Self Care- What If It's Not About You? (Part 3)

Self Care- What If It's Not About You? (Part 3)

We've been exploring the concept Your Life is Your Message (inspired by a book by same title, by Eknath Easwaran). In this context, taking responsibility for your own self care and fun quotient takes on new significance. Beyond your own well being, your energy (and who you become) make a difference in the world.

This book will help you stay grounded. It invites me to pay attention to self-transformation (vs. leaping over that by getting caught up in a frenzy of to-do's for websites, press releases or accidentally arrogant goals about "making a difference"). It calls me to be very awake to my personal example and fueling a great quality of life for myself in order to continue supporting others in that quest.

My invitation to you is to appreciate the importance of enhancing your own quality of life (beyond your own comfort or personal goals!)

Look for ways to take good care of yourself and ENJOY LIFE!

Trust that this is not merely frivolous or selfish. Actually, it makes all the difference in the World!

Your Next Step:

Consider the following check-in 2-3x/week:

My life is my message

• What is my Life saying today?

• How might I grow toward more harmony with myself?
  

Consider your personal example and the energy you radiate. The tangible choices and actions you're inspired to do (because you're evolving to be more in sync with your true spirit) are all relevant ways that you become a positive contributor.

~ Marian Baker ~

Self Care- What If It's Not About You? (Part 2)

In his book, Your Life is Your Message, Eknath Easwaran talks about the importance of your quality of life and the ripple effect beyond your self-focus. The quality of you life ultimately benefits others.

"People absorb something deep below the conscious level when they see a man who is at peace with himself."

As we focus on enhancing the quality of our own lives, of becoming who we are meant to be, we are beginning to contribute to improved quality of life for all. Of course, this could be misinterpreted to give people permission to pursue hedonistic comforts and ego-driven self absorption. That's clearly not the message. Think about it - When you authentically focus on "becoming your true self" (harmony with self) that is a spiritual revolution. That does lead to peace, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness for all.

In a recent coaching session, my client Marge came to some eye-opening insights about Fun. Decades of conditioning created limiting beliefs such as "Fun should come after the significant work is done." Or "Fun is selfish and irresponsible." Marge wanted to stretch to see how making fun a higher priority could be the opposite of selfish - how filling her own well creates brighter energy and thus fuels her capacity to BE a more compassionate, generous, creative contributor to the rest of us.

Your Next Step:

What are your potentially limiting beliefs about self care being selfish?

What are your potentially limiting beliefs about enjoying life and the value of fun?

What could be a new perspective (that would lead to positive shifts for you and how you show up in the World)?

Consider your personal example and the energy you radiate. The tangible choices and actions you're inspired to do (because you're evolving to be more in sync with your true spirit) are all relevant ways that you become a positive contributor.

~ Marian Baker ~

Self Care- What If It's Not About You?

Self Care- What If It's Not About You?

Is self care selfish? Is having fun irresponsible? Or are these ways to make a positive difference in the world? I'm feeling newly inspired by a little book, Your Life is Your Message by Eknath Easwaran. (This title was inspired by the author's hero, Mahatma Ghandi.) He tackles the grand agendas of a harmonious planet, global peace or economics with a simple and profound declaration.

What matters most is how you live your own life.

This is not a brand new thought, but it's really sinking in more deeply. It feels so true.
Easwaran acknowledges many of our challenges such as poverty, drug abuse, tensions among various peoples, wars and increasing threats to our environment. The punch line keeps coming back to individuals' own personal commitment to "quietly change the world by changing themselves."

"The only way to influence people for the better-your family, your friends, your club, your class, your clinic, your society, even your enemies-is through your personal example.

Harmony with the environment- the alleviation of our environmental crisis- and harmony with others- the easing of our social, political and economic difficulties-both begin with a third harmony: harmony with ourselves."

Your Next Step:

What does this perspective stir up in you?

Where does this feel true?

What's challenging or perplexing about this for you?

