Throughout the years of my healing journey there are so many different things that I’ve incorporated into my daily practices so that I can recover naturally from my childhood wounds, sexual trauma, and the several spiritual losses I’ve endured. Utilizing natural resources and therapies has given me a sense of choice, hope and empowerment-all so important for someone overcoming years of trauma. The following is a list of the very simple things that have made a tremendous impact in my ability to move forward in my healing journey.
Hydration-
More than half of our body is made of water, so keeping hydrated on a daily basis is so beneficial not only for our physical body, but our emotional well being as well. Water helps keep our vital organs and joints lubricated, decreases brain fog and helps us focus, and eliminates excess waste from the body. Studies show that even mild dehydration can impact your brain function, that we can become dehydrated during sleep, and that drinking water first thing in the morning helps to keep our digestive system working properly. I read once that we should aim for half our body weight in ounces-so I have a 32oz bottle that I fill 3/4times per day, starting in the morning. If I’m not feeling well, I will also add in some lemons & a shot of apple cider vinegar to help move out any potential toxins/bacteria.
Connect with Nature-
There are so many ways that you can include nature’s healing into your daily practices. I like to start my mornings on the porch with the birds, appreciating the sound before I start my busy day. I use fresh produce and clean foods throughout the day, as well as use herbs in my cooking and teas. I also try to get several walks in during the week, or meditate in the sun. When you incorporate the beauty of the natural world into your daily devotions and wellness goals, you will be amazed at how much splendor exists that most people miss. Stopping to ‘smell the flowers’ is truly therapeutic, touching a tree brings a sense of calm, planting your bare feet in the cool grass is exhilarating and connecting. Spending time in nature can lower blood pressure, increase our vitamin d levels (adequate levels are crucial for maintaining immunity and mental health); and using fresh food can also improve our mental and physical health by improving our gut health.
Connect with My Body-
Connecting means different things on different days. I believe in moving our bodies, often; I believe in resting, often. I’m learning to let go of the ideas that we must do all the things all the time. Life and emotional wellness is about finding the balance of what works for you. I love lifting weights, rowing, walking, hiking, and pushing myself; and I equally enjoy giving in to some of the nudges that say ‘can we just rest today?’ On the days when I don’t have it in me to push through a workout, I honor my body by doing some breathwork, or a meditation in the sun, relaxing in a hot bath, or simply cuddling on the couch with hot tea. I’ve recently come to love the mantra ‘devotion over discipline’ and it has been working so well to keep me walking towards my goals of embodiment and overall wellness. If you are guilting yourself through movement or rest, there’s usually work to be done. Inquire with yourself about whether you’re aligning with your goals, as well as whether or not you might be doing certain things just to please others. I’ve found that I tend to self sabotage the most when I’m not creating space for rest and when I’m committing to something to please others. Exercise, rest, and meditation are all important for brain health, embodiment, and overall wellness. Find something that feels good and resonates with your overall goals, and it will be easier to incorporate into a daily routine.
Brain Games-
If you ever get sick of mindless scrolling on social media, but still need a little zone out time, I Love brain games! I deleted several social media apps on my phone and only access them at certain times for work. In the evening, I like to play brain games; it’s both relaxing and still productive. Learning and brain games promote neurogenesis (the process of forming new neurons)-and new neurons can create new pathways in your brain that help with trauma recovery; so you’re literally rewiring your brain, just by playing a fun game! Neuroplasticity is our brain’s way of changing itself and this is such an important part of healing. Brain games help improve concentration, memory, and problem solving skills, among many other benefits. I love Lumosity, Mindpal, and scrabble.
Reading/Journaling-
I started reading at age four and it has always been a productive escape for me, and I still have all my journals from childhood! Though it’s easy to have our attention diverted by the cell phone, reading and journaling are both important tools on our self healing journey. In the morning I like to jot down some intentions for my day and rehash my dreams. At night I like to spend at least 15-30minutes reading to wind down. Just a few minutes of each of these daily makes a difference in both our embodiment and emotional wellness!
Reflections-
Lastly, something I practice daily is being reflective in my intentions and self-talk. I am a Cancer, born on July 8th, and though I’m a water sign, I have most of my planets in the element of Air-which means I’m in my head, all the time...and it can certainly be draining! I eventually realized that a lot of my thought processes were just stories Other people had told me-that I’d believed. A lot of the things I thought I wanted were really things other people wanted from me and I didn’t know how to say no to them. It takes a lot of alone time and being honest with yourself to truly understand what voice is yours and what is from others.
Think about how you speak to yourself daily-are you kind, are you a pusher, are you encouraging? And where do these tendencies stem from? Society, family, past relationships? Are your intentions to please everyone else before yourself? Are you aligning with who you want to be, or who they want you to be? Do you make decisions from fear or love? Scarcity mindset or an abundant mindset?
My intentions are to live authentically. My self-talk is encouraging and compassionate. Some days I trip up on both of these-out of fear, out of triggers, out of overwhelm; but everyday I strive to be better to myself. These are all questions that have helped me discover my own true voice and I hope they help you on your healing journey!