Self-Care for Warriors: It's Time to Uplevel Our Game

Below is my latest survival guide for how to navigate our current reality with some semblance of sanity, health, joy and still being of service to our world when it’s needed most.  
 
This lifetime is not for the faint of heart, but our souls chose it.  The fate of humanity rests in us not letting the constant fear and overwhelm from illness and death and fires and climate change and world crises of all sorts take us down.  We are needed to be at our best or as close as we can get each day.  And guess what? We deserve to enjoy our short and precious life- to make the most of each moment and find joy in the blessings that many of us are so privileged to have.
 
This next iteration of the video game we call "Life on Earth" is calling us to hardcore uplevel our self-care game.  The old version of a “nice to have” self-care ritual is no longer relevant.  It is now imperative to be ruthless with caring for our physical health, our nervous systems, and our spiritual connection.  We are here to be Warriors, to lead, to love, to remember our Divine Truth, and not give in to fear. 
 
My nervous system has been feeling especially jacked up for the last week or two; I know we’ve all been feeling the amped up intensity in the world.  I also know we’ve all had at least a low level fear operating for over a year now.  I feel confused and overwhelmed when I read the various medias and opinions and don’t know who I can trust anymore.  I’ve been longing for a deeper connection to Spirit and for clarity, truth and someone to tell me it’s going to be all ok, even when it seems like it won’t.
 
I’ve been feeling repelled from social media in a way I’ve never felt before.  I’ve been craving nature and longing for things to be slower, simpler, less intense.  One of my values is “Old School” and I’ve been desiring it in many ways- clearing out some of the noise and getting back to what’s important, so I have fuel and resources to navigate our current reality. 
 
I also have a longing to enjoy life- to not take for granted this life and health and privilege that I have.  To not let my life turn into a gray zone of mere survival.  Is it unreasonable to want to thrive in life during times like these?  Is it selfish?  Is it possible?   Deep down part of me knows it’s not only possible but it’s necessary.  
 
So what the hell do we do about this?  How do we step up to this next level?  Today is the Blue Full Moon in Aquarius- energetically calling us forth to make hardcore changes- letting go of that which no longer serves us and what we’ve been resisting.  The energy of Aquarius also gives us full permission to do things our own way- even if it’s different from the herd. 
 
We can leverage this energy and do some soul searching on what “self-care” changes are necessary for us right now to ground ourselves so we can step up and lead in the world. 
 
For me the following self-care changes have come forward strongly to get me out of fear/anxiety and grounded back in love and clarity.  See if any resonate for you and let me know what your versions look like:

1. I’m quitting coffee.  I’ve been “on” coffee daily for the past 2.5 years- yes I remember the day I fell off the wagon.  Don’t get me wrong I LOVE coffee, I love cafes, I even love watching tv and movies where they go to cafes and drink coffee (binging Friends anyone?).  And I know I’m using it to fill my emotional holes.   I’m grateful to coffee because it’s gotten me through some tough times.  It’s given me a place to go and soothe my worried soul.  And it’s no longer serving me- my energy levels, my weight (when I drink it I crave fatty foods), and most of all my nervous system.  Also I feel like it forms an energetic barrier between me and Spirit that I’m ready to release.

Check out Kate Northrup’s blog for tips on quitting (if it’s not longer serving you and the timing feels right)- for me the stomach bug was my cold turkey but it can be more gentle for you (Note:  I’m taking her advice and gonna try Teeccino to replace into my morning routine- bonus it’s good for your gut health and immune system too- tell me what you use instead of coffee? Yes I said use.  Just being real lol)

2.  I’m limiting my time on social media each day, prioritizing it for business needs.  I realize that when I’m scrolling like a zombie it’s usually because I’m not in a good place emotionally or physically.  It’s filling my holes again.  No judgment; we all gotta do what we gotta do. But are there other ways for us to be informed? (see number 3 below) Other ways for us to even be entertained?  Remember watching a movie without also being on your phone at the same time? Or reading an actual print book? I’m trying to remember.

3.  I’m signing up for an old school print newspaper- one local and one global delivered to my door that has a higher objectivity scale (let’s be honest- none of them are completely objective when profit is at stake).   Check out this site I found for ranking and do your own research.  For me I wanted a print news source (so I don’t have to look at a screen) that has a relatively neutral tone (less of the fear mongering to protect my nervous system as I read).

4.  I’m considering getting a house phone again (that doesn’t use wifi or electricity) for emergencies. I like to put my cell on airplane mode while I sleep to give my brain a break from radiation and a better chance at quality sleep.  While my sister and I were sick recently, I left it on all night in case she needed me and didn’t sleep as well because of it.  House phone will take care of this. I also like the idea that I’ll still have a phone during power outages.

5.  I’m getting back to handwriting letters and cards.  I could say I don’t have time but see number 2 above (have you ever totaled your time on social media for a day?  It’s horrifying and important to be aware of.)  

The other day I gave myself permission to sit on my balcony and hand write cards to some people I care for deeply.  It felt so good to actually write to them from my heart- without rushing and squeezing it into a text or IG message.  Supporting our postal system also feels good to me.  I love the post office! Sending and receiving mail- buying pretty stamps and sending fun packages.  It feels especially important now when I don’t get to touch and hug many of these humans like I did before.  

Tell your loved ones how you feel because in the end that’s all that matters.  Added bonus you’ll feel good when you do.

6.  I’m making recipes again.  Remember cooking for joy? The last several weeks I was filling my holes with all the usual things (coffee, takeout food, Netflix) and they weren’t working anymore.  You know how when you eat out everyday it no longer feels special and satisfying anymore?  That’s what happened to me but for all my vices.  I need to fall back in love with cooking and nourishing myself.  

Let’s get out the cookbooks (wait the print ones?! Yes the damn print ones!) and make a recipe already.  Maybe play some music while we do.  Maybe nourish our bodies and immune systems as a bonus (extra points for consuming prebiotics and probiotics to amp up your gut health and immunity!!)

7.  Last but not least, I’m getting my hands dirty and playing in nature.  Remember soil and water and trees and how you feel when you’re around them?  I’m craving nature in my body and soul.  For my nervous system and also my immune system.  

Check out Dr. Zach Bush’s awesome work on the importance of nourishing our body’s biome for health and immunity.  And I’d add for enjoying this precious life of ours.  Good old-fashioned child-like JOY.  My little one inside needs to play, even during Armageddon.  I bet yours does too.


Those are my seven changes, what are yours? Let me know so we can encourage each other.  Why?  Because sourcing yourself so you can lead from a grounded place is #warriorAF.  Because your world is no good if you let yourself crumble/freeze under the pressure. Because you and your well-being are important.  Because we all signed up for this life, together. 

Because love is more powerful than fear.
 
With Love and Old School Joy,
Tina 
 
Ps. Today is Day 9 of no coffee for me.  “Thankfully” I was super sick with a stomach bug for most of it so the Universe helped me with the cold turkey and cleansing portion.  Today I was desperately searching for how to fill my holes.  I even went to Starbucks.  But I didn’t get a latte, I got a matcha and my nervous system thanked me for it. #babysteps  Let me know what you do to replace coffee (if coffee isn’t working for you anymore).  xoxo