There are far too many self-care practices in the world to list them all. However, if you are looking for something new to try this year you can listen to Indrani, Amy, and Jeremie as they share their own self-care practices from 2017. In this episode, part two of two, the ILF Team each shares new self-care practices they will be trying in 2018.
00:00 Introduction 00:35 Jeremie – a new self-care practice he is rebooting from his past 02:55 Indrani – preparing for a future self-care goal 05:44 Amy – holding space for your personal life after work is done 09:45 Discussion 17:35 Conclusion 18:49 Outro
There are far too many self-care practices in the world to list them all. However, if you are looking for something new to try this year you can listen to Indrani, Amy, and Jeremie as they share their own self-care practices from 2017. In this episode, part one of two, the ILF Team each share one self-care practice that worked for them in 2017, and one self-care practice they want to improve upon in 2018.
00:00 Introduction 00:57 Welcome 02:53 Indrani – Finding gratitude in the small moments 05:37 Amy – Communication your own needs 10:00 Jeremie – spend time with others doing what you love 12:47 Discussion about what self-care practices worked in 2017 15:58 Amy – yoga and meditation 19:14 Jeremie – keeping a gratitude and success journal 22:54 Indrani – restorative yoga practice 22:52 Discussion about what self-care practices need improving in 2018 32:43 Conclusion
One of the beautiful things about the New Year is that it traditionally makes us feel like we can start over, improve on what was not working, and gives us an opportunity of “letting go” of what went wrong during the past year. As 2018 was approaching a few weeks ago, I reflected on all of the things I just mentioned. I listed the people, things, events, and work that served, or didn’t serve me in 2017.
{Amy Jaffe with Saza in Chiangmai, Thailand – 2017}
I made New Year’s resolutions last year, as I do every year, and I had to force myself to recognize that I can’t remember one year that I stuck with my resolutions religiously. I gave many a good try, but I have not been fully committed after the excitement fades. Last year was another one of those years.
Here were a few of my 2017 resolutions:
Develop better communication skills, and be clearer about my own needs.
Develop a regular yoga and meditation practice.
Be more aware of my body weight, diet, and exercise. Plan a diet that fits in with my life and body. Lose weight, and exercise on a regular basis.
Do any of these look familiar to you?
These are some common resolutions that I hear quite often, and I jumped on the bandwagon last year on all of these. At the end of the year I actually celebrated one of the resolutions regarding my weight, diet, and exercise. I lost over 40 pounds last year that had been creeping up on me the past 6 years, and I feel great! I’m on the treadmill at least 5 days a week, and my diet is mostly gluten free, vegetables, a few grains, and vegetarian. I have kept my weight off all year and grateful to feel healthy and whole.
Now, for the “not so celebrated” resolutions….
What kind of feelings do YOU go through when you reflect on your failed commitments? Do you feel like a failure? Do you believe you shouldn’t try again because you just know you’ll fail again? My feelings are similar, AND the feeling of fear rises up when I want to try them again. How can I be better at these commitments?Why are these resolutions so important to me? And how can they become habits? I am sitting with all of these questions and feelings, and ready to stand up and move forward with the desire to keep trying.
Brené Brown is one of my teachers in life, and two of her books, “Daring Greatly” and “Braving the Wilderness” are my new bibles. At the end of every year I beat myself up with guilt because I did NOT stay committed to my New Year’s resolutions. I am a perfectionist at heart and mind, and when I am not perfect …. the guilt and anxiety take a hold of me.
I am setting my intentions and resolutions again this year! My intention is to follow Brené Brown’s advice and focus on healthy striving in my life. I am one of the hosts of Indrani’s Light Foundation’s “Caring for the Caregivers” podcast. Indrani Goradia, Jeremie Miller and I publish a bi-monthly podcast to support our Caregivers who work as staff members in domestic violence shelters. (Available on iTunes) In our newest episode for 2018, the three of us discussed how we can reflect on our current self-care practices, and plan for new ones as an important step in being intentional about our self-care. We also talked about what practices worked for us in 2017, and which ones need improvement in 2018.
I am excited about starting this New Year free from guilt and shame, and acknowledging that intentions and striving for a healthier life is what my New Year’s Resolution will be!
I would love to know if this blog and our podcast episodes have been helpful for you this first month of 2018. What have you learned so far? Have you freed yourself of guilt, and discovered your New Year’s Resolutions?
