Hello my friend!

The practice of self care is on the rise, with many therapists, life coaches, and even social media influencers starting to guide people into a practice of loving the self. Some have really nailed the practice, while some are still linking the idea of indulging with care.

And others have created catch phrases that feel really good to say, but are hard to put into practice.

You can’t pour from an empty cup

You’ve heard that one, right? But what does it mean? Simply put, it means you must love yourself first before you can love anyone else.

But does that mean champagne and pedicures, or does that mean doing the work to release suffering and pain? Would you tell a friend to go get their toes done if they were dealing with a tough situation?

No! You would listen to them, help them get professional help, and spend time with them.

We should do the same for ourselves. It begins with mindfulness, learning to discern what is causing our discomfort/suffering/problems and then responding in a healthier way. Humans, by nature and by culture, are reactionary creatures. Adrenaline floods our systems regularly, even when we aren’t in “real danger.” We drop our coffee cup, someone cuts you off in traffic, a troll on the internet pops up, etc. These cause our nervous systems to go into overdrive, and if we aren’t mindful, we will just snap back in a way that may or may not be useful.

So a crucial step in the practice of RADICAL SELF COMPASSION is mindfulness. Observing the obstacles and experiences in our lives and making purposeful choices in how to respond.

This week, I’m offering you a different way to journal. A daily observation of your complete self, so that you can start to notice when imbalances are happening and you can mindfully make the adjustments that will guide you into better wellbeing.

This is a practice of looking within, not without, so it will take time to develop it. Give yourself grace and patience as you get comfortable with this process.

PIES JOURNALING

1. Take a piece of paper (in your notebook/journal or loose)
2. Divide it into quarters
3. In the 1st, label it P-PHYSICAL, the 2nd is I-INTELLECTUAL, 3rd is E-EMOTIONAL, and 4th is S-SPIRITUAL
4. In each area, freewrite or list how you feel in each “body,” your physical body, your mind, your heart, and your spirit/soul/Self.
5. That’s it! Try doing it every day for 30 days.

In the beginning, I found it very easy to journal about physical and mental issues and releases, but emotional and spiritual was way more difficult. But it comes with time.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to do this, adjust it however you want. But keep at it and see how your awareness and ability to respond instead of react develops.

NEW VIDEO ON DEMAND

This week, I’ve recorded a new Restorative practice that includes a few soft poses and a yoga nidra practice that incorporates Metta meditation within it so that you can start to feel and enjoy the sense of compassion we all need and deserve.

Check it by CLICKING HERE

FREE ON YOUTUBE

Chair Yoga for upper body mobility is this week on YouTube. This class is great for anyone who sits for long periods, in a car or at your computer. Modern seated posture creates a closed space in the front of the body and weakness in the back. This yoga sequence will create space while improving joint mobility in the neck, shoulders, spine, arms and hands.

CLICK HERE

That’s it from me! I truly hope your week is full of ease, peace, and love.

From my heart to yours,

–Viviane Wolfe

www.vivianewolfeyoga.com

500RYT, yoga-therapist-in-training