“I am mine
before I am
ever anyone
else’s.”
~ Nayirrah Waheed
How do you create space for yourself? Creating space for YOU {nurturing YOU} is crucial to be able to SHARE YOU with another person {people}. What do I mean by this? Ever heard of the idea you can't pour from an empty cup? That's the idea. But, what does this mean? What does it mean to take care of yourself first? Sounds pretty selfish - especially looking from the not-so-modern sense that still exists at women, specifically. Your duty is to be a good wife and mother. Lose yourself in service to others. Find yourself in service to others. If you're uncomfortable or sad, do it anyway, it will make you feel better. Fake it 'till you make it. Smiling uses less muscles than frowning. Oh, and by the way anger isn't ok {in women}.
Start paying attention to the verbal and non-verbal messages being sent to you. Are they serving you? If they aren't, Marie Kondo them out of you being. Bless and release, friends. Bless and release.
Not sure where to start with creating space for you {aka self care}? Here are some ideas to get you started:
Give yourself 'time outs' during the day - moments to breathe, anchor, and ground
Start reading a book for 20+ minutes a few days a week {or more!}
When you shower, be intentional - notice what it feels like in your body to have warm water cleanse you. Give yourself a scalp massage while washing your hair
Say no to something you don't want to do
Say yes to something you want to do
Plan things in the future that are fun/exciting to look forward to
Paint your nails
Enjoy a sunset {maybe with a some ice cream}
Create something
Listen to the words of your favorite song
Listen to nature sounds
Stretch for 5 minutes when you wake up
Stretch for 5 minutes before going to bed
Go to bed 30 minutes earlier
Set up a relaxation routine before going to bed
Set up scheduled breaks from you phone/social media
Be still
Remember to breathe.
Image by: Milan Popovic