Nourish Your Well-Being

Over the years (especially in the last 5), I have learned the importance of nourishing your well-being. That doesn’t make you selfish, in fact, I think it has made me more generous and more outward-looking because I take the time I need to be stronger physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Having hobbies and trying new things is one of the ways that I have learned to put myself first. Acknowledging who I am and no longer making excuses or defending myself has been another way that I have learned to show self-compassion.
I have integrity – that place inside where our values and moral compass reside, clarifying what is right and what is wrong for us. When we nourish our well-being, we can stand for what we believe in and we don’t have to let fear run our lives. We can confront people who have injured us and define who WE are, rather than being defined by someone else.
I keep the promises I make to myself and protect my physical and emotional health. I don’t betray other people and I tell the truth. My inner voice leads me to wisdom, health and clarity. It is the guardian of my integrity. I cannot reasonably deprive myself of something that is important to or for me because I fear another person’s reaction. I know that I grew up in an environment where it was important to please everyone. Recently, I have been listening to WISER THAN ME a podcast by Julia Louis-Dreyfus where she talks to older women (Carol Burnett and Jodi Foster, etc.) and my big takeaway has been that almost every one of these women has said that NO is a complete sentence. These women know who they are – they love their children – they pursue purposeful lives gardening, reading, spending time with their grandchildren, reading and moving. They are real and they constantly are inspired to try new things – so, pick up a crochet hook, open a cookbook, paint a picture, write a book – invest in yourself and your well-being.