In Europe, the date is written with the day first and then the month. So 24/7 was chosen as International Self-Care Day (ISD) because self-care is crucial to do all the time. In normal times it is important and in this time it is critical.
ISD was established in 2011 with the focus on making people aware of the importance of self-care and empowering people with the knowledge and ability on how to be active participants in their own wellness.
The UN’s World Health Organization promotes ISD and supports innovation and progress through self-care interventions which also advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
After the global plague of COVID-19 and all the impact it has brought on a personal and planetary scale, you are obviously living with its ramifications. It is still raging in parts of the world and a new variant has mutated that is more easily transmissible. We are not totally safe though you may have been venturing out of your yearlong hibernation. In America, things have loosened up a bit and people are ready to explore BUT a huge word of caution is still necessary.
Along with getting your vaccination and wearing your mask when you must or you want to, self-care is a high priority in July. Some people are even feeling anxious about going out in crowds and partying.
Let’s take a step back and review the fundamentals of self-care and how you can incorporate them into your daily life. The basis of wellness is relaxation and the way to relax is mindful meditation, the radical expression of self-care.
A delightful synchronicity is that the Full Moon in July is the day before ISD! On a Full Moon, you release what no longer serves you and focus on that which does. You check in on what you are successfully manifesting now. What a present from the universe. A double exclamation mark to let go of the busy mind and bring in the calm mind, right now!!
Here I am expressing my 50 years of radical self-care, on a very hot and humid day in NJ at the beginning of the month.
Besides being a stress reliever, mindful meditation makes you more productive and allows you to achieve goals. By practicing this, you become more intentional and aware of decisions. It can help influence how you interact with others and yourself.
The benefits of meditation are both mental and physical since you are a mind body spirit continuum, a spiritual being having a physical experience.
Mental:
**Having more effective social relationships
**Less anxiety
**Better sleep
**Improved memory
Physical:
**Increased focus
**A stronger immune system
**Decreased blood pressure
**Reduced stress levels
3 Easy Ways for a Mindful Meditation Practice or to Dive Deeper into Your Established One
Do you find it challenging to get into a daily mindfulness routine? Most people do but once you develop this practice, it becomes an important event in your day. Choose a time to do meditation every day to get started. The goal is to get into the habit of taking a few moments each day to be mindful. You need to practice this just like any other new skill. It takes time and effort. But the rewards are priceless.
Tech Disconnect
Obviously having your smartphone around during a meditation or mindfulness session is distracting. You live in a high-tech, low-touch society. During your meditation, you want to get in touch with the still small voice inside of you, not the iPhone ringing.
Listen to the sound of your breathing. Practice exercises without the use of tech. You may wish to start off using meditative music but as you continue, your ability to listen to yourself grows. So the next time you reach for your phone, be mindful that you could also practice your session without using it.
Have a Daily Time to Meditate
One of the best times to practice mindfulness is in the morning when you first wake up. Being quiet can help you remember your dreams. It can also help you set intentions for the day. You can even lie in bed as you practice.
Choosing a good time for yourself is dependent on your family or your work schedule. If you’re rushing in the mornings, it may not always be the best time to start a mindfulness routine. Try the afternoon if it works at a better time for you. After a few hours of focused work and lunch, our brains long for an escape from so much focus. The afternoon is a great time to set up a mindfulness routine. Take a few minutes after lunch to practice.
There’s always the time before you go to bed that you can also choose to practice meditation which allows you to review the day’s events and emotions. It can put you into a restful state of being so that you sleep better.
Practice Makes Progress
Learning how to meditate and be mindful takes focus. You need to practice. It is like learning any other skill, be it tennis or baking a cake. Set aside time – and ideally a space – for yourself to be quiet in. Choose a corner of a room or even a whole room if you can to create a sacred space. Bring in a table with some favorite pictures of those you love and flowers you admire. A candle and aromatherapy such as oils or incense can intensify the experience.
Journaling after meditation acts as positive reinforcement. As you journal, you may notice changes in your thought process and feelings that emerge. Mindfulness journaling helps with the transition through these feelings. It provides insight into deep-rooted thoughts to change your perspective about your beliefs. As you develop a quiet mind with your meditation, you may also just be able to catch an inspirational thought that can help you with a project you are working on!
If you need an image to meditate on, you can use the hot pink peonies at the top of this blog. They deeply convey beautiful self- care.
Another tool is the Happy Summer Video I posted about the Summer Solstice last month. It is short and sweet and can help you right now do a meditation.
My gift to you during the months of July and August is special pricing when you schedule a private healing session that includes meditation techniques for you – or someone you love – to learn. I also do past life readings which are especially insightful at this time.
You can contact me through my website, www.wellnessagenda.com. Just fill out the form on the landing page. I wholeheartedly look forward to being of service to you during this challenging time.
As a certified Reiki Master Teacher, my psychic energy work moves clients from dis-ease to integral health and from fear to success. I create positive change through my techniques and curated strategies that transform lives.
During the pandemic of COVID-19, I am doing these healing sessions long-distance: you in your home and me in mine. As a Master healer, I can do this. There is no difference if we are physically together or not.
The founder of The Wellness Agenda, I am the ‘Keep Calm’ Mentor: a pioneering expert in the mind body spirit field who now – after 40 years of work – is a global visionary. As a #1 best-selling author, consultant, speaker, healer, and media producer, I help countless people by being on US media to teaching in Auroville, India, and lecturing at the United Nations headquarters in NYC.
With a dual Masters from Brown University, I create bespoke wellness programs for many organizations, most notably the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the US Dept. of Labor, the Estee Lauder Companies, and Shiseido. I appear on TV and social media platforms and was on WOR 710AM iHeart radio, NYC’s #1 news and talk station, as a wellness advocate.