EXTREME SELF CARE

A Personal Development Workshop Presentation by Anne Young
Personal Life Coach and Motivational Speaker

Initially, we may all have a different interpretation on the meaning of "extreme self care".  However, extreme self care is really about surounding ourselves will all that makes us feel great, of being kind to ourselves, so that we may be of more benefit to all those around us, whether in home, family, work or community.

Practising extreme self care means caring about ourselves and bringing balance into the emotional, physical and spiritual areas of our lives.  It means having good support around us, so that we may can be committed to the journey of fulfilling our dreams and leading a wonderful, balanced and quality life.

Taking on the mission of practising extreme self care may sound like it means to be "selfish", but believe me, you will understand that it actually means the complete opposite!  Quite simply - you will be invaluable and unique in your own way.  We will understand that by having a great life, you will be able to share that greatness with everyone around you.

It doesn't matter who we are, or where we live, or what we have or do not have - everyone needs to take very good care of ourselves.  How else would we be able to function properly?  In our everyday lives it is often easy to put our personal needs and care aside, to believe that as we were taught by many generations, that we should always put others first - but think about this ... if you are not taking care of yourself - are you being setting a really good example for future generations and how can you possibly be of greater benefit, if you are NOT taking extreme self care of yourself?

Having a good balance in our lives is the most important factor.  Without this things will not tick along nicely.  It will be a bumpy ride.  Everyone of us will have different needs, so that is why the support from others is really important.

The benefit of having a professional coach with you for the ride is that you will have non-judgemental support and encouragement while you are trying to focus on achieving that balance.

BALANCING THE STRESS IN YOUR LIFE:

An important area to concentrate on in extreme self care, is dealing with Stress.  How many of us have little or no stress in our lives?  Not many, I am sure!  Stress is an absolute "negative" when it is the brick wall that stops us from being who we really want to be, or doing what we really want to do.  Running on adrenalin is a "negative".  We need to run on energy instead.  Stress can cause majoy damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life.  It is very important to have the support of family and friends.  Without this support, the more lonely or isolated we are, the more vunerable to stress you will be.  By dealing with stress, you will take control.  You will increase your confidence and will have the ability to tackle challenges with more ease.  You will begin to take control of your life, instead of having stress controlling you!

Dealing with stress will mean you can be more optimistic of your future.  You will accept that things happen in your life that you may not have liked, but you have dealth with them and moved forward, and not become stuck and held back in the past.  When we are stressed we are generally sad or depressed.  Dealing with stress on different levels will increase your self-esteem and confidence and give you more energy to get out there and sort out other things that may be holding you back in achieving the life you really want.

Knowing that you have support, you will be able to make a plan to get rid of a stressful situation and this will immediately lighten the load.  You can now plan ahead and move forward - even if they are small steps.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What happens to me when I am stressed?
• How does stress make me feel?
• Is this really how I want to live?

If you are ready to deal with balancing the stress levels in your life, a personal life coach will be very beneficial to you!

BALANCING FAMILY AND HOME ENVIRONMENT:

Think about your present home and family environment.  Focus on the positives in your life.  Are you in a good, healthy family and home environment?  What could you change or add to your environment that would increase the energy levels and bring more balance into your life?

One of the most negative and draining energies a home can have is clutter!  It can greatly affect the balance of a family or home environment.  We need to organise our lives so that more energy can come to us.  We need to be serious about this – to show that we are ready for some really good positive energy to come to us.  This area of extreme self care can be one of the most challenging aspects to deal with as it can often involve other people.  But if we make a start, others may soon follow.  So be the example of making these changes and see what a positive influence you can be on those around you.  Until you show the universe that you are taking control, that you have things in order, that you mean business – nothing will happen.  Once you start to make these changes, the universe will ensure that you receive all that you deserve to be truly happy in your environment. 

You could start by making sure that windows are clear of clutter – this is absolutely essential to increasing energy levels in your home.  Not only will you clearly see what a beautiful environment you live in – but you will also be encouraging a happier and therefore healthier environment for you and those around you.

