Simple Spiritual Self Care Tips

Our darkest times aren't always when others hurt us, are they?

But when we hurt ourselves.

Those moments when we slip again into a habit we know is self-destructive.

A nasty little habit we know will bring pain, guilt, regret and general self loathing but we do it anyway.

Food. Wine. Social media. TV.

Gambling. Yelling. Bullying. Cruel gossip. Constantly buying stuff we have neither time nor space to enjoy. 

We all have our own personal poison.

And when we're most vulnerable - when we're angry, anxious, lonely, bored, scared, grieving or just battling that constant, nagging sense of failure - we're drawn in and hooked.

It seems so crazy doesn't it?

But when we're stressed, we all do it don't we? And slip so easily into the groove of instant comfort whilst totally hating ourselves for doing it.

And it feels like it's harder and harder to resist those horrible habits when we're all living under constant bombardment from a world that never seems to sleep and demands that we are always on.

It's hard to see how we can protect ourselves from all that pressure. It's the way of the world now isn't it?

Well it's certainly not easy but building a bunch of tiny good habits that everyday ease our anxiety, loneliness, anger, boredom and sense of personal failure truly can help. It has me.

This does not mean a massive lifestyle overhaul. It is not about fancy diets or non-stop yoga and meditation or extreme minimalism or whatever else the new - we'll never stick to it - fad is.

But the simplest, smallest habits - soul snacks - that can nurture our tired, vulnerable selves. Tiny good grooves to slip into - when stress mounts - as easily as the horrid habits we hate.

Little things to there and then help us :

1. Connect with others
2. Feel at one with our own body
3. Know we have done good
4. Believe in our future
5. Delight in our wonderful world
6. Enjoy our ability to make stuff
7. And just be there, in the moment.

This year I've tried to weave more and more of these simple snoul snacks into our days and weekly rhythms and the longer patterns and traditions of the months and the years.

Until with gentle repetition my tired mind can reach as easily for them as a glass - or three - of wine, social media doom scrolling or yelling at the world.

It's not an instant makeover but a long term way of living. A recognition we all need soul food throughout the day everyday to protect us from our darker selves in a world that feels hard.

In case it helps, I've shared all sorts of ideas for soul snacks below. Some are mine. Some borrowed from friends.

Do try a bunch that tempt you.

(Ignore those that don't!)

Make space for them daiy. And look after yourself simply, body and soul ...

Soul Snacks For Self Care

Keep Connecting With Others

• Chat to a neighbour.
• Send a postcard.
• Call parents or grandparents.
• Smile at a stranger.
• Send a letter with a proper envelope and stamp.
• Say thank you to everyone who serves you in anyway.
• Send a thank you note or card (however embarrassingly late).
• Open the door for someone
• ... or let them go first.
• Listen to someone who needs to talk and often goes unheard.
• Talk to someone at the shops.
• Talk to someone you don't like.
• Remember a birthday and send an actual physical card.
• Sit out, watch the world go by ... and talk to anyone who does.

Value The Past But Look Forward

• Light a candle to remember someone you've lost.
• Take flowers to a grave.
• Say sorry (however overdue!).
• Sing a song from childhood.
• Deep down forgive someone.
• Gently let someone know they're forgiven (if you can).
• Read a story of someone who never gave up hope.
• Read a story of someone who kept going when horribly afraid.
• Never give up praying for help to resist your darkest habits.

Feel Easily At One With Body

• Get outdoors for 10 minutes first thing (it will transform your sleep!).
• Get outdoors and walk a mile whenever you can.
• Sit down outdoors somewhere lovely and enjoy resting.
• Fast for a day.
• Give up sugar for 48 hours.
• Sweep up leaves on the street.
• Sweep your front path.
• Sweep the front porch and wipe down the front door.
• Go for a bike ride with friends.

Delight In Our Beautiful World

• Buy flowers for yourself.
• Buy flowers for someone else.
• Stop and admire a garden you love.
• Stroll along to the loveliest place near you, you know.
• Listen to the most beautifully inspiring songs you know - Amazing Grace does it for me!
• Stay still and listen to the birds.
• Walk in the woods when you can.
• Water a garden - doesn't need to be yours, can just be wild flower seeds scattered by a tree near you.
• Keep a nature journal of all the lovely little things that catch your eye through the seasons.

Be There In The Moment

• Read a poem or the lyrics to a song and memorise them.
• Polish up something that's got forgotten and tarnished.
• Colour in something calming.
• Watch an old movie that makes you weep (phone free).
• Sit down with a book in the garden or park and get lost in the story.
• Play cards and chat (minus phones).
• Do a jigsaw on a rainy day.
• Play an old board game together.
• Do puzzles together.

Enjoy Making

• Cook something you love that your mother or granny baked.
• Whip up your family's fave meal.
• Create a little book of loved lyrics for someone you love.
• Collate a mini album of magic moments with a friend.
• Craft the simplest of handmade photo cards for a loved one.
• Mend one of those many things that just needs a little love to be good to go again.
• Make whatever music you can.
• Compile a play list of the special songs you share for a loved on.

Know You Have Done Good

• Pick up litter whenever you can.
• Empty the trash.
• Offer to run an errand for someone struggling.
• Declutter just 10 things.
• Take food to the food bank.
• Nurture a plant back to life.
• Clean up graffiti near you.
• Clear weeds on your street.
• Commit each morning to do one little thing you've neglected.
• Pray for someone struggling.
• Pray for your "enemies".
• Give a little to charity.
• Open your eyes to cruelty in your heart and ask forgiveness.

do hope some of these give you a little space everyday to find the calm and joy of quiet moments and the strength we all need to forgive our darker sides and let ourselves be loved.

For more simple prompts check out my other slow living posts and follow me on Pinterest.

Original image source Image by rawpixel.com