Getting into a habit of reviewing our self-care intentions for the week or day is foundational for a renewing self-care program. For many people including myself, this intention-setting is most effective first thing in the morning, and at the the beginning of each week.
My Doable Self-Care Plan Small Group Tele-Coach participants have been experimenting with setting their self-care intentions for each day and week. Simply listing our self-care goals in a paper journal can be tremendously supportive, life-empowering, and life-changing.
Henriette Anne Klauser, the author of Write it Down, Make it Happen: Knowing what you want and getting it! describes the art and science of this practice:
Write it down to be clear in your commitment to its possibility, and then activity here will create related movement there. Write it down to make it happen. […]
Keeping track on paper changes the conversation in your own head. It helps you to pay attention, to embellish your ideas, and record your inspirations. It pushes you toward the possible.
This week, make a regular morning coffee or tea date with your self-care journal and list the 1-3 self-care intentions for the day – a basic outline for your daily self-care script. Notice at the end of each day how your self-care intentions and actions appeared throughout the day.
Moving forward with a listening heart,
vision, inquiry, and action,
~ Mary