“Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”
–Eleanor Brown
Hi YuMMies,
As we move into October, we’re beginning to gear up for the 2022 You Matter Marathon! 2022 may be our most important year yet. Now more than ever, people need to know that they matter and that they are not alone.
However, it may be difficult to give to others with so much on our own plates this year – as the saying goes: you can’t pour from an empty cup. That’s why we’ve created a guide to ‘filling your cup’ in preparation for spreading the You Matter Message!
We hope that these reminders will help you connect with others in sincere and meaningful ways this November. Sign-up today for the 2022 You Matter Marathon!
First, Get Out of Your Own Way!
Though you may have been led to believe differently, self-care is not selfish. Self-love is necessary to have real love for others – the two are not mutually exclusive.
You may have also been led to believe that asking for help is weak. However, it takes a lot of bravery to let our walls down and trust others when we’re struggling. Vulnerability is not easy, even for the strongest people.
Here are some tips for working through that inner turmoil to make room for love:
- Take Care of Your Physical Self
First and foremost, make sure you’re eating, drinking, and sleeping healthy amounts if you can! ‘Hanger’ and sleep-deprivation are never a good combo.
Also, try to block out time for exercise. Even a quick stretch can improve your day!
- Take Care of Your Mental Self
Get creative! Occupying your mind with a solid routine and positive activities like reading, writing, creating, and other hobbies can stop negativity from infiltrating your thoughts. Limiting your time on social media and news sources is also a very good idea.
If you’re feeling out of sorts, organizing your physical space can actually organize your mental space as well.
Meditation, prayer, and journaling are other helpful practices for organizing your thoughts and calming your mind. Take a few moments each day with one of these practices to set your intentions for the day. Try to ask and answer these questions:
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- How do I feel, physically and emotionally, in this moment?
- What do I need today? (strength? patience?)
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- What do I want to accomplish?
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- Take Care of Your Emotional Self
A mindful practice such as meditation, prayer, or journaling is important for your emotional health as well as your mental health. Check in with how you’re feeling, and, if you can, why you’re feeling that way. Bringing awareness to these emotions make them easier to process as you go about your day.
Most importantly, reach out and stay connected. Call up your friends, wave hello to strangers, write to your grandparents, or have a physically distant barbeque! It’s important to show ourselves and others that we’re all going through this together, and that we are not alone.
- Get Ready to Give
Breathe, and be okay with imperfections – if we were perfect, we wouldn’t be human. Before you panic about the things you can’t control, focus on those you can. Small actions make big differences.
When life feels grim or out-of-control, ask yourself:
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- What is going well?
- What am I grateful for?
- What small things have I accomplished today?
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Gratitude and small victories can pull you out of a mental spiral before it even starts.
Ready to join us? Sign-up for your 30 free YOU MATTER cards! Set realistic goals for yourself and don’t get discouraged if you get off track. Above all else, remember:
YOU MATTER.
Cheryl Rice, Founder
https://youmattermarathon.org/
