A Personal Empowerment Plan
"People who have had little self-reflection live life in a huge reality blind spot." ~Bryant McGill
Life is happening for us, not to us.
For as much as there is outside of our control in life, plenty is within. We tend to focus on the wrong things. Externalities that, ultimately, don’t matter.
As humans, we’re hard-wired with a negativity bias that makes us latch onto adverse events more readily and dwell on them.
We rationalize and back up our negative playback loop through “comfort” behaviors: comparing ourselves to others, concerning ourselves with what we lack, telling ourselves that it’s impossible to change, and that failure is inevitable.
The cynical scripts we rehearse in our heads run roughshod over us. Worrying about what others think of us or how we’re coming up short causes our nervous system to be on high alert at all times. This negativity, in turn, makes us physically and emotionally unwell. Fear and doubt throw off our internal sense of balance and well-being.
You get in front of that by showing up for yourself in small ways every day. Recognizing that sitting with discomfort and acknowledging your negative thoughts for what they are - thought distortions - allows you to rewire and build new, healthy neural connections in their place.
Consider what is within your control: your emotions. Make time for them. Feel them. Understand them.
Reflection time and self-care don’t have to be complicated. As long as you’re intentional, even 5 minutes a day can make a huge impact and lead to a better, more stable relationship with yourself.
Make it simple and attainable.
Things on my personal self-care list for January:
I made a To-Don’t List - any distractions and unnecessary/unhealthy behaviors and habits.
I scheduled my days and built-in my Power Hour on my calendar. I also cleared my weekends of work-week tasks. It made room for rest and downtime in my schedule.
I committed to two 365 programs (that’s every day for a year): one for yoga and one for creating a personal art journal with private groups to keep me accountable.
I started a 'Good Deeds and Good Things' jar ( a shout-out to my good friend Aubrey for the suggestion). Every week on Sunday, I write out one amazing thing that’s either happened to me or that I did for someone else.
I’m making a point to reach out to family and friends with a simple note: “I’m thinking of you,” or “Let’s get together.” I’m making connections a priority.
What’s on your self-care list this month?