Whether it comes from those around us or it's something that emanates from within and shows ourselves compassion and care; love endures as a way to establish strong connections. It can be a source of happiness and joy but also a way to tap into our purpose, communicate belonging and also bring about a sense of security.
Saying positive affirmations before going to bed can help calm our minds, reduce stress levels and promote a more optimistic and encouraging outlook for the next day; they can also help reinforce a sense of self-empowerment.
The ups and downs of life form part of the experiences that influence, shape and guide us. Challenges and disappointments — even the ones that set us adrift or scrambling for stable ground — can gift us the ability to learn and grow. What tests us the most often develops resiliency, strength and problem-solving skills that help us navigate our future.
It's commonplace at this time of year to look back on the past twelve months and assess all the things we have overcome, achieved and learned. Depending on what life threw at us; yearly retrospectives can sometimes be relatively difficult to work through, but they're worth the effort if we're really intentional about wanting to move forward with purpose.
Whether we've encountered this at some point ourselves or been guilty of doing it to others; being aware of how/when tone policing is used will help to develop and improve valuable listening and advocacy skills.Â
Journaling is a simple, intentional activity that helps organize and understand our thoughts and feelings more clearly. As a supportive way to track our goals or progress through challenges; writing in a journal can serve as a reminder of accomplishments and growth over time.
Emotional healing doesn't merely involve rest and/or thoughtful reflection. While it can sometimes look like self-care and self-love (or other nurturing activities); how we piece ourselves back together may equally involve things like confrontation, anger or silence before we can find a way forward.
Compassionate love doesn't shy away during challenge, sadness and struggle; in fact, it's during these moments that it reflects most true. Giving and receiving this kind of love, especially when times are tough can make a difference to our emotional well-being.
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