“I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself.” I chant these words while tapping various spots on my head, face, beneath collar bones, and under the armpits. Never have I been so in need of this reminder. As a human being, I struggle with many things (as we all do from time to time) but self-esteem is not one of them. I do, in fact, deeply and profoundly love and accept myself. Yet, this week I find myself tearing up as I say these words out loud while I tap. Perhaps you have heard of the technique. It’s called the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). There’s plenty of free information online if you want the specifics. The power of these words reminds me that this is the time of year the Christian calendar calls Advent. A time of waiting … in the dark … for the light to come. Evoking the words “I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself” as I tap allows me to remember that the light is coming. And I wait. I breathe. I move my body. When I rest, I rest in my smallness and my fragility. Just as a tiny baby did a very long time ago.
I am unable to write more this month, but as I cling to my practices and say my heartfelt prayers, I pray that you will too.
I’m standing in solidarity for all who are struggling to be well in this season. Let’s take it one day at a time. I know I am not alone, and neither are you.
Let the light come - whatever light you are waiting on. May it be so.
All my love,
Joanne
Holiday Gift Ideas
Audio Book
Unbelievable deal! Tantor Media is offering my audio book for 75% off. That means it is just $5. I actually can’t believe it. Confession: I like to listen to my book on audio so I can remember the cool stuff I said. Click here to access the offer. It is good through 1/1/24.
Yoga Card Deck
I am still so thrilled every time I see the beautiful images of the twenty five models in the Trauma-Informed Yoga Card Deck.
Real People Doing Real Yoga
52 Self-Guided Trauma-Informed Yoga Practices
No flexibility needed
No experience needed
No yoga mat or yoga pants required
Do these practices anywhere, anytime
The practices will help to:
restore yourself to calmness
pick up your energy
boost your mood
To order click here.
Cassie says, “When I think about yoga, what really surprises me is that it is a practice that most everybody can participate in somehow, even just with breath.”
A Book That’s Helping Me Right Now
“Those of us who suffer from anxiety either exhaust ourselves trying to cure it or resign ourselves to a lifetime of fear and worry. What if, instead of fighting our anxiety, we could turn it into a strength?
Through nine easy-to-follow strategies, Dr. David H. Rosmarin demonstrates how to harness the power of anxiety to learn about ourselves, deepen our relationships with others, and achieve our deepest goals and dreams.
You will learn how to use anxiety as a tool to
be more self-aware, self-accepting, and resilient
understand and relate to others
have more emotional intimacy
be more accepting of life
push forward to accomplish what you really want"
Dr. Rosmarin's constructive, compassionate, and evidence-based approach will not rid you of your anxiety. Instead, it will empower you to reach your fullest potential because of it.”
Here’s ending the year as well as we can.
See you in 2024!