Self Care for Spring!

When you wake up and look in the mirror, who is the person looking back at you?  Many of us have lost touch with our inner spirit, our true self.  We become the employee, the mom, the dad, the “taxi driver” for the kids, the chef, the cleaning maid, etc.  Often times we forget that we need to nourish ourselves in order to have more to give to others.  At the end of an exhausting day there is nothing left to give to ourselves.   Society tells us this is ok.   That working longer and harder will eventually pay off and get us on top.  Well I ask, on top of what?  If we are watching our lives pass us by, we are missing the true meaning of life!  We are meant to experience the moments, not just the years.  To find true peace and happiness, we must find ourselves in the present moment.  If we live in the past, we are fighting fear.  When we fret about the future, we are overcome with anxiety.  Living in the present moment is the only way to let go of these fears and anxieties.  Taking care of our minds and bodies is essential to personal growth.  When we experience personal growth, the possibilities for our lives are endless.  We become more connected to community, caring about the wellbeing of others around us.  We drop notions that we are not good enough or that what others have is somehow better luck than the cards we were dealt.  What if I told you we all possess the same ability to be successful, happy, even joyful?  It is true.  We are all cut from the same cloth.  It is our conditioning, the reaction to our experiences, that tells us differently.  Here are five easy steps to finding more ease in your life. 

1.        Cut out at least 5 minutes a day to sit quietly and contemplate what you are grateful for.  I find writing it down in a journal to be very therapeutic. 

2.       Create rituals in your life.  Maybe it is sitting with a cup of tea after the kids go to bed, starting a daily yoga practice (even if it’s for 15 minutes), taking an epsoms salt bath and lighting some candles, gardening.. Whatever it is, find something that resonates with you, that is for you.  Something you can do daily!

3.       Challenge yourself by giving up one of your vices.  Let’s be real, we all have many.  Start with one that won’t overwhelm you.  Make sure to come back to this and congratulate yourself for your efforts and always acknowledge your accomplishments.

4.       Take some time for you.  Go get a massage, go for a walk, take a drive in the country, or meditate.  Taking time for yourself is very important.  Preferably do something that allows your body and mind to connect.

5.       Forgive yourself.  Most of us tend to hold ourselves to a higher standard than others.  Yet if we can’t forgive ourselves, how can we possibly forgive others?  The art of forgiveness can be quite challenging, but it is well worth the effort.  You will invite much more ease into your life when you learn to let go.

Join us for a 10 day whole foods cleanse to learn more tips on self care and to shed the heaviness of winter and feel lighter for spring!  For more info visit us at: http://urban-awakening.com/massagetherap/