Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Feb/Mar 2020 Aspire Magazine FULL Issue

5 Acknowledge yourself for your positive growth. This step is critical in creating sustainable change in our lives and rebuilding trust with ourselves. For many of us, we so easily recognize when we fall short, but are challenged to acknowledge our progress and growth. Part of cultivating a self- nurturing practice is learning to acknowledge ourselves, our inspired action, and our growth. We know from psychologist Rick Hanson that negativity is like velcro to the brain and positivity is like teflon. Therefore we need to feed ourselves more and more positivity so it sticks. You have the power to grow your acknowledgement muscle by identifying your growth and positive choices every day. 6 Find an accountability partner to encourage and support you. We know that when we tell someone else we are going to do something we are more likely to follow through. As you rebuild trust in yourself, invite someone you trust to be your accountability partner. Let them know that you are cultivating your self-nurturing practice and share what you have committed to. Invite the person to check in with you about your progress, encourage you, and remind you that you are worth it! This added support can give you the structure to be consistent and accountable. Developing this accountability relationship will also encourage your friend to nurture herself spreading the empowering message of self- nurturing in the world! The beautiful thing about self-nurturing is that the more you nurture yourself, the more you see your value and worth and the more you see your value and worth the more you prioritize nurturing yourself which creates a powerful self-sustaining process! So recommit to your self-nurturing intentions for the New Year today and continue to nurture peace in the world from the inside out. Kel ley Sending you peace, love and gratitude, Kelley Grimes, MSW - Kelley is a counselor, speaker, internationally bestselling author, Aspire Magazine expert columnist, and self-nurturing expert. She is passionate about empowering overwhelmed and exhausted individuals to live with more peace, joy and meaning through the practice of self-nurturing. Kelley also provides professional and leadership development to organizations dedicated to making the world a better place. She is married to an artist, has two empowered daughters, and loves singing with a small women’s group. Learn more at www.CultivatingPeaceandJoy.com and download your free Self-Nurturing Mobile App 45 and give yourself permission to nurture yourself, you reinforce your self-worth, intentions, and commitments. Develop a positive affirmation that makes you feel joyful about your self-nurturing intention, like “I am in the process of creating positive change in my life.” Write a permission slip to reinforce your commitment like “I give myself permission to mediate 5-10 minutes every day” and post it where you will see it. Carry your affirmation with you as a gentle and loving reminder. Affirmations and permission giving are empowering and remind us to keep choosing to love, prioritize, and nurture ourselves.

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