I have had the privilege of running a number of workshops recently. Some have been geared towards self care routines, especially during our global pandemic. And another workshop was on dealing with the winter season and allowing it to pass without serious depression. Both these workshops are an outgrowth of wanting to help people live well, happily, and with resilience.
As I’ve gotten to do these workshops though, yes I am the teacher or presenter here, but I also always learn something from them too. When these workshops are facilitated participants get an opportunity to discuss their coping strategies and what helps them make it to the next day.
Here are some wisdoms I’ve picked up from my attendees who I am grateful that they attended.
You Remain Helpful and Giving
Many participants come to the workshop wanting to learn about to better take care of themselves. It means they are aware of the fact that something in their lives is out of alignment. They could be stingy with their energy. And yet, these folks have been the nicest, happiest, funniest, and most helpful people! Despite a global pandemic they are full of gratitude and giving good advice to others, perfect strangers, even though they are there to help themselves! Giving is it’s own type of self care.
...it’s clear that we need regular reminders to be good to ourselves.
Folks Learn About Self Care for Co-Workers Too
I’ve also had people show up with an entire work department because they wanted to make sure that their colleagues are holding up well under the stress of working from home! That a department manager cared enough to do that for her employees was a really wonderful moment because pure productivity wasn’t the priority (the workshop was during working hours), keeping her people sane and well taken care of was. Let it be known, businesses can care about their company and their employees too!
You Always Know What You Need
I take people through an exercise. I call it the “Identify Serenity” where they are asked to visualize a past moment that made them feel empowered and ready for life. Inevitably, people visualize something freeing and restorative (which is the goal ofcourse), but what comes up during the discussion is that they stopped doing that thing or an alternative like it. Sometimes because of covid, but sometimes before this global pandemic even occurred. What it taught me is that I can give dozens of self care activity suggestions for people to try, but you already know what you need. So jump on it and restore yourself!
Humans are amazingly resilient and it’s been a wonder to work with such great people. But with the number of people who attended the workshop, or even showed mere interest, it’s clear that we need regular reminders to be good to ourselves. Unfortunately life has a way of getting us far removed from that truth. I do these workshops to remind my participants to be good to themselves. And they in turn remind me that people are amazingly caring and considerate, and always in need of the reminder to actively engage self care, which I’m happy to do!
Santee Blakey is a Life Coach and Licensed Massage Therapist at Soul Growth Wellness. When she's not biking, reading, or biking, or reading (she needs new hobbies, suggest her some:-), she'll be writing and enjoying a caramel frappacino in her favorite Starbucks (this is obviously pre-Covid) *sigh*. Follow her on Youtube for her series --> Self Acceptance: What It's Really Like (A Journey).
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