How to identify your individual stressors and develop healthy self care

Self care and Stress
Stress! We all have it, but do we have an effective approach to managing it that keeps us sane and healthy?
To effectively manage stress we must have a clear picture of how it is affecting our body and mind and have targeted methods to respond appropriately to the symptoms we are having.

Where can we begin to take charge of stress?
We can begin by asking: “What is being triggered within me?”
We are all different and have our own patterns of responding to life events. The same situation can trigger different reactions in different people due to each individual’s unique nature, personal history and perception of the world.
Next we can take a step back and look at our habitual responses. Where do we need to develop better self care approaches for dealing with life’s stressful events and times.

How DO we incorporate self care?
Our capacity for self care is built on a foundation of many things….one of the most important and unconscious facets is our early childhood experience.
Exploring the “messages” we received about ourselves and self care help give us greater power to take charge of ourselves and lives and create less stress and greater heath and well being.

In looking at your self care you might ask:
How was I cared for as a young child?
How were my needs treated?
Was I invalidated, told (overtly or covertly) that my needs were unimportant?
Am I selfish to care for me?
Is it alright to receive—care, attention, support, nurture?

Refining our self care and stress management needs
The chakra system provides us with a map that aids in examining our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs.

Root: safety and security, your foundation for creating physical vitality
Sacral: creating healthy boundaries
Solar Plexus: power center, transform negatives into positives, release anger, resentment
Heart: release grief, co-dependency, open heart and embrace unconditional love
Throat: develop mental strength, comfortable with inner silence, reclaim authentic voice
Brow: develop ways to still mind, improve concentration, open to greater vision
Crown: open to your spiritual essence, access and feel joy more consistently

This recording is a good first step in helping your nervous system release management the effects of stress in our body and mind: https://karenkallie.com/shop-2/relaxation-101/