You are in charge of your power and energy. Notice what you are investing your time in and ask if those investments are serving your needs.
If you find your needs not being met, reclaim peace of mind by honoring your needs and resetting your standards and boundaries.
You are in control of your power. Use your energy wisely. You are important.
From now on, we nourish and care for our needs too.
Ever wanted a moment to yourself? Ever wished you could push a “pause” button on life when you feel overwhelmed? I can relate!
I’ve recently learned a mindfulness technique that can help when you feel overcome by negative thinking. Instead of spiraling into a tough place mentally, pause. Mindfulness techniques such as this can help to build self-awareness as well as practice the art of acknowledging without spiraling.
Here are four steps you can take:
#1: Once you witness a negative thought entering your mind, pause. Say it out loud if necessary. Interrupt the thought.
#2: Acknowledge the thought. Notice why you’re thinking it.
#3: Take a deep breath.
#4: Witness the thought as just a thought and let it pass. Do not give in or allow it to shift your perspective.
The idea is to learn how to “pause” at the moment a negative thought is introduced and build mindfulness around self-care and self-awareness. Whether it’s saying “pause” out loud or manifesting a pause in our actions, the act of pausing teaches us to manage our thoughts in hopes of creating a more workable outlook on our lives and experiences.
What’s one thought you can pause today?
“Pause” is an activity/graphic I’ve created for The Mighty!
You can see the community engagement post here.
You can also find this graphic as a sticker in my shop!
You see me express myself, I wear my emotional wounds for all to see. I’m building my self-awareness through my healing and it’s because I choose to write about my mental health.
“I write and talk about my mental health because I know what it’s like to feel alone, unwanted, worthless, hopeless, and unaccomplished. I know what it’s like to feel invisible, to worry to the point of a panic attack, and to feel trapped. I write and talk about my mental health because deep down I wish I can hug and show all those who suffer silently that they don’t have to suffer alone. I write to share and motivate others to keep going even if they feel they can’t.
I neglected my mental health and thought I wasn’t good enough or worthy of love and life unless I proved myself to be so. I didn’t understand my intrinsic worth or purpose and because of this lived in a constant state of depression and anxiety.
If you are reading this, know that you are more than. You are full of purpose, power, and worth and nothing and no one can strip you of this. No matter what those negative thoughts said, you are doing a great job and I’m proud of you.”
Dear Nina,
I’m so proud of all you’ve accomplished this year; from facing your fears and sharing your story to starting therapy and unpacking all that’s going on in your head. The more time goes on, the more you’re growing into the woman that shatters stereotypes and demolishes stigma and that makes you amazing.
From now on here are five promises to make to yourself:
1. Honor yourself and your mental health by setting clear boundaries and never settling for less.
2. Put yourself first because you matter, too.
3. Have some fun, however that looks for you, and be easy on yourself.
4. Take breaks because you deserve to feel energized and ready to take on those big projects you love.
5. Reminding yourself daily that you are enough and DO NOT NEED anyone to validate that FACT.
There’s so much in store for you so stop questioning your worth and value because of how others treat you. Learn to love yourself REGARDLESS. You are a shining light and I hope you learn to believe that.This is the year of reclaiming self.
With all the love in the world
From the best parts of you,
SparklyWarTanks
Note to self:
The proof of worthiness is self-acceptance. To be worthy is to accept all that is you unapologetically. There is no need to go above and beyond to convince anyone of your greatness. You are great and beautiful all on your own. Be yourself.
Accept all that is you. Become comfortable with your self-worth separate from others and how they treat you or how much work you finished.
You
Are
Enough.
You
Are
Beautiful.
You
Have
Intrinsic
Worth.
No matter how the clock ticks, or how much time elapsed since the last time I felt at peace, I give myself permission to take life slowly.
All that is for me will make its way to me and all that is not for me will exit swiftly.
I wake up and whatever I feel I will acknowledge and let pass. I welcome gratitude every day I’m able to experience another day.
Today is my day. Today I am brave. Today I am strong.
No matter what, I will give myself time.
*This quote will be a part of my sticker shop in Nov 2019!
My shop is currently being moved to another website.
“Growth and healing are a continuous process. While we may want our recovery journey to look linear, always progressing and improving, that is not what reality teaches us. Recovery, even when we see ourselves in great shape for long periods of time, sometimes come with low moments.
Learning how to accept sudden stumbling blocks can be discouraging, but those moments are what builds and crafts what recovery really looks like.”
When I’m not doing well or if I can’t seem to silence my intrusive thoughts, I write. So, here is me writing right now:
I know you believe no one will want you. You fear being alone. You can’t imagine being loved or appreciated. You don’t see anything but rejection so you’ve given up.
I know you can’t sleep, so you go to bed at like 3. Some tears roll down your face but no one sees.
I know you’re trying to hide in isolation. That’s how you deal with things.
All this is silly, right? You’ll be fine. What you’re sad about is not important, it’ll happen…eventually.
Just focus on you.
Focus on you.
On you.
You.
Me.
Me.
Me and my.
Me and my feelings.
Me and my feelings are valid.
This is how I feel and it’s been spiraling for a while.
I don’t need anyone to want me. This is me, me and now.
I’ve been hurting a lot and keeping it to myself. When I open up, I feel as though what hurts me isn’t important enough.
To be lonely and isolated, to not feel hope, love, or purpose.
That right there is the wound that needs mending.
I must love myself to move past this pain that comes from way back when.
I am important.
I don’t need validation.
I embody my purpose.
I am powerful.
I am worthy.
Love flows freely in my life.
So I know.
I know.
I just needed a moment to let all this out…again.
Yes, I’ve been rejected.
Yes, I’ve been ghosted.
Yes, I’ve been ignored.
Yes, I’ve been pushed to the side.
Also, yes, I thought because this happened so often I was somehow unlovable, ugly, unworthy of attention or love. I thought I deserved this because something was “wrong” with me and I needed to “fix” myself so others would want me.
25 years and counting and now I know that I am not a reflection of how I was treated, of the countless times I didn’t feel good enough. I know now I am worthy of love, affection, and attention. This does not mean, however, that no one will reject, ghost, or push me to the side; but this does mean that I have the choice to not allow someone else’s behavior to reflect how I see my worth.
My worth and value are intrinsic. No one can take away my worth.
So, if you ever find yourself questioning your worth because of how someone else treated you, STOP. Always remember that you are worthy, enough, valuable, lovable, and beautiful. No one can take those ineffaceable things from you.
The more you learn to love yourself, the easier it will become to not allow other people’s actions to sway how you see everything you already are.
Have you ever felt yourself beginning to “spiral?” What is “spiraling?” How can you regain control and focus when you find yourself overthinking into an emotional and uncomfortable place mentally?
Find out in my Defying Shadows article!
