I just spent an hour online, having logged on to look at knitting pattern for a project that I have in mind for Christmas. Somewhere along the way, I got side tracked into news articles, opinion pieces, social media exploits and who knows what else. I feel completely saturated with information that is completely unrelated to my day to day experience.
I feel disconnected from the here and now, and I notice an underlying current of anxiety for the state of the world. Malnourished polar bears, teen suicide risks, corrupt and amoral behaviors normalized - all of these things which I have no control over in any concrete way.
It has become an exercise in self-disempowerment. Saturated to the point of overwhelm, nothing feels fixable and hope feels lost.
I don’t recommend this as a way to start your day. In case you were wondering.
So, now, to clean up the mess of my current psychological state, I have some work to do. And it will go something like this:
That’s ten to fifteen minutes of self-care that is going to make all the difference in how I go through the rest of my day. Taking that time will have an impact on the choices I make and the conversations I have with myself, and it will have an impact on how I show up for other people.
As I write this, I see sunshine peeking out from behind the gray clouds of an otherwise rainy day. It may not last, but it is here in this moment. And I suddenly feel like there is nothing more I could ask for.
What would ten minutes of self-care look like for you today? What might be the impact on you? on others?
I feel disconnected from the here and now, and I notice an underlying current of anxiety for the state of the world. Malnourished polar bears, teen suicide risks, corrupt and amoral behaviors normalized - all of these things which I have no control over in any concrete way.
It has become an exercise in self-disempowerment. Saturated to the point of overwhelm, nothing feels fixable and hope feels lost.
I don’t recommend this as a way to start your day. In case you were wondering.
So, now, to clean up the mess of my current psychological state, I have some work to do. And it will go something like this:
- Take some deep breaths and invite my awareness to settle back into the present moment, into my body and into my compassionate heart.
- Ask myself to name three things I am appreciating in this moment.
- Ask myself to bring into my mind something I am grateful for.
- Allow that gratitude to wash over my being, taking away the sting of bitterness and ache of despair.
- Connect to the abiding light of my inner being. Let the light radiate outward into the world, offering healing and hope.
- Set an intention for the rest of the day.
- Make a mental note of three things I can do in the face of the adversity that felt paralyzing.
- Take another deep breath to lock it in.
That’s ten to fifteen minutes of self-care that is going to make all the difference in how I go through the rest of my day. Taking that time will have an impact on the choices I make and the conversations I have with myself, and it will have an impact on how I show up for other people.
As I write this, I see sunshine peeking out from behind the gray clouds of an otherwise rainy day. It may not last, but it is here in this moment. And I suddenly feel like there is nothing more I could ask for.
What would ten minutes of self-care look like for you today? What might be the impact on you? on others?
 | Jessica Curtis is a professional coach who helps people cultivate intention and live from a place of meaning and authenticity. If you think you could benefit from working with Jessica or want to invite her to work with your group, reach out to start a conversation. |
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