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Five Ways to Nurture Yourself in Difficult Times

Nurture“Great joys make us love the world. Great sadnesses make us  understand the world.” ~Kent Nerburn

There is certainly much suffering in the world that can invoke great sadness. The news is filled with so much tragedy and conflict. Many people feel out of control and overwhelmed by all the violence and suffering they witness. Often we respond to crisis by staying plugged into the constant news coverage or we unplug completely in an attempt to deny what is happening.

Unfortunately these two approaches do not usually contribute to feeling more empowered because they do not acknowledge the foundation of how we are feeling. For many of us, tragedy triggers feelings of grief and fear. Understanding how these emotions impact us is an important part of caring for ourselves during these difficult times.

I have found that grief has a way of knitting itself into the texture of our days and permeating our existence, like dark ink dropping onto the fabric of our day. Grief can be a very isolating experience, as it leaves us feeling raw and vulnerable and unable to interact in normal activities.

Fear is also invasive and tends to weave itself into our thinking, undermining our peace of mind and increasing our anxious thoughts and concerns about what is going to happen next.

There is no more important time for self-nurturing than when we are experiencing grief and fear. And although it is a challenge, it is essential to find gentle ways to care for ourselves during these difficult times.

Here are five ways to begin nurturing yourself:

  1. Start by looking at your self-nurturing practice to see if there are any activities you can continue. Having some connection to your normal schedule can be very grounding. If you take a walk each day, meditate or write in a journal continue doing so, even for 5-10 minutes each day.
  1. Bring mindfulness to the choices you make about what to eat.Choosing healthy food filled with nutrients and energy and minimizing food and drink that deplete you is critical at this time.
  1. Identify a few activities that feel deeply nurturing. Perhaps you find walking in nature, talking to a supportive friend or loved one, petting your animal, reading an inspiring book or appreciating music, art or beauty to be really nourishing.
  1. Encourage yourself to engage in these activities a few times during the week and notice how you feel after. Sometimes it is incredibly difficult to motivate yourself to go out and do anything when you are overwhelmed with grief and fear, but most of us feel better for doing it.
  1. Finally find some way to feel that you are making the world a better place by being kind and compassionate, spending loving time with family, volunteering, and contributing in any way that makes you feel that you are having a positive impact in the world.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

May you nurture yourself during difficult times so that you can be the light to transform the darkness and may you nurture peace in the world from the inside out!

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About the author 

Kelley Grimes, MSW

Kelley Grimes, MSW, is an empowering counselor, self-nurturing expert, sought-after speaker, best-selling author of The Art of Self-Nurturing, expert columnist for Aspire Magazine, and an Expert Instructor for InspiredLivingUniversity.com. She is the founder of Cultivating Peace and Joy inspiring individuals to nurture peace in the world from the inside out.

Kelley is passionate about empowering overwhelmed and exhausted individuals to live with more peace, joy, and meaning through the practice of self-nurturing.  She loves working with individuals, couples, and families in person and virtually to transform their lives.

In addition, she provides professional and leadership development to organizations dedicated to making the world a better place. As a dynamic keynote and workshop presenter she has been invited to present at these inspiring organizations:  Alliance For Regional Solutions, Carlsbad Village Yoga, The Epilepsy Foundation, Exodus Recovery Inc., Girls Rising, Hands of Peace, MAAC, ,and hospitals, community colleges, universities, and school districts throughout San Diego County on a variety of topics including self-nurturing, stress management, mindfulness, trauma informed care, cultivating resilience, motivational interviewing, avoiding burnout, and staying grounded in uncertain times.

She also teaches self-nurturing practices and strategies to women overcoming domestic violence, homelessness, and other major life challenges for Leap to Success where she serves as the Director of Community Engagement, instructor and leadership coach. Kelley is also a field instructor for San Diego State University where she loves supervising and mentoring Master of Social Work interns.

Download your complimentary Art of Self-Nurturing Starter Kit today.  Learn more about Kelley's work and services at www.cultivatingpeaceandjoy.com.

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