Nourishing yourself isn’t just about what you eat.
That’s an important part of the process, but when it comes to nourishing yourself I believe it’s best to take a much broader view.
I like to think of nourishment as what keeps me going.
So, for example, I am an introvert. That means that silence and alone time replenish and deepen my energy. They sustain and strengthen me.
But that’s not the case for everyone. In fact, I have a number of clients who are revitalized by the time they spend with others.
Nourishing yourself is about YOU.
So, the point is, it’s very individual. Of course, food is always going to be a necessity. But what else might it be for you?
Is it silence? Companionship? Exercise? Time spent reading or listening to music or enjoying nature?
Or is it some combination of these things?
Nourishing yourself means finding whatever energizes and sustains you. And that’s true no matter what challenges come your way.
So, what nourishes you?
People need dreams, there’s as much nourishment in ’em as food.
Dorothy Gilman
My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass.
Terri Guillemets
So, the first step in nourishing yourself is getting to know yourself. This helps you identify what keeps you going. It’s not going to be the same for everyone. And it may not be easy to get to that information.
Nourishing yourself 101
But be patient and open your heart. It will come.
As you contemplate the things that nourish you, you may first run into a collection of ‘should’s.’ The world is full of advice and ideas about what you ‘should’ find nourishing.
This just muddies the water for you. So don’t let the clamor of ‘shoulds’ stop you.
Instead, recognize them for what they are: Messages from your Inner Critic.
How do you respond?
If you’re like many people, you’ll be tempted to react to those ‘should’s’ in one of two ways:
- Compliance or
- Rebellion.
But if you’re nourishing yourself based on a ‘should’ that comes from your Inner Critic, you won’t be able to sustain it. Your nourishment will be tainted and you will, soon enough, let it go.
The sad thing is that this pattern leads to discouragement. You end up feeling that you ‘can’t’ nourish yourself as you’d like to. But that’s not the case.
There’s another way…
You have other voices inside that are much more helpful, when it comes to self-care. And listening to them is a skill you can develop. You see, we all have voices that chatter at us throughout the day. The Inner Critic is one of them. Learning to recognize (and counter) this destructive voice is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.
When it comes to the Inner Critic it’s not just the words. It’s the judgmental tone, the rolling eyes, and the scolding wag of the index finger. Beyond sapping your energy and confidence, your Inner Critic robs you of time and profoundly distorts how you see others and how you feel about yourself. So, what can you do?
Give yourself a big boost with my Exercise and Guide Book titled “These Critical Voices Are Driving Me Crazy!” How to Use Positive Self-Talk to Save Your Sanity and Your Time! Part of my popular Voices Package, this E-Guide offers simple, practical exercises, checklists, and tips for learning to recognize and counter the critical voices that disrupt and hurt you.
“This guidebook is by a secret genius as
far as I’m concerned.
Her name is
Paula Eder and she is absolutely brilliant
when it
comes to how to be in relationship with self and
how to be
in relationship with time.”
Heather Dominick http://BusinessMiracles.com/
You hold the power to make conscious choices about the kinds of messages you give yourself. As you exercise this power, you’ll develop new clarity and confidence – and transform your time.
“These Critical Voices Are Driving Me Crazy!” opens the door and gives you a roadmap, so don’t wait. Click this link to learn more about the Voices Package and get started on your empowering journey today.
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