Self-Care

by Jeni Miller

Sometimes while in meditation, I ask how I can be in service to the Divine Plan. And often I am surprised by the answer, "Peace and love begin with self. Create them for yourself. And when you are balanced, with your basic needs met, you can assist others."

As an energy worker, it is easy to give to others and more difficult to give to myself. However, if I neglect to replinsh my well, then I have nothing left to give. So, when I choose to follow the guidance for self-care, I use the following easy techniques to nurture and honor myself.

• Drink plenty of pure water (2 liters per day is a minimum, more if you consume alcohol or caffinated beverages). The body easily gets dehydrated when it is under stress. It needs additional levels of water to flush toxins and increase the efficiency of the body's functions. Many biological systems become taxed when coping with stress. Water also increases mental clarity during times of stress.
  
  
• Take long, hot baths. The heat relaxes muscles, including the over active mind; increases blood circulation which provides oxygen to all body cells; reduces blood pressure; and energizes the immune system. Consider adding 1-2 cups of Dead Sea salts to pull toxins from the body. (Be sure to rinse-off the salt and excreted toxins from the skin when you are finished with the soak.) Add drops of therapeutic-grade essential oil to the bath water. Lavender has a calming effect and acts like an anti-septic.
  
  
• Use flower essences to bring balance to the emotional body. I recommend Bach Rescue Remedy. It is an effective blend of several flower essences that create a calming effect. Also, Perelandra (www.perelandra-ltd.com) makes several different series of nature essences that I find very effective in balancing the physical and emotional bodies.
  
  
• Create time in your daily schedule to: meditate and pray peace. This practice quiets the mind, allows you to experience a sense of stillness and enables you to tap into your soul's wisdom. Express gratitude and appreciation for all the blessings in your life and the miracle that you are.
  
  
• Connect with nature and, if at all possible, spend time near a moving body of water. Moving water (stream, river, ocean) generates a field of negative ions which is thought to stimulate the brain's ability to release seratonin--a neurotransmitter that relieves depression, stress and anxiety.
  
  
• Breathe. Deep, expanded-belly breaths, particularly through the mouth, reduce the fight or flight response, clear the mind, oxygenate the cells and ground you into the NOW!
  
  
• Consciously choose what you listen to. Sound is a vibration that impacts the molecular level and effects the structure and integrity of the water in our bodies (as adults we are approximately 75% water). Sound that is imprinted with the emotions of anger, fear or hated distort the crystalline structure of water. Whereas, sound that carries the resonance of peace, love or joy creates healthy, well-balanced crystalline structures.
  
  
• Chant or sing the mantra, "I choose Love" or "I AM Love" over and over. Pure love is the highest frequency there is. And the body, mind and emotions will respond to it.
  
  
• Get plenty of rest.