By Kate Landreth, Learning and Education Lead, FCBC
There is no relationship more important than the one you have with yourself, and a strong connection with yourself allows you to navigate the peaks and valleys of caregiving. Being connected to yourself means being able to regularly check in with yourself, to understand your emotions, sensations, impulses, thoughts, and other responses. It’s knowing and understanding who you are, seeing your strengths and blind spots, and knowing what you need and what you desire. When you are connected to yourself, you build self-trust, knowledge, and resilience, which support your ability to care for others.
Take a moment to pause, and consider what supports, routines or rituals can help strengthen your connection to self. Grab a piece of paper and pen and start to build a self-care resource list that can support you when you feel overwhelmed or too outward-focused.
- What activities or routines do you enjoy? (For example, it could be a class, time in nature, organizing, gardening, rest, or a coffee group.)
- Who or what are you feeling connected to? (For example, a place, a spiritual practice, a friend, a family member, a partner, a spouse, a community, a political cause, or something completely different.)
- How do you feel when doing your favourite activities or when connecting with others?
Keep the list you created in a place where it can be seen, and let it point you in the right direction when you’re struggling with self-care, and you need to connect with your own internal needs.