Self-Care, Self-Fulfillment, Self-Love
Why do high-achieving women, like you, experience tension?
How can you counteract this strain on your body?
Believe it or not, you already have everything you need to set yourself free.
First, let’s look at tension and why it occurs. Tension arises when you experience mental or emotional pressure, which can come from external and internal sources. For example, if you work in a high-stress job, you may feel intense pressure to achieve. This can be external pressure from management or internal pressure from yourself…or both.
As a high-achieving woman, you may have a tendency to put internal pressure on yourself to be perfect, to do better, to be better, thus bringing about tension that can lead to mental and even physical strain. A mind impacted by pressure can lose clarity.
As tension builds in your mind, it starts to reside in your body. Muscles tense up when the body is under stress, which is how our body guards against injury. Tense shoulders, sore backs, and tight hips can all be signs of the mental strain you’re carrying. Excessive tension build-up can also trigger unhealthy emotions.
Releasing tension from your body can also release it from the mind and return you to a place of ease. An excellent way to accomplish this is by creating spaciousness through movement. This can dissolve the pressure causing tension in the body and mind. It can also liberate unhealthy emotions that were stored in a physical form in the body. As well, the breath you use during movement creates air and space within the body.
Therefore, creating spaciousness in the body releases unhealthy tension and unburdens your mind. Yet it’s also good practice to get in touch with where you hold tension in your body, so you can become aware of it before it begins to speak so loudly that it stops you in your tracks. Let’s start with a body scan.
Body scan
Take a moment to pause each day. Allow yourself to breathe and be still while you scan your body, starting either at the bottom or the top.
Begin by mindfully directing your attention to your toes or the top of your head. Notice how it feels. Then go to the next part of your body and do the same. As you move through the scanning process you may find tension is stored in certain areas, such as your shoulder or hips. You may notice your jaw clenches or your feet are sore.
Your body is a guide to how you’re feeling. By scanning your body daily, you’ll learn how it stores tension, which can be helpful in preventing and releasing future physical and emotional distress.
Movement
There are endless ways to move your body to create spaciousness. Any movement that brings you joy can also create internal space.
Walk in nature
The energy of nature can remove you from life stressors. The sound of birds and running water, the feeling of fresh air on your skin, and the beauty of lush green forests and sparkling blue seas, distracts your senses and calms your mind.
Yoga
Yoga focuses on the body moving in tune with the breath. This is an especially powerful type of movement because with each breath we create space. Pairing movement with breath can be very helpful for releasing tension and inviting spaciousness.
Dancing
Dancing can be a fun way to get your body moving and to feel spacious and free. The best thing about dancing is that you can do it anywhere. Play tunes in your spare time or while you do chores and let the music get you moving.
When you’re not up for movement
Laughter
Put on your favorite comedy show for a good laugh. Laughter releases hormones that counteract stress and release tension. A joyful laugh is one of the simplest ways to bring spaciousness into your mind and body.
Touchstone
Create spaciousness in your body by calming your mind with a touchstone. A touchstone is an object that represents a desire and enables you to embody it. It can be prayer beads, a rosary, a gemstone, or anything that has meaning for you. Envisioning or physically holding a touchstone, while being mindful of your breath, can help your body relax and release tension.
The outcome
Mindful movement of your body and your breath produces hormones that reduce stress and releases old stored energy from tensions or unhealthy emotions. Encouraging the movement of your breath, inhaling and exhaling, allows new energy to flow through the body and releases tension. At first, this might feel unfamiliar, because the stuck energy was part of you for some time. However, once it’s gone, you’ll begin to feel the spaciousness you’ve created and the new and lighter energy within.
Start with a body scan, invite in movement (or its alternatives), and immerse yourself in spaciousness!
Self-Fulfillment, Self-Love
A Spiritual Practice: How It Can Rebalance Your Life
I had reached a breaking point.
I felt numb and depleted – physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I was disconnected… from myself, from others, and from the Universe.
I had burned out.
All this stemmed from my efforts to have my first telesummit be a huge success. So, I abandoned caring for my mind, body, and soul, in order to achieve this “success.” And I forgot to have fun and experience joy along the way.
It took this burnout reoccurrence for me to recognize my old destructive patterns. It was NOT pretty. (And as it goes to show… even a self-care expert like me can crash and burn when ignoring my foundation.)
A spiritual journey wants us to be present to the experience of moving forward. During the planning for my telesummit, I wasn’t present to my soul’s needs or my body’s needs. I was only present to my desire to succeed, thinking that this would bring the experience of fulfillment… but my soul yearned for more.
As I felt the desire to be connected again – with myself and the Divine – a spiritual reawakening took place.
