Tag: Self-Care

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

#CheckInWithMe in The Pencil Case: Weekly Goals and Backpack Supplies

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Comment below what backpack item represents your goal for this week:
Calculator– Working and getting things done
Pencil– Writing and reflecting
Ruler– Asking for help and working on prioritizing your needs
Notebooks– Being Creative
Water bottle– Resting and taking a break
Eraser– Other [Add your own goal!]
Feel free to choose more than one item/goal, too!
I’m taking notebooks and a calculator out of my backpack this week.
Reminder: You are good enough and capable of achieving everything you set your mind to.

Find this Check-in here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.
Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

#CheckInWithMe in The Pencil Case: How Is This Week Going?

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

What color drink describes how this week is going for you?
Comment with the color drink that describes how this week is going so far:
Blue- Great!
White- Good.
Yellow- Okay, I guess.
Purple- Ehh
Gray- Not so great.
Pink- It was challenging, would like support.
Reminder: You are doing the best you can and that is always good enough.

Find this Check-in here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.


Pick a self-kindness affirmation card to accompany you through the rest of the week:

1. I am enough.
2. I give myself permission to rest.
3. I give myself space to learn and grow.
4. It’s okay for me to ask for help.
5. My worth is not dependent on how much I get done.
6. I honor my needs by resting when my body tells me to.

Feel free to add your own affirmation!

Find this Check-in here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty
Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Power, Self-Care, Self-Talk

NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts Workshop Event: Lifeboat

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be co-hosting later this month! This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website. You can find the link here. Click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for August 29th, 2020.

If you have any questions or concerns feel free email me or leave a comment. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time.

**I will share any updates or changes and keep everyone posted.

Here are some details for the event:

Title

Lifeboat

Time

5:30 pm – 7 pm EST

Description:

“Lifeboat” is a creative, reflective, and fun event focused on creatively describing ourselves, our challenges, and how we can approach those challenges using our strengths, skills, and perspective. Starting with an ice breaker, we will brainstorm our favorite slogans, affirmations, and quotes. The main activity will be to then imagine a scene of a boat out at sea. Each portion of the image signifies a different portion to approaching challenges: the sea being our challenges and things would like to improve in our daily life, the boat being the tools we use to approach those challenges and how we can take care of ourselves in the process, and sky being goals and ways we can maintain self-care using those tools in our lifeboat. Lastly, we will close by sharing our works of art!

Materials

Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).

Hope to see you there!

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Power, Quotes, Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

The Pencil Case: Are you Highly Sensitive, too?

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

My Story

Sometimes the world around me is a lot to process — noises are too loud, lights too bright and my thoughts often fall down a never-ending spiral. I care deeply for the people around me and wish I could do more. It’s like I’m an emotional sponge.

I’m no stranger to feeling overwhelmed and I catch myself retreating in order to feel better again. I regain my energy with creativity and love to reflect so I can better understand myself and others. My brain likes looking at the bigger picture but does so through subtleties. I see patterns and small details and my favorite questions are “why?” and “how?”

However, being highly sensitive has made me susceptible to scrutiny and criticism. I’m often “too much” or “too deep” for the liking of some people. I remember once being told, “You make things too difficult and complex and would benefit from being more simple.” That isn’t who I am though, and I shouldn’t be ashamed of how sensitive I am. It’s taken me some time to fully understand and accept my emotional nature and to perceive it as an ability instead of a burden.

While feeling deeply is no walk in the park, I am proud of how far I’ve come in my journey of self-love. But I know I still have so much more to learn. If you are a highly sensitive person like me, know that you are not alone. No matter what, you are not “too much” and I’m happy to walk this journey with you..

What are your experiences like as a highly sensitive person?

Can You Relate? Let’s Reflect!

