Here’s some good news: self-compassion and self-care are learnable skills. It might be a long, slow journey, but you can change the way you think about and treat yourself. If you could use some help here, try these self-care ideas. They'll remind you: you're not here to be perfect but to experience what it's like to be here, at all.

4 Self-Care Ideas When You're Stressed, Stuck, and Need More Light

1. Look at yourself in the mirror with minimal judgment, maximum compassion.

It'll feel silly at first. It could be the most important ritual you keep.

Look at yourself every day and say to yourself: “I love you. I forgive you. All will be well. How can I help you today?” Or any variation of that.

To start, just look at yourself and *don't* say anything mean, damaging, or discouraging. That's a great start.

“It’s just a thought, and a thought can be changed.” - Louise Hay

2. Focus on one thing that's working in your life.

Try focusing on what’s already going well, what's present and thriving, what's simply and feels good, what you have that you're grateful for.

When you focus on what’s working and what’s present, a gratefulness comes with that. And then an ocean of love meets you right where you are.

“The common belief is self-compassion is a form of weakness, but the research shows just the opposite. Study after study strongly shows us that people who are self-compassionate are less anxious, less depressed, less stressed, have a better relationship with their body, and are less afraid of failure.” — Kristin Neff

3. Imagine what you'd say to someone you love who's going through this.

How would you want them to treat themselves if they were going through what you’re going through, feeling what you’re feeling?

Imagine speaking to this person. What do you say to them?  Use that as a springboard to access your own inner compassion.

This practice can help you create enough distance between you and your own thoughts so you can see all the ways you could help yourself better.

4. Write a forgiveness letter to the stress.

Write an actual letter to the stress/whatever else doesn't feel good. It's all energy. It all wants to be seen and heard and keep moving. Give it that gift of space. Give yourself that grace. 

This puts distance between you and whatever's stressing you out. Well, the stress itself. You can see it's not you. You're the one looking at it. And your forgiveness gives it permission to move through you. So you can move on.

You're doing your best, and your best will evolve as you do.

. . .

Tell me:

Which of these thoughts did you need to read today?

Tell me in the comments. I read every single one, and I'd love to know! 

With love,

Jen

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P.S. Never forget how valuable you are, how far you’ve come, how much potential you have. Go visit my shop to find the perfect poetry print that celebrates you in your fullness, in your mess and magic and everything in between.