~ Marian Baker ~

7 Strategies To De-stress - NOW (Part 5 -END)

To wrap up this months topic about how you as a busy business owner can reduce stress quickly, without adding more to your to do list, I want to bring you back to the most basic stress reliever there is: reconnect with your vision and passion.

It’s so easy to let the bigger picture slip from your awareness and get lost in the immediacy of what has the loudest voice. There are so many daily demands coming from all ends of life. Since 7 years, I am running a Non-Profit Organization for Seniors in need in addition to running my successful coaching practice. It was very stressful as you can imagine. I was myopically focused on all the urgent details and relating to the project from the perspective of how little was getting done and how much still needs to be done.

Finally, I began to take five minute walks in the woods around the property adjacent to the house. I would sit in the sunshine for a few minutes and slow down. Instantly I would be reminded of why we started this project, and how rewarding it was to help our Seniors. I was filled again and again with my vision and the original excitement I had when I started the journey. It turned my stress around in an instant.

Slowly this new habit helped me manage my stress and saw me through to a successful completion. Vision is a powerful antidote to stress. Take some time now to remember your vision, your passion about your business and breathe it in to every fiber of you being. Ahhhh, isn’t that better?

It’s YOUR life - imagine the possibilities!

~Helaine~

7 Strategies To De-stress - NOW - (Part 4)

While business ownership can be an amazing, rewarding experience, it can be one of the most stress producing life styles out there. While it’s critically important for every woman who owns a business to engage in self care strategies to reduce stress, adding stress relief to your already full life often adds more stress to the situation.

This month I’ve been inviting you to experiment with simple, fine minute strategies that can instantly lower your stress level. This week I want to focus on paying specific attention to your physical body.

As soon as you become aware of your high stress level, check in with your body.

Note to yourself what you are feeling physically. Is it a knot in your shoulders, stomach distress, tension or anxiety? Stop what you are doing and take 10 deep breaths. Changing your breathing will help ease your physical symptoms. This is something you can do for yourself all the time. No, 10 breaths won’t take your stress away, but it will increase vital blood flow to your system and help you handle the stress better. And, as you make this a habit; you will begin to notice a deeper change.

Other simple physical strategies that help reduce stress levels quickly are spending a few minutes of stretching, take time for a healthy meal, taking a bath rather than a shower. When you feel stressed, ask yourself what would feel good right now and give it to yourself.

~Helaine~

7 Strategies to de-stress - NOW! (Part 3)

We’ve been focusing this month on simple de-stressing strategies without adding more complication to your life. While there are many techniques and opportunities to manage stress, sometimes adding them in can feel like one more thing to your already overflowing plate.

While it’s important to address stress reduction as an overarching adjustment to your lifestyle - that would be one more thing on your plate, and the point of this article is to make more room in your life for you now, not less.

Here’s another on-the-fly strategies for grabbing self care moments.

Take yourself on a date.

Coffee, dinner, a weekend away. You decide. A change of environment can clear away stress and freshen your spirit. Find and explore something new in your familiar surroundings. I guarantee your perspective will shift.

7 Strategies To De-stress - NOW (Part 2)

The other need is you, your health and your sanity. You know you need to carve out time for self care but because the long term, negative results of not taking time for yourself is not immediately evident, you put yourself last. You've adapted to a baseline level of stress and have somehow made it acceptable. Don't beat yourself up over it, it's not all your fault, our entire culture perpetuates this preposterous habit and it's very, very hard to break.

Hopefully, by finding a balance between your need to take care of yourselves AND your business, it will leave you time and energy to go out and change the world - if you want to.

Here are two more quick tips that you can try today.

Return to the source of what's meaningful to you. Walk in nature, meditate, or listen to your favorite song. What gives you personal strength? Whatever your spiritual orientation, reconnect with it. Remember - there's something larger than you - if you can become aware of it that will help you find perspective when you're focused on your own navel.

Do nothing. Don't panic even if you feel the world getting tighter around you. Take five minutes to stop. Remember that when you're highly stressed your decisions are likely compromised. Take the phone off the hook. Turn off the radio or TV, Close the door. Sit and breathe. This will help you recharge your battery.

~Helaine~