by Cherise Holt, Nurse, Brisbane
It may sound easy to compile a list of the many common activities or regimes one could do to nurture themselves. Men and women can incorporate many self-care activities into their lives that bring relaxation or reward to their day, ticking the self-nurturing box by spending the time or money on self, finding the time away from the stresses of work or busy family life.
But by ‘doing’ the activities and ticking the self-care and self-loving boxes are we really developing our OWN natural way of nurturing ourselves?
Our bodies know more about what we are feeling and what it means to be truly nurturing than we have acknowledged them for. When we begin to reconnect to ourselves and our natural way of being we become more certain of what is right for us, in any moment. Anyone can run a warm bath as a nurturing act for self, but if it is not what you truly feel to do in that moment is it of any true support to you, your body and to your well-being?
- Are we listening to our own bodies?
- Do we honour what we feel?
- Do we make our next choice based on this?
I have purchased the Our Cycles App for my iPhone, a beautifully supportive App that was designed by Natalie Benhayon which assists me to track and chart my own personal cycle as a woman. Within the App there is a calendar to record my own ‘Nurturing Moments’. I was at first unclear as to what this meant, what would be a good example of such a moment? My head could easily compile a list of many activities but this calendar was asking me to record something greater. I felt like I was presented with an opportunity to go deeper with myself and explore what nurturing really is for me, and this process has been beautiful.
What I have discovered in the last couple of years is that every person, male or female, has their own personal expression – so it makes sense to me that the way in which we choose to nurture ourselves must also come with our own quality. So, for me a nurturing moment can be anything that truly honours what I feel, and this honours the connection with me that I hold.
What if every moment is a new opportunity to stop and ask yourself what you are feeling?
This very question may be the most deeply self-nurturing you have been with yourself all day, as you have provided yourself with the permission to communicate honestly with you and with where you are at. A double-gift really, as you have now created the space to support your next choice: to override what you feel by doing something you don’t want to do or something you think you should do – or to listen to your body, honour what is right for you and feel the expansion and self-empowerment that emanates when you deeply honour yourself.
Opportunities for Nurturing Moments Present Everywhere:
- the way I apply my make-up
- how I lovingly cook a meal for myself
- the way I make my bed
- the way I take a shower
- how I write an email
- the way I clean my kitchen
- how I drive my car, or
- walk the corridor at work
The love that is possible within each small detail is remarkable.
For me it’s not only how I drive my car, but how I enjoy my body when I place ‘me’ in the seat and how I appreciate the delicateness in my fingertips when I move the steering wheel or turn the indicator on.
When we honour what we feel in a moment, more moments are naturally presented to us. We find the opportunities to be truly self-nurturing and make the choices to do what feels true. I know it has nothing to do with the activity or the ‘doing’, it feels simpler and more real than this. Self-nurturing doesn’t need to be for a special occasion or an event, to escape from my day or to reward myself in any way.
Nurturing is anything we choose to lovingly do for ourselves, in any moment.