Life has a funny way of teaching you lessons.
The lessons come in the form of events, situations and circumstances – sometimes over and over – until you finally get it or you find a healthier way to deal with that particular situation.
Lessons show up in your relationships, life, career, and with your health and well-being.
The lessons start out subtle so they can be easy to miss. For example you get sick. Random.
But when you start getting sick every month, it’s time to reflect on how you can take better care of yourself.
Clues the universe is trying to tell you something is are symptoms, like a headache, or you start overeating, or you feel exhausted.
You can learn from this and begin to make powerful changes in your health, stress level and waistline by filling your cup up first.
What I learned by not filling my cup first over the holiday…
By overextending myself and neglecting the rituals and practices that keep me feeling grounded, energized and calm I entered the New Year Day feeling worn out, frazzled and disappointment because I felt like I could have been more present with my loved ones if only I took better care of myself.
Can you relate?
I hear this from my clients looking to lose weight and de-stress…
“I put myself last. My kids, husband, other people’s agendas, even the dog come first.”
Putting yourself first might go against what you think you should do, or what you saw your mom doing or from messages you get from the media but your health and happiness depends on it.
Ganga White so eloquently put it in Yoga Beyond Belief…
…taking time to take care of yourself (yoga, eating healthy, rest, play, meditation) “means to honor and love ourselves enough to dedicate time each day to our own well-being. Serving ourselves is part of serving others. Only when we take care of ourselves can we have more abundant energy to give to others and to our endeavors.”
Mic drop.
If you’re suffering from excess weight, anxiety, depression, low energy, or your feeling overwhelm with life, it’s a sign that what you’re currently doing is not working and is time for a change.
Filling up your cup doesn’t have to be a long drawn out day at the spa.
Pick on of the daily rituals or practices below to try out for 2 weeks and see how it shifts need to reward yourself with food, reduces stress and makes your feel more grounded and at ease.
10 Daily Rituals and Practices to Fill Your Cup
- Early morning breathing or meditation: Instead of popping out of bed and rushing through the morning, pause, connect with yourself, take 10 deep breaths and set an intention for the day. Have little one? Set you alarm 15 minutes before they usually get up to do this practice. Or find time during nap time or even do it in the car before you go into the office.
- Drink Lemon Water: Stimulate your digestion by drinking a glass of room temp water with the juice of ½ a lemon first thing in the morning.
- Journal: Brain dump. Get all the rambling that goes on in your head out on paper. This encourages self-reflection and can spark new perspectives. Write down one thing you are going to do for yourself that day which increases you chances of making it happen.
- Movement: Take at least 15 minutes to move your body. This frees up blocked energy, releases stress and will help you get out of you head and into your body. You will feel more energized, happy and alive when you do this. Try going for a walk, going up and down a flight of stairs a few times, do a few sun salutations or play a few of your favorite songs and dance it out.
- Get out in nature. Spending time in nature helps you establish a positive outlook on life and a deeper connection with the earth. A walk around the block is a good start.
- Light a candle. This softens any space, adds romance and sense of the divine. Try lighting a candle while you read, meditate, cook or take a bath.
- No more social media, emails or surfing the web after 7pm. To much stimulation keeps you up at night and numbs the mind. Read a book, spend time with your loved ones or go to bed early.
- Make yourself a meal. The ultimate act of self-care. The food you eat literally creates your cells and the energy that goes into the prep of the meal makes a difference. My clients often comment on how much calmer and content they feel when they cook and make enjoy their food.
- Mantra practice. A mantra is a word or saying that you repeat throughout the day. This practice helps to rewire your brain to align with what you what in life. Here are few to try: “I am enough,” “My body is full of energy,” “Today I will nourish my body with nutrient dense foods”. It might seem a bit woo-woo at first but try it out and see what happens.
- De-clutter. Having a clean space will instantly let your body and mind relax. Start with your room. Let it be your sanctuary so that when you walk into it you feel peaceful and calm.