Self Care Sunday - Month End Reflection

Welcome back to another Sunday. I hope your week has gone well and you were able to take some time to yourself. 

Since we are only a couple of days away from a new month starting, this Self Care Sunday is about reflection and intention. 

In the yoga room we talk about noticing what happens in postures, be it what we physically feel in our bodies or what starts to happen in our minds as we move (or slow down).We may not be able to change these things when we first notice them, but as soon as we are aware then we can start the work. If we never take the time to reflect, how are to to become aware and start the work of change?

So let's sit down this week, or next few days before the new month starts and think about how it went. Reflecting on what has made us proud and what needs work. Setting intentions for what we wish for ourselves. 

Some suggestions to help you with this reflection:

• Turn off your phone (starting to see my theme for these self care Sundays?)
• Find a space you can be alone in the quiet. See my Self Care Sunday A Simple Bath for tips on finding this time and place alone. 
• Bring a pen and paper.
• Bring along music, candles or a glass of wine. Whatever helps you relax a little into the space.

Then we start to ask ourselves these questions

1. What am I grateful for this month?
2. What am I proud of?
3. What is something I would do differently?
4. What do I want to let go of?
5. What do I want to add into my life?

This of course seems more simple then it really is. Trying to not get caught up on things that didn't go so well or planning to much on how our next month will go. As we ask these questions starting to pay attention to how we feel physically, mentally and emotionally about each question.  

For example, what am I proud of? Maybe you are proud you have started Self Care Sunday practices. You may feel pride, a sense of calm, the body relaxed and chest puffed out and open. 

Moving through these questions again without lingering too long on the sensations to dwell. If it help you can even set a time for 2 or 5 minutes once you ask yourself a question to come back to the next one. 

After we've spent some time reflecting, moving on to our intentions for the month. This isn't our goal planning. This is our intentions for how we want to be. "I want to move through my days with ease and peace", "I wish to find the positive in situations.". From there later on (another day) you can set goals to achieve these intentions, but for now we are just putting out there what we truly desire from life. 

Once we have sorted through our thoughts a little, taking a few moments to write down any thoughts or feelings. Journaling if that's something you do. This writing is whatever you feel you need to write down. Whether it is some goals or just how you feel. 

I highly recommend ending this with a yoga practice (youtubing is a wonder!) or a bath or anything else that makes you feel relaxes and at ease. 

I'd love to hear what some of your intentions are for the month. Share below or on the Facebook Page .

Love, 

Jen

I Have Time

I have time. My mantra the last couple weeks. I've been reading from Dr. Joe Dispenza's book Breaking The Habit Of Being Yourself. Now I won’t lie, I haven't finished it yet or gotten to learning his meditation techniques, but it's got me thinking a lot.

He talks a lot about the science behind the age old phrase many of have heard a million you times. "You are what you believe you are." What you put your energy into becomes true. This isn't exactly a new concept. But as I've said in other posts about over exposure to these type of sayings, is we become sort of numb to their resonance.

Of course the first step to trying to change something, is observing it. We teach this in yoga.
Observe your breath, observe what you say to yourself while challenged. Observe where your mind wanders. So, in my usual fashion, taking the yoga off the mat I began to observe some of the things I say. What are some things I feel have issues with and what do I say when I have these issues.

I found I fear missing those moments with my kids as I rush them off here and there. I find myself hurrying this and that and those around me. I very much dislike the feeling of being rushed and not having enough hours in the day.

During these rushed moments I found myself saying things like “I have so much to do today.” I’m so busy” “Can we all just hurry?”.  Sound familiar? I’m going to guess like 90% of us?

Now I’ve spent the past two weeks with “I have time”, “everything will get done” “rushing only stresses me out more”, “I feel better in a slower pace”.

You know what? I’ve had time. Everything still got done. I was even very sick for the better part of three days. Which usually means a disaster in my house of things to do to catch up on. Honestly? I slowly did a bit here and there without rushing or stressing about it and it all just worked out.

Try it out. I’m not telling you that you need to sit down for 20 minute meditations every day. Instead of stressing about adding something else to your to list, just observe the things you say in the moments you don’t feel your greatest. Try next time to maybe say something a little more constructive. That’s it. That’s all.

Love,

Jen