Nurture Thyself

This is the seventh blog in a series delving into the Eight Pillars of a Nutritious Life, the support system I incorporate into my nutrition coaching because good nutrition includes more than just what we eat.

Nurturing ourselves in ways that uplift our spirits is good for our health and wellbeing which is why it is one of the Eight Pillars of a Nutritious Life.

“…Nurturing yourself can set the stage for better health, relationships, and general well-being. Self-compassion yields a number of benefits, including lower levels of anxiety and depression,” according to a recent Harvard Healthbeat article.

How can we nurture ourselves? Think of the classics: bubble baths, hammock time, deep breathing, tinkering in your workshop. It doesn’t need to be anything big or expensive, but it is important to make time everyday so you experience the ROI in yourself!

Recently, I bought my first deck of affirmation cards, Spirit Junkie by Gabrielle Bernstein. I was inspired by my Nutritious Life colleagues’ favorite decks and their habit of pulling cards for inspiration and encouragement.

Affirmations really help me pivot out of a bad mood, suspend limiting beliefs, or hault spiraling out of control behavior, so it’s something I’ve started doing for myself. I pulled this card first thing in the morning:

Then I proceeded to have an absolute hissy fit because I couldn’t get my bike trainer to work. At some point, I stopped and remembered the day’s affirmation. Then I pivoted and did yoga.

I think if I hadn’t pulled the card, I’d still be fighting with that goddamn bike trainer! And definitely not in a peaceful state.

It amazes me that a choice to practice affirmations can generate enough momentum to help us behave in ways that nurture, not hinder us. And boy, over time that pays off!

How do you nurture yourself? What keeps you from nurturing yourself? Let’s share and learn together!