With gratitude,
Amy
Amy Jaffe | Director of Education & Outreach
Indrani’s Light Foundation
Join Indrani for a meditation to help prepare you for the new year. This meditation will help you get grounded, then send peace and compassion to yourself. Once you are feeling at ease, you can then send the same peace and compassion to others.
Prepare for the holidays by listening to these SIX self-care tips from Amy, Jeremie, and Stacie.
Learn how to plan for your “you time” ahead of time, how to use your boundaries and values to navigate difficult conversations, the importance of gratitude, and three more tips in this episode of the Caring for the Caregivers Podcast.
00:00 Introduction 02:03 Stacie Kenton Introduction. 03:26 Scenario 04:15 Jeremie – Plan for your “you time,” ahead of time. 07:10 Discussion about Planning your “you time,” ahead of time. 07:45 Stacie – Show some gratitude. 09:37 Discussion about Show some Gratitude. 11:56 Amy – Boundaries and values. 18:42 Discussion about Boundaries and values. 20:50 Jeremie – What positive emotions do you want to experience? 23:55 Discussion about What positive emotions do you want to experience. 27:25 Amy – Saying No. 33:12 Discussion about Saying no. 36:50 Stacie – Assume everyone is doing their best. 39:42 Discussion about Assume everyone is doing their best. 43:46 Conclusion 45:05 Volunteer Suzanne Holman shares two tips. 46:20 Volunteer Alyce Jurgenson shares two tips.
B – Did I respect my boundaries? R – Was I reliable? A – Did I hold myself accountable? V – Did I respect the vault and share appropriately? I – Did I act from my integrity? G – Was I generous towards myself?
Vaikhara Mudra
(Source: Mudras – For Healing and Transformation by Joseph and Lilian Page)
If you aren’t setting clear boundaries, and communicating your expectations, you are going to find yourself in conflict. Indrani shares a personal coaching message about setting and dealing with expectations at work and at home.
In the last episode you learned some tools you can use for having a tough conversation with your supervisor. After having that tough conversation your brain is going to be full and your emotions running high.
Use this meditation to get to a place where you can properly review the meeting and make decisions on your next steps.
When you want to make an impact on people’s lives, it can be hard to say “no” when asked to help. But what if providing that help will end up hurting you? In this episode Indrani, Amy, and Jeremie share three tools you can use to say “no” to your supervisor, without feeling guilty, when asked to do something you don’t feel comfortable doing.
00:00 Introduction 01:02 Scenario 01:50 Amy – “I want to be perceived as…” 06:04 Discussion about the “I want to be perceived as…” tool. 08:06 Jeremie – Delivering a “Yes. No. Yes?” 12:41 Discussion of the “Yes. No. Yes?” tool. 16:50 Indrani – Self-care: Press pause and think about your answer. 20:50 Discussion of the “Press pause and think about your answer” tool. 28:10 Conclusion
There are many events, challenges, and problems causing unsettled feelings these days. Whether you are feeling unsettled at work or at home, listen to this meditation and visualization from Indrani to help you balance these unsettled feelings.
You put a lot of passion, love, and effort into supporting your clients at work, and your family at home. It can be challenging (and very emotional) when the people you are helping don’t say “thank you” or show any gratitude for the support and energy you give them. In this episode Indrani, Amy, and Jeremie share three more tools (in addition to the tools shared in Episode #5) you can use to change your perspective when someone doesn’t show you appreciation.
01:08 Introduction 02:33 Scenario 03:15 Indrani – Bring self-compassion into the formula 06:36 Discussion about self-compassion 14:55 Amy – Practice Critical Awareness 20:46 Discussion about using Critical Awareness 25:48 Jeremie – Find an “Appreciation Buddy” 28:13 Jeremie – Think about a “Future State” 30:24 Conclusion
Your donation will be used towards eradicating gender violence, training community leaders and sharing behaviour-change tools with people who are ready to leave violence behind and create a brighter, more peaceful world.
There are far too many self-care practices in the world to list them all. However, if you are looking for something new to try this year you can listen to Indrani, Amy, and Jeremie as they share their own self-care practices from 2017. In this episode, part two of two, the ILF Team each shares new self-care practices they will be trying in 2018.
There are far too many self-care practices in the world to list them all. However, if you are looking for something new to try this year you can listen to Indrani, Amy, and Jeremie as they share their own self-care practices from 2017. In this episode, part one of two, the ILF Team each share one self-care practice that worked for them in 2017, and one self-care practice they want to improve upon in 2018.
