This past year, I did something I hadn’t done before: I scheduled out my self-care for the whole year.
I sat back and saw how I would spend money on my children. I would put their regular activities on the schedule. New soccer team with new uniforms and more tournaments? No problem. Piano lessons? We will make it happen.
And I often gave myself what was left over.
Then I sat back and saw how my clients were giving themselves such deep self-care by investing their time and money to being in Compassion Coaching and somatic psychotherapy with me.
I remember one client last fall who said to me, “I’m getting a year’s worth of sessions with you. I’m doing this for ME — AND it’s for my family. It’s TIME, dammit. I NEED THIS.”
After that session, I sat back and saw that I, TOO, NEEDED TO AMP UP MY SELF-CARE! I admitted to myself that I wanted to be with a practitioner who is as caring, loving, body-based and devoted to his/her clients as I am to mine! Yes, dammit, it’s time.
So here’s the thing. I’m super picky. I can smell it a mile away when a practitioner isn’t really present. I bet you can, too. Have you ever been in a massage or with a therapist who just wasn’t “there”? PRESENCE IS PALPABLE. And I wanted someone who had similar skills to mine — who sees the body as a portal to the divine, who knows the nervous system, who can be with my “activation” and remain grounded and present.
I decided in January 2016 what I needed and this time, I was going to do it. I bought a 10-session card for massage with a massage therapist who creates an experience and is extremely present. I scheduled monthly sessions through December with a somatic practitioner that was over an hour away (on a good day) but was RIGHT ON. Yes, those were the two people I NEEDED to see.
And while I made some changes (I actually did MORE sessions with my somatic practitioner and gave my husband some of my massage times), I feel so incredibly glad I did this.
I’m looking back on this year, and I see it was a courageous move to talk with my partner about what I needed – to speak clearly and say, “I NEED THIS.”
It was empowering to take greater responsibility for my self-care and be proactive about it instead of waiting for the family schedule to open up and the family budget to “magically” add the line item “Mom’s self-care!”
This is what I did:
1. I asked myself, “What kind of practitioner/healer do I need in my life this year as sacred space?”
2. I listened.
3. I SCHEDULED MY SELF CARE and made it a REGULAR, SCHEDULED thing.
4. I gave myself permission to invest money and energy on ME.
Yes, it was a financial investment. Yes, it was a pain in the ass to get to at times. Yes, it required devotion on my part to SHOW UP. And sometimes that meant leaving my house at 530 am to get to my somatic practitioner. Yes, that meant I went deep.
And I am fiercer, stronger, more aligned with my sensual self, more deeply embodying my power and…presence.
Dear Ones,
As you begin to look at the new year, start now with asking yourself, “What kind of ‘sacred space’ do I need for myself in 2017?”
Before you spend money on the holidays, then look at the budget in January and give yourself only what is left over, please: begin to treat yourself with loving devotion and as though you are worthy of such care and attention.
I believe in “scheduling my care,” and I am doing it again in 2017. I know who I am seeing and how many sessions.
Recently, I started to mention this to a few clients, and they said, “I WANT TO DO THE SAME THING!”
So I have started to fill my books from now until December of next year.
Yes, October 2016 to December 2017.
This shows me how much we want the safety and depth of regular, “I-can-count-on” sacred space.
More and more, the majority of people I work with tend to want to “go deep” with these body-centered practices and experiences. They are out of “crisis mode” and now want to “go deeper” in nourishing themselves.
And on-going accompaniment with a practitioner who knows their nervous system, family, history, and who holds space for them – well, it’s become such a blend of coaching, somatic work, energy work, discernment, and spiritual direction.
So…If you feel the desire to “go deep” and the idea of “on going accompaniment” makes you exhale and say, “yes,” then…
Schedule your 2017 with the practitioners who you KNOW you need to see. If that’s with a massage therapist, schedule it now. If that’s with a local psychotherapist, make the call. If it’s with me as your Compassion Coach (for people who are not in Frederick, Maryland. For folks who are local — see if you want Compassion Coaching or psychotherapy), then here’s what you can do:
1. Check out Compassion Coaching and see how it resonates with you.
2. Purchase your initial session now and I would suggest scheduling it NOW for late November/early December (I’m mostly full in November).
3. When you schedule your initial session now, you and I will begin talking about WHEN you want your care for 2017 so we hold your spot.
Here’s the thing:
Because I will be working longer-term and on a regular/scheduled basis with clients, I will have a limited number of spaces for new clients.
I believe deeply in my work – my presence, experience, and devotion to my clients. Such devoted, longer-term accompaniment is what I am excellent at.
I’m not interested in selling you on this and using quotes about my work, etc. I am interested in offering an invitation to “go deeper” and motivate you to “give yourself the space, regard, and resources to care for your OWN SELF.” If that’s with me — lovely. If that’s with your acupuncturist or massage therapist — make it happen!
Put it in the budget, friends. See yourself as worthy of such attention and care. Make it a regular thing. Be devoted to your own well-being and thriving.
Blessings,
