The Art of Self-Care

Recently I came across a review of the book, The Art of Extreme Self-Care, by Cheryl Richardson. One of my favorite books by her, is The Unmistakable Touch of Grace. Here are some suggestions she makes for taking care of ourselves:

"When hit with an unexpected life challenge, most of us revert back to the old coping strategies that kept us safe as kids. For example, you may have taken refuge in your bedroom when you parents fought. Then, as an adult, when faced with a chaotic situation, you find yourself isolating from others to escape the stress. You don't ask for help. You don't reach out for emotional support...you suffer in silence...

These are challenging times and we all need Extreme Self-Care more than ever. So, that being said, I'd like to leave you with a few thoughts for the New Year:
  • You can't live an authentic, soul-directed life without disappointing people, hurting their feelings, or making them angry. That's the truth.
  • You deserve to ask for and receive the support you need - but first you must resign as General Manager of the Universe.
  • It's time to stop swallowing your anger and instead, step up and take a stand for yourself in the face of inappropriate behavior.
  • In order to live a rich and meaningful life you'll need to honor and protect your sensitivity. The days of 'sucking it up' or 'developing tough skin' are over."
Certainly interesting things to consider and contemplate in the New Year when we are faced with trying situations.

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