Nurture

Power to Nurture – Part 2…

Hi Everyone, happy Thursday.

After a lively group discussion about nurturing the other day, I realised just how distorted our life programming still is. We all like to believe that the world has progressed (and in some aspects it has). But when it involves self care, looking just beneath the surface, many beliefs still uphold the attitudes of the 50’s. Several understood nurturing only from a physical viewpoint and felt it to be a rather indulgent, ‘pampering’ thing to do (especially mums with young children). On one hand they believed they ‘deserved’ time out to be ‘spoiled’ yet in the same breath, felt guilty about it – their misunderstanding of what true nurturing means was rather profound. When I suggested self nurturing as a right to all humans (mums included) they saw it more as a ‘reward’ rather than a right. When asked if they felt their husbands/partners should have time out, they eagerly agreed that they ‘deserved’ it as they ‘worked’ hard all day. Interesting isn’t it?… Of course, this is not to judge but to witness a silent power struggle in society that has continued since time immemorial – uncomprehending of why there is still so much inequality, injustice, competitiveness and fighting. It’s rather interesting when we start being a bit more honest with ourselves and are prepared to open our eyes, our hearts and our minds, how easily we realise that our ‘moral’ teachings are all screwed up and it’s time to change.

Moral values are nothing more than exclusive human dictates – dependent on which country or church, organisation or social group, school or even family, we belong to. So let me be courageous and teach myself and therefore my children, a different, more self empowered way of life. Religion simply means ‘way of life’. So let me be ‘religious’ about self care through constant self nurturing, this way I teach through demonstration not through words 🙂

Questions to churn on:

– Are my beliefs about self nurturing valid or are they distorted?

– Do I understand the difference between physical, emotional, mental and spiritual nurturing?

– Do I regularly practice all four, understanding the importance of self care, or do I put my own nurturing needs last due to some form of guilt? (honesty is key here)

Lesson:

Guilt comes in many guises – not having ‘enough time’ is just one (a particular slippery one because we genuinely believe it).

> Physical nurturing = massage, hugs, sauna / spa, walks on the beach, resting under a palm…..

> Emotional nurturing = consciously letting go of anger, frustration, jealousy, complaining, competing, criticising (self and others) while replacing them with good feelings like love or calm…..

> Mental nurturing = hypnotherapy, or self ‘checking and changing’ to rid self of any negative thoughts and replacing them with positive, empowering ones…..

> Spiritual nurturing = meditation, silence, prayer, visualisation, reiki, qi gong…

Balance in life is about balance in all four areas of nurturing – the above are ideas only. For example, walks on the beach can also help emotionally, mentally and spiritually, while meditation helps with physical, mental and emotional nurturing 🙂

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Much love, Annemarie

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