I became aware that I needed to completely realign my body and soul, so I re-engaged with my spiritual practice to get my life back in balance.
For me, it took a mini-implosion to rebalance my life.
It doesn’t have to be the same for you!
Rebalance your mind, body, and soul by engaging with your spiritual practice.
What is a Spiritual Practice?
A spiritual practice can be one or more specific activities you do to connect with yourself, the divine, and the world around you. The practices are usually exercises, processes, or rituals that work best when done with consistency, and they will set the tone for how you greet life. They are what guide you on your path as you move towards your life vision. A spiritual practice could include activities like meditation, journaling, yoga, creative writing, drawing, or a breathing exercise. An effective spiritual practice can shift your mindset and change your approach to life.
As you begin rebalancing through spiritual practice you’ll begin to notice how it assists your well-being…
6 Benefits of Having a Spiritual Practice
Connection with values
The actions that make up a spiritual practice begin with a mindset that is based on your deepest values. As you consistently engage in your practice, you’ll be reminded of how you want to walk, talk, and show up in the world. This, in turn, will prompt your awareness of the values that are most important to you.
Gratitude
As you find a spiritual connection to something greater than yourself, you will begin to experience the true meaning of your life. As you seek answers and rebalance your life, the enlightening discoveries you make can bring greater happiness and joy. These unfolding experiences will also be accompanied by feelings of deep gratitude.
Heal Your Body and Mind
Spiritual healing comes in many ways. It can come through self-healing or be channeled by a spiritual healer. Self-healing can be achieved through visualization, meditation, or prayer. Reiki healing, Pranic healing, and Quantum healing are other examples of spiritual healing practices. These practices can strengthen your physical and mental health through the shifting and rebalancing of the energy in your body, mind, and spirit.
Achieve Even Greater Success
Having a consistent spiritual practice can be a great way to achieve higher levels of success with more ease. This can be a benefit of finding an aligned, purposeful life doing what you’re most passionate about. Your spiritual practice will accelerate your journey to find your purpose, rebalance your priorities, and align yourself with success.
Experience Greater Freedom
Having a consistent spiritual practice will help shift your mindset from unwanted negativity, self-doubt, and anguish to positivity, confidence, and joy. By putting your focus on more important things, you are less likely to waste time efforting over what’s trivial. Instead, you’ll be more aware of how to create what you truly desire with greater ease.
Lead a Fulfilling Life
Experiencing greater ease is just one amazing gift you will receive through your spiritual practice. You will rebalance and find it easier to let go of struggle and embrace flow, so your path guides you towards a more fulfilling life.
The benefits of spiritual practice will take shape as you begin to focus on your journey. If you’re not sure where to begin, start by taking some small steps…
Finding the Right Spiritual Practice For You
>>> Ask questions
Maybe you’re here to make a big impact in the world or in someone’s life. Whether your purpose is large or small, it’s up to you how you choose to live it.
- How do I want to show up in the world?
Think back to your values. This is how you treat others and connect with the world. The energy you put out will be the energy you receive.
- Is this the experience I want for my life?
Fast forward to age 90. You’ve lived the life you desire. Journal about it. When you look at the things you’re doing now, what might need to shift in order for you to actually have that life you imagined.
>>> Connect with your answers
You can continue on the path you’ve chosen or maybe you need to make some changes. Evaluate your life based on the questions you’ve just answered and decide if you need to realign with your spirituality to rebalance your life.
Once you’ve made your decision, do it! When you take actions designed to bring you happiness and joy, you will eventually embody that. So choose the way you want to live your life and then act on your choices.
Spirituality will give you a healthy, well-rounded, balanced life. Before I re-engaged my spiritual practice, I reached a breaking point. That doesn’t have to happen to you. As you focus on your spiritual practice, what seemed important before, may become insignificant. The forgotten and unappreciated may shift to a place of relevance. As you take the time to align with your spirituality, you’ll be more aware of how to rebalance your priorities with ease and discover a more meaningful life.
If you sense you’re on a collision course, like I was, or you’re wondering how to start your rebalance, find answers at my Success Without Sacrifice Experience.
The promise of this free online event is for you to Master Your Energy, Get More Done In Less Time and Make Your Massive Impact In The World.
Make sure to click here now to register for this FREE 3-day online event.
November 12th-14th (Friday – Sunday)
Join me for this dynamic and engaging 3-day event to:
- Break free from the addiction to achievement and accomplishment to experience true fulfillment
- Learn how to listen to your body, so you stop overriding and start honoring yourself (this is the key to not burning out)
- Get pragmatic tools to shift your self-talk from negative to positive, so you increase your confidence and energy
- Discover the mindset shifts you need to stop pushing and efforting, so you get more done in less time with greater ease
- Tap into your inner power, passion, and purpose to uplevel your leadership and impact (personally and professionally)
Click here now to register for Success without Sacrifice Experience.
