mothering yourself

 

 The more you can take care of and nurture yourself the more you will be to take care of another. It hard to give when you are totally tapped out and depleted. Tuning into your needs and recharging your batteries is a way to mother yourself as well as be a better mother to your child. Parenting yourself involves taking care of your needs, loving yourself enough to know that you matter too. Being present and aware of how you are feeling, of your energy, and taking action for you towards nurturingyourself. Just like when you are on an airplane and they tell you in case of an emergency first assist your self so you can be there for others.

 

Some thing to ponder –

 

 If you are feeling tired what do you need?

If you are feeling like you have over given what can you do to give back to yourself to recharge your batteries and regain balance?

 If you are feeling sad what can you do to lift your spirits?

 What nurtures you?

 What makes you happy?

 What does your spirit need right now?

 

A good question to ponder is – this was happening right now to my child? How would be there for them? Or if my child felt like this what would I say or do? Often times as a parent we will do for our children but not for ourselves. Start applying the ways you would be there for them towards being there for you. 

 

EXAMPLES –

 

If you had a child that was upset about something that happened that day. How would you be there for them? If something upset you how could you be there and comfort your self in the same way?

 

If your child were sick how would you be there for them? If you got sick what could you do to nurture and care for your self?

 

If you child couldn’t sleep because something was bothering them, what would you do? If you can’t sleep what can you do to sooth yourself? 

 

If your child were tired, what would you do?  If you are tired, what can you do to honor where you are?

 

 Know that you are important and deserve to be taken care of too. And the better parent you will be because you will feel good and be happy.

 

Listen to what your body your mind and what your spirit is telling you that you need and take action for yourself.

 

LIST 10 THINGS THAT NURTURE YOU AND MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

 

PICK AT LEAST 2 THINGS THIS WEEK AND NEXT AND DO THEM FOR YOURSELF.

 

BODY SCAN – PRACTICE THIS EVERYDAY TO CHECK INTO WHAT YOUR BODY IS AT AND WHAT IT NEEDS – you can either print this out and do as part of your daily journaling or close your eyes and make it a visualization exercise   Remember don’t over think but feel , Go with whatever pops in even if it sounds crazy.

 

I AM MY FEET AND I AM ————- AND I NEED ————–

IAM MY ANKLES AND I AM ————- AND I NEED —————

I AM MY CALVES AND I AM ————— AND I NEED ————–

I AM MY KNEES AND I AM —————- AND I NEED ————–

I AM MY LEGS AND I AM —————- AND I NEED —————-

I AM MY BUTTOCKS AND I AM ————– AND I NEED ————-

I AM MY HIPS AND I AM ———— AND I NEED ——————-

I AM MY GENITALS AND I AM ——————- AND I NEED —————-

I AM MY BELY AND I AM ———— AND I NEED ————-

I AM MY LOWERBACK AND I AM ————– AND I NEED —————–

I AM MY MID BACK AND I AM ——————– AND I NEED —————-

I AM MY CHECT AND I AM ——————- AND I NEED ——————–

I AM MY SHOULDERS AND I AM ——————– AND I NEED ————-I AM MY ARMS AND I AM ——————– AND I NEED —————–

I AM MY HANDS AND I AM —————- AND I NEED ——————

I AM MY NECK AND I AM —————— AND I NEED —————–

I AM MY FACE AND I AM —————–AND I NEED ——————-

I AM MY HEAD AND I AM —————— AND I NEED —————–

*THE SEVENFOLD JOURNEY- ANODEA JUDITH

 

Notice what comes up over and over for you. What message did you keep hearing  ? What can you do to support your needs?

 

After you have established where you are at and what you need. Begin to honor yourself for where you are. What I mean by this is if you are tired, how can you honor that and not push yourself? If you feeling sad or anti social, how can you make space for you time? Practice honoring yourself this week .