Check Yo-Self
Y’alL . . . January for sure felt like a whole year.
I have some huge changes over the next couple months: no idea what ahead will look like, no idea what friends will look like, no idea what a job will look like, and no idea what my home will look like.
Now, do not get me wrong I am SO excited for the adventure and everything that comes with it, but as we embark on new adventures there is always an antagonist in the story of some form. Whether that means it is: time - a person - lack of money - etc.
When change comes, because it WILL come, we have the choice of how to walk through it. We can either ignore self care, stress out, and become a mess of emotion OR we can start each day by checking in on our heart, mind, soul, and body then proceed with what we need that day no matter the circumstances.
Who knows? Maybe that day you need to cry, maybe you need to go for a run, maybe you need to eat your favorite food, maybe you need a friend to vent to.
In a season of transition, Create a space in your day to check in on you.
Check your mind:
Where are my thoughts at today? How can I work on bringing peace into the busyness of my mind? Do I need to reel in my thoughts when they start to run away from me? Do I need to stop dwelling on the negatives?
Check your heart:
How is my heart today? Do I need to talk to someone? Do I need to let myself feel whatever emotions come up with no judgement? Do I need to be careful not to let me emotions overwhelm me?
Check your soul:
At my core level, how am I? Do I need to act on some self care things today? Do I need to wrap myself in a blanket on the couch and read to rest? Do I need to get off my couch and go spend time with friends to get some social interaction? What does my soul need right now?
Check your body:
How am I physically today? Do I feel sluggish and off and need to go move to raise my serotonin levels? Am I so exhausted that I need to go to bed early tonight? What can I eat today that will help me to feel better long term? How can I better care for my body in this moment?
Check in with yourself: Every day.
This is a practice we should be acting on every - single - day. But I get it, we are busy and tired and we skip over doing anything like this when we feel we do not have the time. We even sometimes only act on those things because we feel guilty that we haven’t been doing them - then suddenly try to go 1000% by reading a new book, starting a new workout plan, AND creating a new diet then get burnt out because we are only acting on a false idea of where we think we should be. We are not listening to the now, to the moment that we are in.
Start with the basic questions of “where is my _____”,
then slowly start on the detailed Ones.
During seasons of transition we are more likely to fall to antagonist-like stresses when we are not checking in with ourselves. This is not saying that by checking in suddenly everything will be rainbows and butterflies - but you will be at peace. Isn’t that really what we look for in those times of change and transition? Some kind of peace?
My challenge for us:
Take a little time each day and check in with yourself. Maybe write down: Mind/Heart/Soul/Body and next to each write what you are feeling that day for a week. It will show you a clear sign if you are changing (for worse or better) then you have an idea of which one may need immediate attention.