How Can I Practice Self-Compassion?
Years ago when I was facing a heavy work schedule or juggling a lot of balls, I would push myself harder–convinced that cracking the whip was what I needed to reach the finish line. Those days are long gone. Today I know when I’m navigating a lot–internally and externally–the wisest thing I can do is to slow down, move with intention and heap on the self-compassion. This week self-compassion looks like lightening my load, keeping a big picture perspective, drawing clear boundaries and getting clear on what I most need to feel resourced and energized.
Each Monday after my morning nature workout, I offer up a Live Inside Out question I’m sitting with for the week via a 2-minute “first take” down and dirty video. What helps you invite in self-compassion?
Want more? Read my post 4 Ways to Invite in Self-Compassion and test how self-compassionate you are on my friend/author Dr. Kristen Neff’s site. I keep a picture of little Renee at age four up on my kitchen windowsill. It helps me to be more forgiving with myself when I’m going through a hard time. Self-care is not about adding something to your do-list list, it’s about cultivating a kinder, gentler way of being with yourself. And, this takes time! I’ve been practicing/teaching self-care for 20+ years and still, every day is a new journey.
HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR TEAM IN FINDING BALANCE? HERE ARE TWO OPPORTUNITIES:
- *New* Wild Souls Nature Adventures! Do you live in North Carolina or have friends/family in this gorgeous state? I moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains last year and I am in the process of creating magical, Western North Carolina-based nature/mindfulness experiences designed to reconnect you to wilderness and yourself. Learn more and keep checking this temporary page for updates (+ make sure and sign up for my Wild Souls mailing list here). I am also currently scheduling private nature-based tours, retreats and experiences for small groups this fall.
- My 2021-2022 speaking calendar is almost full! Schedule me to create a balanced living workshop, keynote or personal retreat to help your team, organization or employees feel less stressed and more resilient, creative and focused. For 20+ years I’ve been working with companies/organizations such as Women in Conservation, the Council on Family Violence, Merrill Lynch, the Center for Women in Law, the Hewlett Foundation and more. Email me, I’d love to discuss how I can support your team or organization. Learn more here.
Subscribe here to Live Inside Out, a weekly blog written by life balance coach/author/speaker and self-care evangelist Renée Peterson Trudeau. Passionate about helping men and women find balance through the art/science of self-care, her work has appeared in The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, US News & World Report, AARP, Spirituality & Health and more. She and her team have certified more than 400 facilitators in 10 countries around the globe to lead self-renewal groups for women based on her pioneering work. She’s the author of two books on life balance including the award-winning The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life. She and her husband live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Austin, Texas and are enjoying a new empty nest. More on Renee here.
