I'm sure most of you are familiar with the phrase, "treat yo' self!" It's a phrase I often use internally to release guilt from my conscious when I'm purchasing a gift for myself or when I'm simply treating myself to a luxurious "bath and glass of wine evening," for seemingly no reason. We view these things as a "treat," but I'm a firm believer in radical self-care. It tends to be the "cure" for just about anything on my mind and I believe we should incorporate it as much as possible. When I focus my energy inward and nourish myself on a deep level, it seems my external life more easily falls into place. Life is ever-changing and ever flowing, it's a beautiful and chaotic swirl, so surrender with these self-care suggestions.
Bath Time
My favorite way to care for myself is to take a bath. Not just any bath, but one of luxury. If baths sound boring to you, there are several ways to take them to another level. Accompanying your bath with a book, a glass of wine or whiskey, a podcast, music, or a lover are great ways to up the ante. My ideal bath would be alone in a meditative state with my favorite radio show playing in the background. It's a time for me to shut down my active mind and to truly relax.
On evenings when I don't really want to catch a buzz, but still need help calming my nervous system, I turn to Serious Relaxer. I like to put a dose in a cup of tea and it always sends me into a state of Zen. Not only does it calm my nervous system and my mind, but it also helps to relax any muscle tension that I've built up during the day. Pairing this enhanced tea with bath salts with added magnesium is a magical combo - and the salts don't have to be expensive. I buy a bulk Epsom salt and add my favorite bath essential oil (Clary Sage) and a cut sprig of Rosemary from my herb garden. The hot water helps to release the volatile oils from the Rosemary, which makes for an aromatic sensation.
Creativity
Finding ways to release creative energy is so good for our minds for endless reasons. It helps us transmute emotion into something physical so we can let it go. Being creative also helps our brains focus on only one thing at a time and helps us to live in the moment. Living in the moment equals peace. Life is fleeting, we might as well turn it into art while we are here!
Now, I realize not all of us are natural born artists. I, for one, cannot draw for anything, but I've found that writing and painting are good outlets for me. Keep in mind, you don't have to show what you create to anyone. It can be just for you. Creativity shows up in many ways: singing, dancing, visualization/meditation, building, gardening. I believe everyone can find their unique creative expression. If you haven't found yours yet, try different outlets until something sticks. You might surprise yourself! Being creative on a regular basis is a beautiful way to display self-care and supports emotional and mental health. If you need something to get your creative juices flowing, our Genius Juice formula supports mental focus, and diffusing Rosemary essential oils in an oil diffuser within your creative space can spark up memories of the past that may provide inspiration.
Setting Boundaries
Setting boundaries is a brave and respectable practice that can bring you profound inner peace. To give an example, if there is someone in your life that always expects you to listen, support them, and comes to you with their problems with no regard for your feelings and does not offer this same support back to you, you can express this to them or let them know that you need space to focus on yourself. It can be hard to do in the moment, but the relief and empowerment that comes with setting a boundary is worth it. A quote I repeat to myself a lot is, "Choose discomfort over resentment." Setting emotional or physical boundaries with people or situations in your life that are draining to you is a great example of this. Setting boundaries has always been difficult for me, but because I turn to plants to help me with everything in my life, I have found plant resources that help me. Flower Essences, which are a form of Homeopathic medicine, are very supportive in shifting us emotionally and energetically. Emotional Ally: A Big Herbal Hug formula is also a wonderful supporter. It helps to comfort and ground in difficult emotional situations and supports the strength of the heart.
So, treat yourself! You deserve to relax, to create, and to protect your peace.
Rebecca Younger aspires to spark an interest in herbs within her community through education and incorporating herbs into everyday life in exciting and innovative ways. She studied Herbal Medicine at Herbalism Roots in Denver. She is a customer journey representative at WishGarden Herbs.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or sell any product.
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