Self-Fulfillment, Self-Love
Time to Rebalance? 6 Ways to Rediscover and Take Action On What’s Important to You
It might be your garden or your children.
Perhaps spending time with good friends.
Maybe it’s an early morning walk or meditation.
Or a date night with your significant other.
What fills your soul with joy?
More importantly, are you making the time for it?
We all have commitments that require a great deal of time and energy. As high-achieving women, we tend to work hard on what we believe will bring us profit and success. Yet this drive is also a powerful force that can take us away from other, more meaningful experiences, potentially creating an imbalance in life.
Balance is an important element to consider as you move through your day. It calibrates your energy and enhances aspects of life, such as: health, work performance, relationships, and personal growth. Even when you have a pressing goal that keeps you working round the clock, it’s still essential to make time for balance. So, look at what you may have relinquished in the past because you just didn’t have the time.
We can all benefit by embracing activities that hold more meaning for us. There’s much more to life than accomplishing the most immediate goals on your plate. For example, experiencing a greater sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. When you make the time to focus on and prioritize what you may previously have set aside, you discover renewed joy and a balance that allows you to thrive.
How will you know what a balanced life looks like? Consider the following elements…
A Balanced Life Includes:
Fitness/Health
Staying active is important, not only for your physical health, but for your mental health as well. Health and fitness help with brain activity, making you feel more alert, focused and present. It also helps regulate hormones that manage mood swings and help you sleep, two important factors that promote wellbeing in all areas of life.
Faith/Spirituality
Having faith or a spiritual practice can give you a sense of purpose. Identifying your beliefs can positively shape your values and priorities, which can lead to more focused and conscious actions.
Family
Sharing quality time and communicating with loved ones promotes deeper feelings of trust. This can help you make more powerful choices and grow into the person you’re meant to become.
Finances
If you’ve ever experienced the burden of financial stress, you know it can suffocate your well-being. Getting your finances in order will release that stressor and allow you to focus on more positive things.
Friends
Much like family, friends will help you grow. A good mix of friends and family is an awesome support system that will help you achieve and maintain balance.
Fulfillment
Consider your most meaningful accomplishments when yearning for a balanced life. To achieve your heart’s desire is an amazing feeling! Celebrating these moments provides the inspiration that carries you forward on your life’s path. This serves as positive reinforcement of how far you’ve come on your journey!
Fun
Embrace playfulness! Fun can balance stress and worry. Bring out the child within – have fun, laugh, and experience greater joy!
Personal Growth
As you grow you learn, and as you learn you grow. Without personal growth, you can not conceive the wisdom that brings balance to your mind and soul.
Take a moment to reflect on these 8 elements.
Are you sacrificing one for another? If so, consider how that impacts you.
You can regain harmony and improve your overall wellbeing as you achieve a life of balance.
6 Ways To Rediscover and Take Action on What’s Important
1. Commit to a daily intention
Think about which areas you desire to put more attention towards. Shift your focus to what’s more meaningful. Speaking this new intention into existence daily will help you commit to what’s truly important.
2. Focus on progress, not perfection
Perfection is an illusion. Through my spiritual journey, I have learned that we are perfectly imperfect beings. And that is perfect! When we can accept that – and stop striving for perfection – we will have the time and energy to devote toward more meaningful experiences.
3. Notice how you spend your free time
No judgment. Simply ask yourself if your activities are taking you in the direction of your life’s vision. Once you evaluate the use of your free time, you may choose to change your habits to those that promote a more balanced lifestyle.
4. Say “No”
It can be a virtue to be helpful, but not when it’s at your own expense. You need not please or appease others. It is healthier to respectfully say “No” than to feel resentment (toward yourself and others) and exhaustion.
5. Schedule alone time
Enjoying “me-time” reconnects you with your feelings and enables you to organize your priorities. This gives you greater internal power and the freedom to address the 8 personal elements mentioned above.
6. Declutter
Out with the old and in with the new! Apply this concept to all areas of your life. If the amount of time and effort is greater than the return, release it to make space for what adds more value to your life .
Rebalance your life by rediscovering and taking action on what’s most important to you. Uplevel your wellbeing by devoting time and energy on what will feed your spirit. Reconnect with what you love – your family, your garden, your Saturday bike rides, or your evening meditation. When you realign with your passions you’ll find a greater balance within, satisfying the essential aspects of your Self.
When you rebalance your life by reconnecting with your passion, you experience greater fulfillment, freedom, and joy!
