Thinking of all of you today and hoping Mother’s Day was a blessing, knowing that it can be a wonderful day and a challenging day at the same time. Today I am thinking of self empowerment. Here are some tools to bring you into your best self every day.'
Five tools for self empowerment (modified from Natura Mindfulness Meditation Course, which I highly recommend.)
1) Love yourself. It may seem obvious or it may seem difficult but it is an important starting point for all of life’s riches. So how do you do it? Start with positive affirmations. One I try to use is “I am enough. I am lovable.” A difficult concept for me as I never feel I have done enough for my son or my family and friends. My granddaughter made a bookmark for me that says, “I am enough” and I cherish it.
2) Accept things you cannot change. Again, easier said than done but oh so important. Like the serenity prayer says, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” A good prayer to say every day.
3) Lifelong learning. This is one tool I practice continuously. I take courses by Coursera (Integrated Medicine) or Reiki Rays (Mindfulness) and have felt my life was enriched by them. There are so many options online for learning new skills or just interesting information. Perhaps there’s a hobby you have wanted to try or a topic you always wanted to learn more about. Classes online are often free or reasonably priced. “It helps you grow as a person, keeps you productive, allows you to contribute to conversations, and improves brain health” wrote Natura.
4) Set goals. Even in retirement, I try to set goals for myself. It fulfills me. My goals include writing another book or possibly a card deck and always reading or learning something new. ”Achievement of those goals fuels self-esteem, boosts confidence, and brings happiness and satisfaction!” wrote the mindfulness meditation class by Natura.
5) Write in a journal. I receive so much from my journal writing, including self satisfaction, personal reflection and a gratitude practice (which is an empowerment tool in and of itself.). I not only record my daily plans and accomplishments but I put in my goals, insights and different poems or sayings that inspire me. Looking back over time is enlightening.
How many of these tools do you use? Is there one you’d like to add to your day today or when facing life challenges?
Namaste
Cheryl