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Here is an invitation to begin the process of training ourselves to listen to what we need . Start by forgiving yourself for not including you in your caregiving and with self-compassion and curiosity explore the following symptoms of self-neglect to see if you are currently suffering from them . I call these symptoms of self-neglect our red flags to remind us that we need to nurture and rejuvenate ourselves . Do you recognize any of your red flags from the symptoms below ? bothering you , help you calm down , and allow you to respond rather than react from your frustration . The present moment frees us from past regrets and future anxieties and supports us in connecting to how we feel and what we need . Recognizing what you need is the first step in transforming your habit of self-neglect . Give yourself permission to connect to your breath throughout the day .
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Symptom # 1 IRRITABILITY AND IMPATIENCE
Do you ever find yourself feeling irritable and impatient ? Often when we have given more than we have to give , we end up feeling resentful and unappreciated . When this happens we often feel irritable and impatient with others or ourselves . If you find yourself responding impatiently or reacting from a place of frustration , look at the situation and ask yourself if you have given more than you have to give . Then try the following selfnurturing cure :
SELF-NURTURING CURE :
Connect to Your Breath
Your best and most accessible tool for calming yourself is your breath . If you are feeling irritable , impatient or anxious , pause , and take a deep breath . Focus on your breath moving in and out for a few rounds . Connecting consciously to the present moment through your breath will give you a moment to pause , identify what is really
Symptom # 2 CHRONIC STRESS AND OVERWHELM
Do you find yourself feeling stressed and overwhelmed by all of the responsibilities in your life ? Often when we have nurtured everyone in our lives but ourselves , we end up
“ TRAIN YOURSELF TO LISTEN TO THAT SMALL VOICE THAT TELLS US WHAT ’ S IMPORTANT AND WHAT ’ S NOT .”
– Sue Grafton
feeling chronically stressed , overwhelmed , and exhausted . When we have no reserve of energy , any new challenge can feel overwhelming and we get hooked in a stress cycle that impacts our bodies , minds , and emotions . This chronic stress leads to the next symptom of self-neglect – illness , and
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