The Ritual of Self-Care: Nurturing Your Mind, Body, and Soul
If you're someone with a healthy, productive life, then you might have never given much thought to the idea of self-care. But if you've ever felt immobilized by depression or anxiety, then that's probably all you can think about. And for those who find themselves in this category, please let me share one good piece of advice: take care of yourself!
Take time to nourish your mind with activities that bring joy and relaxation — read a book or take a walk; create art or play music; write poetry or cook up some decent grub. Do what makes your heart sing while keeping your worries at bay. Spend some quality time with loved ones and be mindful of their needs as well as your own.
When you read about self-care, it can sound like a daunting task. But it doesn't have to be! Take small steps to move in the direction of reclaiming your health and sanity -- even if it's something as minor as turning off the TV for an hour or two so you can do something that's just for you. You can do this!
It might feel strange at first, but with time and practice, self-care will become a natural part of your life — a ritual that keeps you grounded and centered when times get hard.
Not sure where to start? Join the discussion at http://reallifers.com/ and share your thoughts about what nurtures your mind, body, and soul.
By Alison Pearlman, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., and since 2002, the mental health journalist behind "A Woman's Reel Life"...
Alison Pearlman is a reporter and columnist for Reallifemagazine . She writes about her experiences with self-care throughout the week. Prior to that she worked for a number of years as a mental health therapist in private practice...
Alison Pearlman's website is: http://reallifemagazine.com/
The images are from Alison Pearlman's website. The article is from Reallifemagazine .
"A Woman's Reel Life" Blog: http://reallifemagazine.com/blog/category/self-care/
A Woman's Reel Life Blog : Self Care - Ritual of Self Care : Nurturing Your Mind, Body and Soul
How To Be Happy
Plato once said that "All men desire to know. An indication of this is the delight we take in our senses; for even apart from their usefulness they are loved... We long to see, to hear, to touch, to taste, and to smell. Is there anyone who would rather feel no touch and have no eye—when his ears are playing him false? Who would rather be sans all other sense than wrong in one of them?"
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How To Be Happy
And Aristotle said "Happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with perfect virtue."
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How To Be Happy
But what does perfect virtue look like? Nicely put by writers at The Stream (a blog written by people with disabilities), "The best definition of virtue is that it's the absence of vice."
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How To Be Happy
While there are many definitions to discuss, this paper summarizes the five types of virtue recognized in the Bible and explores what each one looks like and what their practical implications are for our lives.
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How To Be Happy
The five types of virtue recognized in the Bible are: wisdom (understanding, intelligence), understanding (knowledge, discernment), discipline (fortitude, temperance, continence), justice (all-around goodness and righteous action) and faith (trustworthiness, loyalty).
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How To Be Happy
To be happy is to live a life of virtue; a life that is practical, useful and constructive. This leads to a calmness of mind and spirit that permeates our relationships, work and every aspect of our lives.
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How To Be Happy
When you are happy, you are kind and tolerant because you have a sense of self-worth and self-esteem that results from the actions you take – which more often than not are balanced in a healthy way.
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How To Be Happy
Be sure to read about the five types of virtue in this paper. Also, be sure to try some of the suggestions towards the end of this article.
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How To Be Happy
To learn more about how happiness is a choice you can make that will lead you into a life of virtue, watch this video: http://reallifemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/The-Thought-Tool.mp4
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How To Be Happy
We're going to ask you some questions. I want you to pay careful attention to your answers and also try to think about why you chose them.
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How To Be Happy
Here are the questions:
How many hours of sleep do you get on an average day? How much alcohol would you say you drink in social settings (yourself included) every week? What is your diet like (and is it healthy) and how often do you exercise (how much and what kind)? What type of relationships do you have with those around you - work colleagues, friends, family, loved ones? In what ways are these relationships beneficial to the three areas of your life we've mentioned so far – health, wealth and happiness? Do any of these relationships bring out negative emotions in you and cause stress or bitterness towards others? And.
Conclusion:
We spend so much of our time in a virtual world, on our mobile phones and computers, that we're leading ourselves to an isolated existence.
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How To Be Happy
What will you do about it?
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How To Be Happy
Watch this video to learn how to have impact in your life and make a difference. http://reallifemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/The-Thought-Tool.