To my highly sensitive people, we are in this together.
No matter what, you are not “too much” and I’m happy to walk this sensitivity journey with you. If you find yourself overwhelmed or overstimulated check out these reflective guided questions, they’ve helped me navigate my sensitivities:
  • How are you feeling?
  • Do you feel overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated, or overstimulated? Where and when do you feel this way?
  • Are you overextending your energy?
  • When was the last time you took a break?
  • Do you need time alone?
  • What places help you feel safe?
  • What are your triggers and how can you manage them?
  • What is in your control?
  • What are your needs? How can you prioritize your needs better?
  • What are your limits? What are you okay/not okay with?
  • Do you need to write down your thoughts or talk them out?
  • Who can you ask for help?

Join this conversation here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty, or comment on this post!

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts Goal Book: Building Confidenice

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

An important part of following through with achieving your goals is knowing and believing you can achieve them. Building confidence is knowing what you’re capable of then crafting and creating goals that reflect what you want and see yourself achieving.

Activity

How can you build confidence in the goals you set?
Are the goals you’re setting reflective of your needs and interests?
Do you believe you can achieve the goals you set?
My Reflection
I can build better confidence around my daily goals by being more patient with myself and giving myself credit when I accomplish something. Once I learn to be proud of myself even if I still have work to finish, I can become more comfortable in continuing what I need to do to get where I want to be.
Join this prompt’s conversation here on The Mighty.
Posted in Creative Writing, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Power, Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk

My Little Seed

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

I remember planting this seed and thinking it would never grow. Pressured by the expectation that I’m doing something wrong, I was plagued with thoughts that if it didn’t show it’s growth it would be my fault.

But, although my expectations were low, it grew anyway and the tears I shed when it showed its little leaves made me realize I’m okay.

I’m okay because the seed is planted and as long as I have even the slightest hope that it would grow, it just might grow.

I just might grow, too.

Posted in Creative Writing, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Power, Quotes, Self-Care, Self-Talk

Dear Depression

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

With every breath in me and all of my energy, I push past the parts of myself that tell me I can’t.
Even on the mornings I ask “why?” I embody the character of resiliency.
“I am” despite the thoughts that say “I’m not.”
I define every day with what living means.
I draw it in cursive along the walls of my subconscious.
I deserve peace and I manifest it in every moment.
Although I need time to get my pain together, my strength always takes the lead.
What I have is the power those thoughts try to take from me.
But, even when I feel I’m at my lowest when the fear feels bigger than the triumph,
I get up.
I get up. Every. Single. Time.
Why? Because “I am.”

Posted in Defying Shadows Articles, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Other Publications, Potential and Worth, Power, Self-Care

Defying Shadows: The Dangers of Being Too Busy

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

“…While our daily schedules influence and prompt us to prioritize work-related tasks, it becomes difficult to slow down and also include self-care habits and routines that are important, too.

When much of our time is dedicated to working, when do we incorporate self-care and breaks into our daily schedule? How do we know when to effectively manage our time so we are not forced to take a break because of burnout?“

Article Link: The Dangers of Being Too Busy

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Power, Reflection, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Goals Help Us Feel Good

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

When we think of goals, we may sometimes think of big and complex ambitions or what we can work toward to be successful and make something of ourselves. Although this is a part of what can make a goal “feel fulfilling”, its not the only way to view, create, or approach goal setting. Goals are what we make of them. A goal can be simple, complex, big, small, intentional, unintentional, noticeable, or unnoticeable; goals are what help us to feel good about who we are.
Washing the dishes, brushing our teeth, watering our garden, drinking more water, getting out of bed, and even reflecting are also goals we can set and achieve daily. Whatever helps us feel refreshed, fulfilled, satisfied, and accomplished are goals we unknowingly achieve on a day to day basis.

Activity

What self-care practice, routine, or habit can you do daily to help you feel fulfilled, satisfied, and accomplished?
Why are these activities or gestures important?

My Reflection

Four things I do daily that helps me feel accomplished and refreshed are:
1. Watering my plant.
2. Eating fruit.
3. Reflecting and writing.
4. Brainstorming creative ideas.
These gestures and activities help me to understand myself better and allow me to be gentle with my day to day expectations of myself. These goals help me to feel a sense of accomplishment through simplicity.

Join this prompt’s conversation here on The Mighty.