When you are going through challenging times, having a list of go to’s at your fingertips is a lifesaver. In Cheryl Richardson’s The Art of Extreme Self-Care, one description says self-care is caring for your soul. I loved the connection that when you care for yourself-the physical, emotional, and mental, you are caring for your soul. What a beautiful description!
One of the chapters describes developing an Emotional First Aid kit. Cheryl guides the reader through a series of questions to reflect upon. Your answers will guide you to what will nourish you when you are facing a challenging season.
Some of the questions (which have been modified) include:
- Who can I turn to support for support when I”m afraid? Who comforts me?
- Who do I need to avoid?
- What does my body need to feel nurtured, strong, and healthy?
- What responsibilities or commitments do I need to let go of to honor my needs?
- What unhelpful coping strategies or activities do I need to avoid?
- What spiritual practices restores my faith or connects me with god or a Higher Power?
- What do I need to feel comforted at this time?
- How will I best express my feelings?
- What object can I use as a talisman that will remind me to breathe and relax my thinking mind?
- What is my best healthy distraction?
Several of her readers made several copies in permanent places so they could refer to their list quickly and be reminded of how best to support themselves.
Just the act or writing down helpful coping strategies or what to avoid is personally helpful. I included confiding in non-judgmental people who energize me on my personal list. This reminds me to notice which situations drain me. I observe and am more aware of my needs. Planning ahead for a crisis helps me know how to take care of myself when I’m depleted.
Because of my list, I’ve been reconnecting with my spirituality for the comfort and the peace that it brings. I wouldn’t have been aware of this if I didn’t pause and reflect, even though this is an area of my life that is important to me.
Being able to comfort ourselves, regardless of who is available, is an important skill to cultivate and a win in my book. Naming the support we need is a powerful way to cultivate self-compassion.
