"Self-care is the constant practice of not letting more pain accumulate. It is about continually remembering that our lives are of value. It is the active process of settling our nervous systems so that we have more access to the present moment."
— Susan Raffo
My idea of "self-care" has changed quite a bit over the years.
I believe Susan Raffo's quote (above) is a beautiful reminder that caring for ourselves, especially during these times, requires us to go deeper within ourselves every day. As we continue moving through Winter, the many layers of self-care required to be a human right now have been top of mind.
True self-care is nurturing our hearts, tending to our emotions, prioritizing our bodies, and receiving support in balance with how much we give. It is letting our needs and desires matter as much as our ambition and achievement.
I am frequently learning new levels of self-care as an embodied practice and it amazes me sometimes just how much space and time I need for myself.
I think about all of the women in the world raising little ones, birthing projects, caring for their loved ones, managing households, and careers, and trying to squeeze in enough time to hear themselves think. It can feel like a lot and can be tempting to put ourselves at the bottom of our lists.
I believe carving out space & time for ourselves is part of our most important and productive work as women.
It is how we will not only heal our hearts but our connection to nature and the deep wounds our culture has toward our feminine nature.
As my teacher, Javier shared with me in a previous conversation -
"We must give ourselves as often and as lovingly as possible a space to be soft and not take care of anyone for a couple of hours, to have a date with ourselves and to connect with our feminine needs and desires."
Please remember that you matter.
Your needs matter.
Your heart and desires matter.
What support can you open yourself to receiving right now?