How to begin caring for yourself

by Lisa on December 31, 2008

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.
   Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”  Goethe

I love the freshness of a new year.  The feeling that so many possibilities lie wide open ahead.  The starting over, the energy, the resolutions.  But what happens when life feels so overwhelming that the idea of starting-a-new sends your head spinning in more directions than you can handle?  What if too many things are competing for your attention and priority? 

There are times in my life when taking care of myself feels just too big of a task to even start…I mean where do I start?  Should I focus on better nutrition and meal planning?, putting more time into painting for creative time?, recommitting energy toward my career?, losing weight, gaining muscle or becoming more flexible?   If you are anything like me, what happens in times like these is a big fat NOTHING.  I get paralized when too many things vie for my focused attention.

This exercise is perfect for new starts and stuck places. 

 

Take stock right now.  Draw a large circle with 12 spokes.  For each spoke write in an element that is important to you in your life.  Some elements to consider adding to your circle are the following:  Career,     Laughter,     Fresh Air and Exercise,     Creativity,     Relationships,     Stable Finances,     Social Life,     Spirituality,     Home-Environment,     Beauty,     Education,    Healthy-Foods,     Home-Cooking 

Then consider how satisfied you are with each area in your life. 

Do you have a desire to continue learning and intellectually growing?  Has it been a while since you’ve laughed?  Are you living on candy and caffeine to get you through the day? 

The very center, where all spokes come together, means completely UNSATISFIED and the edge of the circle means completely SATISFIED.  Now put a dot somewhere along the line for each element. 

Connect your dots and draw your current circle of life.  See where the greatest imbalances and needs are. This is where you start.  Think of some ways you can begin to shift and add into your days what you most need in your life right now. 

What elements would you add to your circle of life?– What areas are you most imbalanced in? Any creative ideas to start adding that element back into your life?

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Jillian January 18, 2009 at 7:59 pm

Wow! That’s a great quote! Keep it up!

2 Melissa January 25, 2009 at 1:21 am

I’m not a busy mom, but I AM a busy business-owner who just came across your blog…and love this post! What a helpful idea. Thank you!

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