Self Care 101

How do you take care of your emotions? If that’s not an easy question to answer, you aren’t alone. Most of us are so wrapped up in work/kids/responsibilities that we don’t even think about nurturing ourselves. When we were young, we would often count on a parent or close friend for solace—and maybe you still can. But learning to comfort and soothe ourselves as adults is so important for inner peace and genuine happiness.

I often tell clients to think of themselves as two people— as themselves and their best friend. Then, when they need a little extra love and care they can ask themselves, “What do I need right now?”

Maybe you desperately need to slow down and relax. Or, perhaps a serious self-pep talk with words of encouragement such as “You can do this” or “Look at how well I handled that!” Maybe you can use a little soup. Think about self-care habits you can incorporate into your daily life—a bit of love and attention for your body, mind and soul.

Technique of the week: Practice strengthening your ability to self-soothe. It can be anything from unplugging for an hour to a five-minute meditation to calling a friend or helping a stranger. Ask yourself, “What do I need to do to feel better right now?” Do one conscious thing today that supports your emotional self-care!