 In case you missed it, I started a project a few weeks ago to pay better attention to my self-care by focusing on one random act each week. In this week’s installment of Fluff the Cushions, 62 acts of not-so-radical self-care, I’ve been drinking water. What I like most about this week’s challenge it is that every time I take a sip of water - which is about eleventy-billion times a day - I remind myself that I’m being kind to myself and taking care of body, mind and spirit. Also as part of this self-care project I track my daily mood via an app. The idea is that I will eventually be able to look back and determine which acts of self-care had the greatest impact on my mood. The mood tracker rates on a scale of awful to meh to awesome. There have been a few “meh” days - mostly at the beginning, which is exactly why I decided to start the project. Most days, however, have been “good.” Yesterday was the first day since starting the project that the day ended in an AWESOME rating - which is most surprising as the day started out closer to the awful end of the scale thanks to too much alone time for this extra-extrovert. As I reflected back on the day last night and how it went from awful to awesome, I made a few mental notes… First, of course, were the 80 sips of water and 80 reminders that I am caring for myself somehow. Not a bad way to spend any day. Second, I moderated a panel discussion at the Rust Belt market on small businesses and entrepreneurship. I love being in front of a room. I love leading, and contributing to, good discussions. I love the energy of a crowd. Third, I ended the day having drinks (water for me!) with the women in my Thursday morning Masterminds group. We talked about things that don’t usually come up in Masterminds - prolapsed uteruses, escape routes in public places, stupid fad diets - and laughed A LOT. I love being surrounded by smart, witty, women and laughing until tears stream down my face. In truth, as evidenced by yesterday’s AWESOME rating, I know exactly what gives me the most energy and what makes me feel most alive - even without the mood tracker. So why don’t I pour all my energy into making sure that I am doing it on a daily basis? Skip the stuff that doesn’t matter and only do what does? Because it takes effort to do what I like to most do and, more importantly, it takes other people. Which means I have to put myself out there continually and you know what that means… potential rejection. Ugh. Even though history tells me that rejection has never killed me - and, moreover, it doesn’t happen nearly as often as I imagine it will - it’s still scary as hell and there are times I will avoid it’s potential at all costs. But, the result? I’m not happier - usually much less so, in fact. There’s no escaping our DNA. Sometimes we have to face fears and risk rejection to be our truest, happiest, selves. Avoidance never solved anything. What are you avoiding right now that has the potential to make you happy and why? I’d love to hear all about it. Drop me an email or comment below. With much love and gratitude,  Ursula Adams, MSPOD
SheHive Founder and Leadership Coach Comments are closed.
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