We hear about self-care all the time, right? Every product out there is sold with the promise of making our lives a little bit better, right? A little more hopeful? A deeper sense of safety, right? Right. And these things CAN work if they are the right match. That’s the thing, you could have a whole vanity overflowing with products and still feel like shit if you don’t have any of YOUR right products, right?
For example, I am a bath person. When I’m truly anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, etc getting into a bath with or without epsom salts, preferably with a candle it does actually help me reset. A shower works too (also preferably with candlelight).
You might HATE baths, so this lavender bath soak wouldn’t do anything for you.
Maybe you hate candles so this lavendar eucalyptus candle would be your worst nightmare.
I am not a runner, so going for a quick run would NOT help me feel better. Dance cardio? Yes. Running would make me feel worse.
Sometimes self-care looks like doing these really nice things for yourself. Sometimes self-care is a little less sexy. Sometimes it’s being honest with yourself and replacing your coffee with green tea. You know I’ve done this once or twice and I feel a big impact. I love coffee so this is always sad for me, BUT I know it really helps my emotional and mental health and I’ve taken to drinking this green tea because 1) I like the taste and 2) it has other TCM ingredients that are really supportive.
Especially if I’m going to incorporate some self-care that also makes me kind of sad, I need it to really pack a punch. Ya know?
I have been getting more and more relentless in my self-care practices. There haven't been more baths, the bathtubs in our new house aren’t as deep as I like — sigh. I’ve created some very hard, high, difficult boundaries that I never thought I’d be able to create, but are necessary to keep me and my family safe. It’s exhausting and heart breaking.
AND it’s been almost a month and I feel better. Like, a lot better. And it’s still exhausting and heart breaking. And this had to happen for me and for my growing family. As my pregnancy becomes more physically visible, the reality of what’s coming becomes more undeniable.
Now is not the time for me to “deal with that later.” Later isn’t available for anything but momming and sleeping when the baby sleeps. The time is now.
And it’s more than just knowing I’m going to have a baby in May that set this sort of timeline for me to make moves. I could feel it in my body. I could feel that not making a change was growing more and more uncomfortable. Huh. Similar to pregnancy, no?
I remember being 3 days overdue with Everett and being so angry. “Get out!” I would yell at my belly and then cry to Jeremy that the baby hated me and didn’t want to meet me.
And in my hormotional insanity I also recognized this was some savvy planning. Make people so uncomfortable at the end of pregnancy that they beg to see their mucus plug like a giant loogie in their undies or for contractions to start.
My body was begging for me to make the big, bold, scary, dangerous move to set some big time boundaries. It was getting too uncomfortable to not make a move. So I did it. I did it! How big were the moves? Well…I have a feeling this is the stuff the next one woman show will be born from ;)
And this is part of my relentless self care because I now feel safe. And how do I know I feel safe? My body keeps telling me so. Because I’ve continued to be relentless in my self care and check in with how I feel in and with my body. I’m listening to what she needs to tell me and I’m acting accordingly.
So I’m sharing with you on today’s mini podcast episode a movement practice, or workout, you can do lying down. LISTEN TO HORIZONTAL ABS HERE!
And let me know how it feels. And if you can’t really comfortably lay on your back for too long like me, I have something else coming your way on Thursday!
Xo, Alissa
Tickets are still available for WE PARTY #THISISMOTHERHOOD on Thursday, February, 16th at 7pm. In person & virtual ticket options available starting at $19!