. One strategy is to shift to a positive image in your mind, like a favorite vacation spot or a beloved pet. Or, you can say to the thought, “thank you for sharing, I choose to think differently.” You can also use positive, present tense affirmations, such as: “I love and approve of myself. I trust the process of life. I am safe.” The simple affirmation “Let go,” can be very healing and calming to the mind and body. These affirmations are helpful for anxiety. Take it to the body. Another way to quiet the mind is to go within the body. You can do this by taking some deep breaths in through your nose, out through your mouth. The breath is helpful in grounding you in the present moment, where life always takes place. You can also become aware of the feeling sensations in the body and allow them to be. When you resist your feelings, they become stronger. Allow your feelings to move through you. Spend time in nature. Take a walk or sit on a bench. Bundle up if it’s cold, but attempt to get outside. Nature is alive, expansive, and peaceful and can bring you a greater sense of calm and inner peace. There is order and rhythm in nature. Every day the sun rises and sets. Every 28 days the moon goes through its phases. The birds know where to fly for winter and summer. We are a part of nature also. There is an order and rhythm to our lives too. Reach out for help. It is a sign of strength to say you need help. When you reach out for assistance, it shows you are willing to grow, change, and become more of your true self.
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