Taking Care of Yourself-Top 10 Fundamentals Handbook

When you grow up and you realize all the things that consist of taking care of yourself, it’s understandable why we don’t follow through.

The truth behind the matter is it shouldn’t be a chore to do the things that we need to do. We have the knowledge, and for some reason, the adults in us just don’t want to adult.

We make things so damn difficult that whatever you face, you are challenged.

Life doesn’t have to be that way.

What if the challenge starts with your thinking and beliefs?

Open your mind, pretend you don’t know anything and let this inspire you so that that it is a no brainer to do the things included.

TRUST THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

1. Don’t take on too much.

These days it’s like we show up to the buffet and want to eat all the food for our entire lifetime in one meal.

On top of that, we have such a deficit to attention and what to focus that attention on.

Then when the next thing comes up it takes our attention away, and we work diligently to get back to our original task.  That’s way too much work!

We want to be able to do all the things we need to do, all the things we want to do and then everyone else’s to do’s also.

We need to learn to say no and not feel guilty about it. We can’t do it all and that’s ok.

Trust me when I say, someone else will be there to take on the task you said no to and people will still like you afterwards.

2. Slow Down.

I believe in an inside out reality, which means the things that you think and believe create the way you envision the world.

Therefore, when we look at the chores, the work, the kids, the relationships and then try to fit ourselves in, it’s too overwhelming. Then we quit before we ever get to us.

These are our thoughts bogging us down with negativity about our circumstances.

If you treat time with scarcity then you will never have enough, the same goes for money. Just saying.

There will be time for everything you need to do. If you let your brain get you in a tizzy about it all, then you will be of no use to yourself or anyone else.

3. Listen to your intuition.

We all need a break sometimes.

When you have a ton to do and your intuition is telling you now is not the time, listen up!

What has happened for so long is that we have decided to ignore our intuition and be human doers. We need to listen to our inner beings.

This makes a huge difference in the way we show up in this world for ourselves and others.

When we are in tune with our intuition we create a space where there isn’t resentment or resistance to our circumstance.

This is one of the best ways I can teach you to take care of yourself and as a result this makes for a much happier you. Sounds nice, right? Give it a shot.

REMEMBER YOU ARE NOT YOUR RESULTS

In life, we are so used to making judgments on everything and everyone, including ourselves.

Who told you it was bad or wrong to fail?

The failures I have had in life have taught me many lessons, about myself, such as;

I continue my efforts even when I don’t achieve the results I want because I am committed to the outcome. 

When you commit to your outcome assessing along the way, your result changes and so does your course of action.

See how the following can help you be open to the possibilities and opportunities that life presents you.

4. Have a direction to focus in.

Without a clear direction, there cannot be a destination you will reach.

Most people want to figure out the plan; the what, when, where, why and how they will get there.

 We cannot predict the outcome. No matter how much we plan.

When we get attached to “The Plan”, we cause unnecessary suffering on the journey.

When you know what you want and start in that direction without a plan, you won’t believe the possibilities.

They will be limitless because you aren’t attached to things looking a certain way.

Assess each action by looking at the outcome derived from the action.

Ask questions- Is this working? If not, what can I do differently? Even assess your own actions.

Assessment doesn’t say what is good/bad or right/wrong, only what’s work/not working.

5. Set your Priorities.

Get organized by setting your priorities and then set your schedule.

You need to prioritize what needs to be done first.

How many times have you had a to-do list and wasted time doing the unnecessary items?

If we don’t prioritize then time slips away, and we cause stress on ourselves that could have been avoided.

If you have the leisure where nothing needs to be done first, then trust your instincts and do what you are led to do first.

Regardless, things will always work out for you and having less stress will make your life so much more enjoyable.

6. Minimize your distractions.

Make sure that when you begin taking action you create a space to avoid distractions while you accomplish your tasks.

We tend to let disruptions occur. Those disruptions usually come in the form of other people’s urgent wants to have their needs met.

There is a sense of urgency in the world to get things done.

You can get interrupted by people, social media, email, phones and a million other things if you don’t minimize the distractions.

Think of our amazing rescue workers and how focused they need to be. I’m sure you can guess why. Lives are at stake!

Your time matters, and lives may not be at stake nevertheless your time is valuable.

Treat it as such by minimizing your interruptions.

