Lately I have been thinking about all that is going on that
has bubbled up so many different emotions in so many people. Natural disasters
that have uprooted lives and destroyed homes, cities, even islands; people
coming forward about sexual harassment and assault perpetrated on them; mass
shootings; a healthcare system in question; fiery talk between the US and North
Korea; refugee crises across the world; anxiety of Dreamers about their future;
anxiety of immigrant communities about their living situations; dare I say the
list goes on?
As my own anxieties surface about the state of things, I
have been struggling with how to respond. How much to say; how much to not say;
how much money to give to various organizations; where to volunteer; how I can
help. With such a list, nothing seems good enough and can feel very
frustrating.
During times like these, I take a deep breath and go back to
my very basics, those basics I have learned throughout my life and education
that remind me the most important thing I can do is take care of myself. As the
saying goes, “Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others.”
I thought I would share a list of self-care practices that
you can use to get through the anxieties of our time. The list is not exhaustive
and you may have your own items to add to it. I find when I employ self-care
techniques that work for me, I can breathe again and be who I want to be for
and with others.
- Find physical and tactile ways to soothe yourself. Much of what we are hearing about can lead to us re-living our past traumas. Trauma can sit in body and resurface, so find ways to self-soothe physically: Take a walk; take a hot bath; seek massage, yoga, stretching, tai chi or pilates to get your body moving and cared for; pet your dog, cat or other pets.
- Step away and take time just to “be”: Silence can be a wonderful thing. Turning off the TV, radio, computer, phone and spend time in the silence. Step away from the duties of the day-family, workplace, etc-and spend some time by yourself. Reconnect to that inner beauty of who you are, not who you think you need to be to others. Stop the noise from coming in for just a little while, take some deep breaths, and just “be”.
- Re-connect to your spiritual self. This can mean really anything that lifts your soul and heart. Go to church, mosque, temple. Walk in nature and really immerse yourself in all its glory and interconnectedness. Listen to an inspiring podcast. Read spiritual texts. Sing. Meditate. Pray. Philosopher and Jesuit Priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." Tap into that spiritual side of yourself and let it express itself.
- Find a creative outlet. Creating is a great way to address your anxieties and have a place for them to go. Cooking a meal, for yourself or to share, that you absolutely love. Coloring in a coloring book. Make a piece of art. Sing, play an instrument, attend a drum circle, dance. Re-decorate parts of your home.
- Have a change of scenery and get yourself out of your daily routine. Take a scenic drive to work or a different route. Stop to treat yourself to a coffee or tea at a coffee shop that is new to you. Take a day and go to a new park, or visit a small town and stroll its main street.
The list of self-care practices can go on, and these are
some of my favorite go-to things I do when I am feeling like I need to give
myself a little TLC. What are yours? What can you add to this list that will
help you during uncertain times?
