The Whole You October 2016 | Page 26

What does it mean to Nurture ?
century ) as any kind of priority in our society ?
When nurture is absent , the soul suffers . It may be challenging to define it while the process is unfolding , but when it is missing we can feel it on a primal level because it looks like deprivation , neglect , starvation and ignorance .
Having a lot of money does not nourish you . It ’ s not a hedge against moral and spiritual bankruptcy . You can be very rich and still feel neglected , empty , adrift , lost , depressed .
Those qualities are a problem of nurture . The solution is raising the internal sense of value for each person who does the day-in , dayout work of nourishing her own soul and supporting others through encouragement and caretaking .
The contributions nurturers make give life and replenishment to those in desperate need of these things . These efforts balance out the vacuum our culture has created with its top kudos and remuneration reserved for CEO ’ s with private jets and estates on four continents .
It ’ s time to reclaim nurture as a valuable commodity . Who ’ s with me ? If you are a nurturer , start by affirming that who you are is enough . Imagine yourself gone , disappearing instantly out of your own life . What size of a hole would you leave for those you love ? Not because of your paycheque – take that out of the equation – but consider the support , encouragement and care you provide to the people around you . Would it be missed if you were not there ?
Nurture is valuable . A few authors making this case are Anne-Marie Slaughter , Julie Lythcott-Haims , Katrina Kenison , Glennon Doyle Melton and Brene Brown . I know there must be others . Read what these brilliant women have to say on the subject and add your unique voice to this important discussion . Let ’ s craft a community of nurturers so we can see just how powerful , integral and generous we really are .
This is how we change the world . By valuing ourselves , we model what it looks like to be

What does it mean to Nurture ?

century ) as any kind of priority in our society ?

When nurture is absent , the soul suffers . It may be challenging to define it while the process is unfolding , but when it is missing we can feel it on a primal level because it looks like deprivation , neglect , starvation and ignorance .

Having a lot of money does not nourish you . It ’ s not a hedge against moral and spiritual bankruptcy . You can be very rich and still feel neglected , empty , adrift , lost , depressed .

Those qualities are a problem of nurture . The solution is raising the internal sense of value for each person who does the day-in , dayout work of nourishing her own soul and supporting others through encouragement and caretaking .

The contributions nurturers make give life and replenishment to those in desperate need of these things . These efforts balance out the vacuum our culture has created with its top kudos and remuneration reserved for CEO ’ s with private jets and estates on four continents .

It ’ s time to reclaim nurture as a valuable commodity . Who ’ s with me ? If you are a nurturer , start by affirming that who you are is enough . Imagine yourself gone , disappearing instantly out of your own life . What size of a hole would you leave for those you love ? Not because of your paycheque – take that out of the equation – but consider the support , encouragement and care you provide to the people around you . Would it be missed if you were not there ?

Nurture is valuable . A few authors making this case are Anne-Marie Slaughter , Julie Lythcott-Haims , Katrina Kenison , Glennon Doyle Melton and Brene Brown . I know there must be others . Read what these brilliant women have to say on the subject and add your unique voice to this important discussion . Let ’ s craft a community of nurturers so we can see just how powerful , integral and generous we really are .

This is how we change the world . By valuing ourselves , we model what it looks like to be