Have you ever tried journaling and found that you couldn’t stick with it? Are there certain events going on in your life that spur emotions that you have a hard time putting into words (like what it feels like to fall in love!)?
Like verbal journaling, visual journaling allows you to record and process life events, but it uses a person’s inner vision to imagine what a thought, feeling, or emotional reaction would look like if it were expressed as a color, shape, or image. By combining the image and verbal thoughts, you are able to integrate the functions of your visual, feeling-centered right brain with your verbal, logical, thought-centered left brain. Simply put, visual journaling helps your left and right brain communicate more effectively and bring greater insight to a situation. Are you ready to try something new? Join us in learning about the process of visual journaling and how you might put it to use. · Adapted from Visual Journaling : Going Deeper than Words, by Ganim & Fox
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The next step toward Extreme Self-Care is to learn how to let go of control. If you’re not sure if you have control problems, ask yourself if you:
• Feel the need to refold towels or reload the dishwasher so that it’s done the “right” way. • feel like the weight of the world is resting on your shoulders • chronically complain about how much you have to do • dream about packing a bag and heading to a desert island • find yourself crying, or feeling like you need a good cry, at unexpected places • yelling at the dog, your spouse and/or child(ren), or at drivers in front of you who are driving the speed limit • are so exhausted that the idea of brushing your teeth feels like too much work. There are many reasons why people don't like to ask for help. See if any sound familiar... * "I don't want to appear weak." * "It takes too much time/energy to explain what I need." * "I hate being disappointed when people don't follow through." * "It's too much trouble to fight with family members who resist helping." * "I don't want to hear no." * "I don't want to feel indebted to anyone." Behind these excuses is a desire to... yep, you guessed it... remain in control. -- Adapted from The Art of Extreme Self-Care by Cheryl Richardson www.LifeRenewalCounseling.org According to The Art of Extreme Self-Care by Cheryl Richardson:
"If you currently feel that you're not organized or grounded, there's a good chance that the peace of mind you long for lies in your ability to create a natural rhythm in your life..." Creating routines can be a "surprisingly powerful act of Extreme Self Care." These routines can be formed in both your personal and professional life, such as: * Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. * Working out at the same time each week. * Scheduling a work meeting at the same time each week. * Meditating * Going for a walk * Spending time with a loved one * Checking voicemail and email at predetermined times during the day. * Giving yourself 20 minutes at the end of the day to tie up loose ends. Choose one thing and focus on it for a week. At the end of the week, ask yourself if the new routine has helped you feel more relaxed, less overwhelmed, and/or more productive. www.LifeRenewalCounseling.org Part of extreme self-care is learning to say no to things that are not healthy for you. This means that we will let others down, something many of us are uncomfortable doing.
For the remainder of this week, we will look at some guidelines for staying strong in saying no while taking good care of yourself. Your first priority in learning to place healthy boundaries, however, is to surround yourself with a support system that will make it easier for you "to tell and live your truth". These people can be a spouse, friends, or coworkers and will hold you up as you take your first wobble steps toward self-care. Who will you turn to for support?? -- Adapted from The Art of Extreme Self-Care by Cheryl Richardson |
AuthorsThe author of Life Renewal Counseling's Blog is Jennifer Street, LCSW. Earlier posts are credited to our former counselor, Yolanda Harper, LCSW. For more information on Jennifer please visit the "About Us" section of our website. Archives
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