Ahhh…self-care…it’s all the buzz.
It’s something we know (hopefully) that we need to pay a little more attention to, but sometimes it feels like it is one more thing on our already too-long to-do list. What does self-care mean to you? For a long time, I thought getting a little break was self-care. Sleeping in a little on Sunday, meeting friends for a nice lunch or cocktail, a bubble bath behind a locked door….these all seemed to refresh me and prepare me to head back out to face the world. What I didn’t realize was that these (while super beneficial, and so delightful) were band aids. They were merely providing an intermission…and I would get right back to the busy and the frazzle.
I have since learned that in order to see lasting benefits from self-care, I had to dig a little deeper. I had to actually care for myself. I had to do what needed to be done to heal and care for my body, and my spirit. I began to learn about energy healing. And then I became obsessed with it. It became a snowball of deep care that made me feel healthy, and energized, and extra compassionate, and whole. Unless you have felt the effects of truly calming your center, it may sound a little “woowoo.” It did to me. I thought the idea of chakras went hand-in-hand with dangling crystals and incense, and would soon find me wearing long skirts with charms sewn along the bottom. Although, full disclosure…I do have love me some incense ;)
I started easy, with guided meditations that helped me quiet my mind and fall asleep. Then met some amazing people that gently and cautiously taught me about chakras. I listened and found some merit to these energy systems. Then I tried “tuning in” to my own chakras. I found some gunk that needed to be cleared. I did the work of self-reflection, and learned how to use physical signs from my body that my systems were out of whack, learned how to center and clear these chakras using meditation, breath work, journaling and more. Here’s what else I learned. There is actual scientific evidence as to how these chakras work, and how they affect your mental and physical health.
Here is an interesting article you may enjoy for a very basic understanding on the chakra systems.
If you are unsure how to begin, here are the first few steps I recommend.
1. Guided Meditations. – It’s all about the voice. Dig around You-Tube for meditations on anything! Meditations to help you sleep, to help with anxiety, to encourage health or creativity, to clear chakras…whatever floats your boat. But don’t waste more than 30 seconds on one if their voice is not soothing to you! There are so many choices out there…don’t settle. I also enjoy Relax Melodies, an app that also includes soothing sounds that you can use alone, or with a guided meditation.
2. Bonus…want to fall asleep fast and hard…try Yoga Nidra. No movement involved here, it is a guided meditation that can be found on Relax Melodies or You-Tube.
3. Learn what the chakras are. Then give yourself some time to sit quietly and see what enters your mind. Your body will tell you which energy center needs some love. Trust me, you will just know.
4. Check out DailyOm. This website is what got me started on my journey. I love anything bite-sized. We are all busy and only have a little spare time here and there, so I didn’t want anything too time consuming. Every morning, instead of scrolling Facebook when I wake up, I pour my coffee and spend five minutes reading the daily inspiration on DailyOm.
Ready to take on your chakra system?
Let me ask you this, what do you possibly have to lose? Really, what’s the worst that can happen…nothing? You decide I’m cuckoo and move on with your life?
What’s a possible benefit? You start to feel a little lighter? You start to react a little less? I say it’s worth a try…
Ok…if you’re ready….take the Chakra Dance to Change your Life course on DailyOm…do not roll your eyes at me….try it. It will cost you $15 and you will love it or you won’t…but it’s awfully fun, and you get to dance around for 15 minutes, so that counts as exercise, right?
For a free copy of my guide Four Pillars of Mindful Parenting, that includes journal prompts, routine-building strategies and other ways to stay calm in parenting, click here.

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