STRENGTHEN YOUR SPIRIT

You work out your body, you learn to feed your mind and what are you doing to strengthen your spirit?

I can almost bet there is a nagging inside of you that you are ignoring so very well. And it’s begging you to enhance your inner disposition.

We all have that internal calling and most of the time, we just don’t listen.

Our ego takes over and talks us into doing the same stuff to keep us safe and in our comfort zone.

Your ego also likes to be right about all the lies we tell ourselves, so let’s just shut that voice up.

If you want to find out how, read on.

7. Improve Connections.

We all live for connection.

Some of us tell ourselves that no one cares, then recoil into depression and shut out everyone who really does care.

Connection is essential to our existence.

Believe it or not, we can never be disconnected, our thoughts would tell us otherwise.

Taking care of yourself consists of staying involved with other people, especially when you don’t want to.

People in our lives support us in our breakdowns and in helping to redirect us when we feel lost.

They help us get out of our heads when we are in our crap and lift us up when we are playing small.

We have so much to give to one another in connection; and yet, we still prefer to believe we are alone, that no one “gets” us and that we must do everything all alone.

Sharing your pain with others usually will lead to a “Me too” ending where a connection becomes stronger.

I also have found that the best way to get out of my shit is to help someone else get out of theirs.

The lesson in whatever message you deliver is meant for you just as much as it is for them.

8. Meditate.

Yes, I’m saying it because you already know, and I am just as guilty.

I don’t take the time to meditate as much as I should.

There’s no wrong way to do it, just find the space between your thoughts.

Meditation doesn’t necessarily mean sitting in a corner chanting “Ohm.”

It can mean running, swimming, hiking, biking and even driving.

We put so much thought and meaning into whether we are doing it right and how to do it, that we never do it.

That makes a lot of noise and work in our head.

When you learn to find the space between your thoughts you will be in the quietest place you will find on this planet. Of course, some of you lucky ones are already blessed with knowing how.

So why should you meditate?

When you quiet your mind, you make room for insight. Sight from within.

Your insight will always guide you with limitless possibilities, no plan to get attached to and only the next logical step.

9. Do What You Enjoy.

This is completely up to you.

For some people it’s eating well and exercise, for others it’s an ice cream cone and a cuddle on the couch.

We all know how to treat our bodies and what is important for the longevity, survival and wellbeing of our physical forms.

So why aren’t we doing it?

Instant gratification is at our fingertips.

In this millennium, we can have more surgery, take more pills and have more convenient access to crap food then we have time to do the work, plan and fit time in for ourselves.

We have so much pain from our thoughts around doing the things that we know are in our best interest.

When it’s only a decision to get up 20 minutes earlier, purchase healthier foods and snacks, just do whatever it takes to get stuff done.

We don’t enjoy not accomplishing what we said we would and that’s mostly what we end up doing.

There’s nothing wrong with that; and, when you come from a place of commitment, you will always keep your word, even if that means being on time to something that is not trivial.

So just stop committing to things you don’t want to do, it doesn’t make you happy and it makes no sense to make yourself suffer intentionally.

10. Let it go.

We talk a lot about the circumstances that we have had to endure in life and we put a lot of guilt and shame on ourselves for things we can’t change.

That’s heavy energy.

I don’t know what your story is and I’m certain there is pain in your history.

However, what holds us in an unfit or diseased state in our physical form is the inability to accept ourselves for who we are and not beat ourselves up about it.

Letting something go implies an action to the process.

Movement is key because it frees up the trapped energy inside of you. Emotion is energy in motion.

Energy that was meant to flow through you.

In some situation, you were resistant to whatever was at the current moment, rather than being the conductor or the space for the energy to move.

Dance, exercise, walk, swim, run or shake it off.

That energy is weighing you down.

It’s a weight that you have been carrying for all your years on this earth.

Don’t drag into the future what deserves to stay in the past.

Most of what I’ve written are things you already know; I ask you to pretend you didn’t know so that you would see something new.

If you aren’t willing to look at your daily practices of taking care of yourself then life will never change.

Life can be just as easy as we’ve discussed here, I encourage you to start with looking at how much you are doing.

Begin to eliminate things of less importance so you aren’t doing so much.

When life gets tough, as it sometimes will, reach out to me for coaching or purchase my Phoenix Program Workbook, either will start you on the path to achieve the greatness within you. Helping others recognize their greatness is my specialty.