7 Cups of selfcare

Selfcare Cup 1: Battery management

What if we would look at our level of energy as a rechargeable battery? Some things may cost us energy, some things quite a lot, and some things give us energy. This battery works different for everybody. For some us social interactions cost a lot of energy, for others it will give a lot of energy, and so it is important that, before you can work on your battery management, you have a good insight in how your energy is influenced by different activities. It seems to make sense that when your battery is low, it is difficult to put one foot in front of the other. But when we don't know why, we might assume that we are just not good enough, just lazy, just can't do it, while in fact... we just need to recharge. To make this visible you can take a piece of paper and literally draw a battery and make it a fun thing with colors, numbers, or anything that works for you. 

The hardest thing for a lot of people is setting healthy boundaries. That is not a weird thing, because quite often it comes with fear. What if I hurt the other person? What if they don't like me anymore, when I put this boundary here? Can I draw the line here, or am I overreacting? If you think about it, we sometimes put all this effort in thinking and stressing about it, because we really feel the need to set this boundary. Setting boundaries is a healthy way of selfcare, even if other people are do not necessarily like it. You are allowed to say no, even when you have time for a yes. And maybe in this yes-time, you can take another cup.

From experience I know that time can pass and that even though you had the intention to draw, write, bake, or do whatever, you just didn't do it. Because... well, you didn't. It is understandable that if your mind is full, you don't feel there is space for anything else besides your thoughts. If you are sensitive for doing what is on your agenda, you could try to just plan the activity you would love to do. And if your mind won't leave you alone, than try to do it together and put all your worries into it.

Selfcare Cup 4: 15 minutes of ranting 

It can be a challenge to get of your worrying-cycle. And there are times that you come to realise, that you spend the whole day on the couch, anxiously going in circles, getting absolutely nowhere. What helps me usually during times like this, is giving myself permission to have 15 minutes of ranting-time. All you need is a piece of paper, a pen and a timer, or clock. During this 15 minutes you are completely free to write down everything you think about. Every worry, everything you are sad about, mad about, afraid of... and after this 15 minutes it is time for something else. ☺️

You don't have to walk through the muddy paths of life all by yourself. However I understand that at times we can feel like we are all by ourselves, there are always people out there (here for example 😁) willing to listen to you. It is selfcare to let others in and add a little sugar in your self prepared tea.

We can use the body lotion and celebrate, and I will cheer. But let us not forget that providing ourselves our basic needs is the most important form of selfcare, not the easiest one, I will admit. But any basic needs you are fulfilling for yourself, is something to be proud of, when you are having a tough time.

Sometimes it can feel like we are giving too much. It might feel like we get nothing back. We lose trust, we lose connection and sometimes we even get bitter by all the things we feel inside. But something that helps best against negative emotions is love, compassion and kindness. And as weird as it may sound, it doesn't really matter if it given to you, or if you are the one giving it away. As long as you feel it, it heals. 

❤️