Revoking My Martyrs-R-Us Membership

(Substitute the word creativity, writing, gardening, crafting or whatever you consider your personal Creative Oasis for the word art in the quote above!)

I’ll admit that though I try my best to practice what I preach through Creative Oasis Coaching, at times I fall short.

For example, do I routinely reward myself for a job well done? Sadly, that would be a no.

Even though I know what a good idea it is to “treat yo self” (for all you Parks & Rec fans out there) after making headway on a project or crossing something off your to-do list, I often zip right passed this important step and onto the next big thing.

Luckily, last week the stars aligned and I revoked my membership to “Martyrs-R-Us*.” You know, the club where we put off anything mildly enjoyable because we must muddle through with our never-ending have-to-do list! Raise your hand if you’ve ever been a member.

Instead, I enjoyed several wonderfully nurturing experiencesas well-deserved rewards to celebrate my one-year anniversary of Mid-Week OasisMoments.

I treated myself to:

* a fun two-hour catch-up lunch with a dear friend I hadn’t seen in ages

 

* a transcendent Abhyanga (Ayurvedic full body treatment) with Sweet Ojas

 

* a fabulous organizing session in my master closet with Make My Life Simplified

 

* and a full service and car detailing

All of which left me feeling lighter, healthier, happier andfilled with renewed energy to get back to my passion of helping people make thetime and space in their life for creative fulfillment and fun!

I share this with you as a reminder that though we often feel like taking time for self-care is taking time away from the things we should be doing, the truth is, our productivity, health and happiness (in body, mind and spirit) increases greatly when we nurture ourselves.

* You’ll find lots of wonderful reasons to practice good self-care and revoke your membership to the Martyrs-R-Us club in the Muse Song chapter of The Nine Modern DayMuses and a Bodyguard by Jill Badonsky. For example:

“Stockpiles of guilt,and the fear of being selfish, may prevent you from operating at your fullpotential because you underestimate the effect that being good to yourself hason others. Taking care of yourself can awaken your higher self. This processhas an almost magical quality to it because one of its foundations is thenurturing of our artist’s child. When nurtured, we return the favor with granddisplays of creativity.”

(Is it any wonder that she helped me totally transform my life by introducing me to the amazing methods of Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching?!)

How might you give yourself permission to enjoy a little (or not so little) reward in the coming week?

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

* Enjoy 10 minutes coloring in a mandala

* Eat lunch outside on your patio

* Sign up for a creative class or workshop

* Get a chair massage at Whole Foods

* Read a magazine during the day (gasp!)

* Dive in to some guilt-free craft time

* Try a new restaurant for dinner

* Take a nature walk with your camera

* Make a handmade card for a friend                                                                           

* Write a letter and send it through snail mail

* And this small, but oh so delightful reward I just gave myself for writing this Mid-Week Oasis Moment:

* Savor a piece of Adora dark chocolate calcium followed by a ten minute catnap in the sun on my back patio

I guarantee as good as that sounds, it felt even better!(Note to self - this is your new favorite small reward!)

What sounds like a good self-care reward to you? I’d love to hear yourideas and better yet how you feel after you’ve given yourself permission toenjoy them!

Until next time, all the best from my self-nurturingCreative Oasis to yours,

Jill