Are you being nourished?
I love the word nourish. The way it sounds when you say it out loud. The way it feels when I think it. It feels as if my whole being is happy when I use the word in an affirmation. “I choose to open myself to being nourished”.
We grow up thinking of nourishment as something our parents and teachers think is important. Nourishing our bodies is defined by those adults as eating nutritious and healthy foods. As we begin to reach our teens, the word nourish seems to lose some momentum. We are either eating what all our peers are eating or we are not eating because of body image. You know, that whole love hate relationship with our bodies that drives us to pure craziness. I mean if we are all honest, we have all laid down on our beds to zip up our jeans at some point in our past or tried on 25 different outfits before we leave the house.
I love thinking of the word nourish as more than food. Thought I’d throw that out there if you have a love but mostly hate thing going with food. When you nourish your body, mind, and spirit you are giving yourself what you need to be healthy and flourish. In a way, I think self-nurturing would be a better description. I love the words from Louise Hay, well known motivational and self help author, “I breathe deeply and fully. I take in the breath of life, and I am nourished.“ Say it with me. I feel calmer just taking a breath and saying those words.
Try for a minute to picture what it would be like if you looked at yourself as needing to be nourished and nurtured. Wow, right? Wait, don’t go yet. You’ve perhaps spent all day at work then running children around to sports or music or something. Maybe getting dinner on the table and baths after that. Giving attention to your partner or spouse, and walking the dog. Then you fall into bed to do it again and again. Eventually you begin to weaken as if you have not been eating. You are not nourishing yourself. The most important of all. The center of the wheel. The center of the universe. How can the spokes of the wheel move well if the center is not stable?
Ok, so perhaps you agree in theory. There are a few things you can do for yourself that will change everything. Seriously.
Start with acknowledging your importance.
Next find 5 minutes that are just yours. Can’t do it? Ok, start with 1 or 2.
Close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.
Add an affirmation. Here are a few to start with. Create your own or look on line for one that speaks to you. Say it with purpose. Out loud if possible.
-I feel joy and am content in this moment.
-I awaken in the morning feeling happy and passionate about life.
-I easily find solutions to challenges and roadblocks.
-When I breathe, I inhale confidence.
-I am unique and feel good about being alive and being me.
As you begin to carve out this time and begin to reap the benefits, you may be able to see the value in adding a few more minutes. Take a warm bath after everyone is in bed. Read a couple pages of a novel or the bible or whatever makes you happy. As you begin to realize the value of this routine, a walk before the house wakes up might be your happy place. Always wondered about yoga? A lunch time yoga class will let you see what its all about. Or turn on some music and dance. (Its ok, lock the door if you must.) Trust me, once you acknowledge how important you are, you will find the time to be nourished.
Start with one purposeful breath.
“I will nourish my body with food and exercise.
I will nourish my soul through meditation and spiritual reflection.
I will nourish my heart with laughter and dance.”
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