FINDING THE BALANCE FOR YOU:

This area of extreme self care is one of my favourites – and one that most people don’t often think about.  I personally call them my "delicious daily habits" and they are so very essential to have for extreme self-care.   What do you do for yourself that is special for you and brings you "joy"?  You should have at least ten regular things that you do just for you!  Why not – you are really important and you deserve to have something just for you.

Here are a couple of examples:

Do you enjoy a cup of tea?  Do you grab the first cup you see, pop in a tea bag and sip at it while you are doing other things?  Or – do you find the nicest cup you have, make a lovely pop of tea, pop a nice cloth on a table and sit down in a place you really enjoy!  It’s like a celebration – a celebration of you – and it’s fun!  It should make you smile and feel good! 

When you get dressed in the morning, do you reach for the first thing you see – you do you make the decision every day to wear what makes you feel great!  Are you getting the idea?  If you “think” about each thing we do as we go about our day, if we make the decision to en”joy” it, it will increase our self-esteem, make us feel great, and therefore everyone around us, will notice the energy levels – and they’ll feel great too!

BALANCE IN YOUR EMOTIONAL AND HEALTH AREAS:

These aspects all concentrate on ensuring that you are in the best working order!  If you are not taking the proper health care of yourself you will be of no benefit to those around you if you get sick.  If you are not ensuring that you have had regular medical check-ups, you are letting yourself down.  By having regular check-ups you assure yourself that you are in good working order, and that you are serious about moving forward with your life.  Early detection in many areas of health, saves lives – we all know this – but do we all do it?

Emotional balance in this area is also really important.  If you are feeling stuck in your life then you need to ask yourself what are you holding on to from the past that is not letting you move ahead.

The experiences of life have made us what we are today – truly beautiful, unique people – each and every one of us.  For some there may have been tragedy, sadness, or abuse.  Know that you have a unique purpose in life, that for whatever reason, these things were part of your journey that made you who you are today.  Accept that these things have happened to you – let them go – and move forward.  Until you “accept” , the negatives of the past will hold you back.

In coaching, we do not go backwards.  We don't analyse the past.  We accept each other for who we are, as we are.  We look at where you are now and where you want to be and we put in place an action plan to get you there.  What you do today will shape tomorrow - you do not have to worry about tomorrow - just deal with things today in a positive manner and trust that the universe will take care of you.  How uplifting is that for you?

Coaches are not specialists.  However some specialists may be coaches.  We do not give advice or tell you what to do.  We accept you for who you are and know that you will know the right answers yourself - you may just need to be asked the right quesitons so that you can see the answer more clearly, and then we give you the support and encouragement for you to take action. 

Each of us will have different needs in regard to "special" needs.  If you know there is something you need to do to take better care of yourself you need to write it down, and then take action.  If it is dealing with the past, then write that down, do it - don't delay any longer - resolve the matter if you need to and then you can move forward.  Do you see how you will feel much better knowing that it is not heavy on your mind?

BALANCE ON THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE:

We all know the rights and wrongs on what we put in our mouths.  The big question is - are you honouring who you are by what you put into your mouth? 

We are a unique and beautiful person - created as a special individual.  Are you encouraging your body to be healthy, or are you feeding yourself negatives?

And then the outside.  If you have been created as the unique human being that you are, are you making the most of enhancing what was truly given to you?  Don't we wll feel a lot better about ourselves if we are "scrubbed up".  And does a smile on your face make you and other people feel a lot more positive and happier?

Has someone made a comment to you, when you have been "dressed up" to go somewhere, that you look great?  How did that make you feel and wouldn't you like to feel that way all the time?

Believe me, this is definitely worth a try - surprise yourself and others around you and see the positive results!

MAKING IT YOUR LIFE:

Making extreme self care a part of your natural behaviour will take time and practice.  We need to encourage and support each other and so it is good to share this resource with other people.  You need to be able to trust the person or people who will support you, and to know that they will not be judgemental of you in any way.

To encourage you to keep working on this new way of life for you - write down on a daily basis all the positives about your day.  This will encourage you to keep perspective on your life, especially when things feel like they are not moving fast enough for you!

Good luck on your new life.  Happiness to you, your family and friends.  Remember, the support of a personal life coach will make your journey a little easier knowing that you are truly believed in  and that you are worth it!