4 Soulful Ways to Support Yourself When Life Gets Crazy

Posted September 11, 2012

GUEST POST BY RACHEL MAGAHY.

The questions that seem to be popping up a lot for me personally and for the people around me right now are this: “How do I balance self-care with my looming mountain of to-do’s? How do I incorporate more ‘being’ in and around all the ‘doing?”

Indeed. It’s an unfortunate truth that as life gets more chaotic, the first thing that seems to slide is self-care – the unfortunate part being that when life is spiralling wildly and busyness becomes the norm, self-love is more important than ever.
Read on for a few fail-safe tips to help you connect back to centre and guide you out of overwhelm.

1. Invite love in.

Most of us spend our lives searching and striving – searching for love and acknowledgement, and striving for the happiness we often don’t recognise in our lives as they currently are.

We always have the power to invite (self) love in.

When you’re feeling topsy-turvy, frazzled, scared or alone, take a moment and drink from that deep inner well of wisdom (it’s in us all) and silently invite love in to your life. Rewire stale old limiting beliefs with the simple, peaceful mantra: “I am loved and I am enough.”

Hanging out in that soul-full expanse getting juiced up on self-love and empowerment always opens the floodgates. Write it on your heart that THIS is the standard of love you want for yourself and your life – every day. No matter what.

2. Get yourself a Box o’ Bliss.

My husband came down with the flu earlier this year and I made him something I referred to (uncreatively, but bear with me) as a Big Boost Up Box.

Ridiculous name aside, the kit contained goodies that would nurture my sick man back to brilliant health – Olive Leaf Extract, Alkalising Greens, herbal teas, organic potions and a few soul salves like ‘daily motivators,’ magazines, a surfing DVD and a love letter loaded with affirmations.

There’s something symbolic about gathering the things that make you feel supported when you need to get the energy flowing in your life again, so build your Heart (Re)starter Kit, Vitality Vessel, Resource for Radiance today (silly name optional).

Grab a blank journal and write the vision for your ideal life. Go wild with affirmations, a list of 50 things you’re grateful for, intentions that make your heart race, a self-love list entitled Ways I’m Awesome. Gather any or all of the following: scented candles, your vision board, a block of the finest chocolate you can get your hands on, healing crystals, vitamins, books, photos of you smiling, an iPod filled with meditation tracks and sweet tunes.

Once you’re done, pull it all together and store it in a safe place. This box o’ bliss is your sanctuary. Dip in as required.

3. Do a mental spring clean.

I want you to visualise something for a moment. Imagine extending your arm out in front of you, curving your hand to the right and sweeping everything that’s on your plate right now off onto the floor. Off go the mountain of emails in your inbox, the commitments, the never-ending piles of work. Expectations shatter.

How good would that feel? No really – HOW GOOD WOULD THAT FEEL? My guess is pretty terrific.

If you could hypothetically clear your bulging, bloated plate in one fell swoop, what would you add back on again, bit by well-considered bit? More importantly, what would you add back on again that would gently nurture your mind-body-spirit?

Take a moment to have a think about where you’re blocked and what feels cluttered for you right now and ask yourself honestly:

• Where do I feel depleted?
• What do I need more of?
• What do I need less of?

Let the extraneous stuff slide off to make room for the essentials.

4. Think about the power you’re giving your inner critic.

Hands up if you’re more likely to listen to your inner critic than her quieter, less brash but infinitely wiser counterpart, your inner cheerleader?

I think we could all throw at least one hand in the air, so next time that hostile inner voice pipes up give her a personality. Pretend she’s a deluded friend, or a misguided Negative Nancy who’s simply looking to be loved.
Given she’s prone to being a bit of a downer, distance yourself from her when you’re feeling low, vulnerable or out of your comfort zone. Create that space – her over there and you here, in the now, with all the facts. With strong boundaries in tow to protect your tender, sensitive self, cautiously tune in to what she’s saying and ask:

Is what she’s saying really true? How can I be 100% sure?

Dial down Nancy’s power to dial up yours.

Author bio: Rachel MacDonald (nee Magahy) is a soul-centred writer, social media maven and wildly enthusiastic community builder. Her life’s mission is to help bright sparks create and live bigger, bolder, richer, more radiant lives.
In little over a year, In Spaces Between has become the go-to for juicy inspiration, confidence building, fear fighting and mindset shifting. A visit to the site has been likened to a big ol’ hit of happiness. Straight to the soul.
Rachel has just released her first eBook More Magic, All the Time: 20 Ways to Create Your Best Life Ever, which you can get your hands on for FREE by clicking here.

Positive affirmation for the day: I am always enough

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