Gathering Your Tools
One of the things I emphasize a lot in my work with clients is creating a supportive practice. I do this because having useful and effective tools is necessary to activate positive change in our lives. Not having the tools is what makes it difficult to deal with challenges and move through to the other side. Sometimes, what we have been using to cope or manage no longer serves us, or we have outgrown that way of dealing with things. It may have worked at one time, but it’s not what we need now.
So much of what we all struggle with is fear. Fear of not getting what we need, of not being successful, of not being enough. That may be expressed as anxiety, depression, excessive worry, or believing that we can’t change our lives.
The important thing to remember is that things not working in your life doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.
You can shift your thinking about yourself, your life, and how you engage with the world.
You can do this right now, right where you are.
Effective tools help us cope better with challenging situations, navigate life transitions, and manage stress. They also help us move through our present situation into a mental and emotional space of greater possibility. They support us in creating positive changes and actualizing our potential.
A sustainable practice is essentially made from utilizing multiple tools that keep us in alignment with what we want and need. You get to decide what your needs are and what is important to you. What is success to you? Health? Mental wellness? Gathering your tools and choosing the ones which support your growth can move you to a more empowered place.
Some examples of supportive tools may be:
Practicing meditation to cultivate mindfulness
Journaling about your life vision, dreams or desires
Doing yoga asanas or some other form of movement
Verbalizing feelings of anger, frustration or loss
Writing a list of action steps toward a goal
Creating a ritual for setting intentions
Developing a self-care plan for the month
Cleaning and clearing your living space
Making a schedule for the week that prioritizes needs
Unplugging from online engagement or social media for a day or more
Speaking a series of affirmations to replace fearful thoughts and beliefs
Writing a grocery shopping list that incorporates healthier food choices
Starting a daily gratitude practice
If you would like to work with tools and develop a supportive practice, I look forward to connecting over a session.