Are You Prioritizing Emotional Self-Care?

Yesterday I felt fabulously nourished and complete. Over the weekend, I attended a lively book group discussion, participated in a women’s support circle, had a long, delicious dinner with a close friend and took a meandering, soulful walk with my brother in the woods. All of this “belly time” (face-to-face connection) and heart-nurturing left me feeling buoyant and deeply content.

Emotional self-care (ex: heartfelt communication with friends who let us show up “warts and all,” asking for support from a minister/therapist/coach when needed, journaling and self-reflection) is the key to resiliency, lowering stress levels and has an enormous impact on our overall well-being. Did you know that women release oxytocin, the cuddle hormone, when they gather with other women and have conversations that matter? (If you live in Western NC and are seeking nourishing connection, join us for Wild Souls Authentic Movement this Sunday, Aug. 3rd.)

The care and feeding of our hearts is just as important as physical self-care and it’s essential to feeling whole and alive. But so often we forget this or push aside time with friends in order to stay slaves to our to-do lists.  

What are you doing on a daily basis to nurture your inner world and emotional well-being? Numerous studies report one of the biggest factors that affect our quality of life as we age—especially for women—is how deep and consistent our social interactions are with our friend circle (read about the importance of connection). Alternately, when we’re disconnected from ourselves and others, this can lead to depression, anxiety and worse.

We need each other fully and completely: hearts, minds, bodies and souls. Not just through rapid fire texts, emojis or Instagram hearts. This week, I challenge you to find ways to connect more deeply and authentically. Try picking up the phone to call a friend you haven’t spoken to in months, setting up a girl’s or guy’s night out or (gasp!) dropping by a friend’s home unexpectedly just for a hug and to say hi. Your heart will thank you for it.

YOUR HOMEWORK: One of my favorite exercises for emotional self-care is my Quickie Journaling Exercise (from my book Nurturing the Soul of Your Family: 10 Ways to Find Peace & Harmony in Everyday Life). Take 5 minutes to answer these three simple questions and record your answers in a notebook. It often helps to write a stream of consciousness—let whatever wants to emerge—and place your hand over the center of your chest while reflecting on each question. How do I feel? What do I need (at this moment, at this life stage)? What do I want (what is my heart’s greatest desire)? Try this exercise every morning for one week. Often, in just five minutes, you are able to unearth a whole world of insight!

Enjoy my blog? Every Tuesday for more than 20 years, I’ve been blogging about how to come into balance through the art and science of self-care. Grab your favorite beverage, curl up in a chair and peruse my popular past posts. And share this resource with someone you care about, we love welcoming new friends into our circle of self-care!

P.S. Love to support women, have a communications background and want to receive career mentoring from me? Check out our part-time communications coordinator job based in Western NC. Only 5-10 hours/week–ideal for a mom, recent grad or freelancer. Seeking a minimum of a one-year commitment. 

Warmly,

I’D LOVE TO SUPPORT YOU! OFFERINGS TO HELP YOU PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE:

• Schedule your fall self-renewal retreat today! Join me September 19 – 21^st at The Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, NC or October 24 – 26^th at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in the Berkshire Mountains, MA for Soul Tending: Cultivating Grace, Power and Intuition ~ A Women’s Self-Renewal Retreat.  Both will sell-out, so don’t delay! These are amazingly affordable retreats (as retreats go) and both offer complete packages starting around $700.
• Lead women’s groups/retreats! Secrets to Facilitating Life-Changing Women’s Groups/Retreats ~ an online, self-paced mentoring course. Would you like to empower women in your area through facilitating women’s groups/retreats? Based on Renee’s 30+ years experience training 450+ facilitators and teaching at world-renowned retreat centers like Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and Esalen Institute, this empowering on-demand video course offers everything you need to start facilitating women’s circles and retreats. Only $195. Learn more.
• Plan a 2025-2026 workshop for your team/organization. My primary work is speaking professionally at national/regional conferences, employee events and to companies/organizations worldwide! I love weaving neuroscience, work-life alignment strategies, mindfulness & resiliency practices to create unforgettable workshops & presentations that help employees and teams feel more creative, focused, resourced and alive. Learn about my speaking here and fill out in inquiry form for your next event.
• Join me in NC for a Wild Souls Nature Adventure (based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western NC): authentic movement classes, community song circles, full moon hikes, meditation/resiliency workshops, women’s circles & more. Have me design a custom experience for your team/friends: learn more. Join me for Wild Souls Authentic Movement here. Next Wild Souls Movement Class is August 3rd.