Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1037165
SELF-CARE REVOLUTION We have revolutionized our 20-plus year relationship with each other, and the quality of our relationships with others, by leading with appreciations. Not only has our marriage benefi ted by appreciations, but we have also experienced delightful shifts in favor of connection, closeness, and play in all our relationships—including with our clients, friends, family, and strangers. In fact, practicing giving and receiving effective appreciations has been the rocket fuel that has recently catapulted our relationship from the realm of ordinary to that of the extraordinary! We feel strongly that practicing the same 5:1 proportion of appreciations to criticisms must be practiced with ourselves. We are often our worst and greatest critic. Sometimes by default, we focus on what we are doing wrong. Kathlyn Hendricks, cofounder of the Foundation for Conscious Living, says, "Criticisms are attacks on our being." Ouch! Would you be willing to start looking for what's going right? And are you willing to share appreciations with yourself that add value to who you are? Now let's shine the light of sensitive attention on ourselves! We have included a seven-day appreciation project inspired by our friend Audrey Hazekamp and www.tallpoppyinc.com to assist you in revolutionizing the way you practice self-care. If you are open and willing to feel more valued, energized, and loved, this challenge is for you. For one week, choose to lead your day with appreciations about yourself. Feel free to express your appreciations to yourself internally and out loud (maybe "Tips on Appreciation" Watch Heath and Nicole's video by scanning the QR code or go to this page in the digital edition to view it. Resources Appreciation Challenge: www.foundationforconsciousliving.com/appreciation. Covey, Stephen. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Free Press, 2004. Gottman, John and July Schwartz. Ten Lessons to Transform Your Marriage. New York: Harmony, 2006. Hendricks, Gay and Kathlyn. Conscious Loving. London: Bantam, 1992. Holtmann, Oxana and Audrey Hazekamp. Shake It Up: Refresh and Rediscover Yourself Through Wonder and Body-Mind Adventures. Carlsbad, CA: Balboa Press, 2016. SAV V Y SELF-CARE as you look at yourself in the mirror). Keep this page as an open tab on your phone or keep it out and place it somewhere you are sure to see as you start the day. FAVORING APPRECIATIONS OVER CRITICISM As you notice your inevitable inner judge show up, you can instead use appreciations as a way to shift from focusing on what's wrong with you to focusing on what's right with you. Remember to give yourself fi ve appreciations for every one negative observation. As the holidays are quickly approaching, this is a particularly auspicious time to grow your gratitude muscles by giving appreciations to the people you care for and, most importantly, to yourself. Shining the light of your sensitive attention provides an essential nutrient that fortifi es all your relationships. Appreciations generate genuine connections, bolster feelings of well-being and worth, and elevate all your relationships from ordinary to extra-ordinary! Heath and Nicole Reed are co-founders of Living Metta (living "loving kindness") and want everyone in the world to enjoy the experience of befriending their body. The Reeds lead workshops and retreats across the country and overseas, including Thailand and Mexico, and have been team-teaching touch and movement therapy for 16 years. In addition to live classes, the Reeds offer massage therapy and self-care videos, DVDs, and online trainings, which may be found at www.livingmetta.com. Yo u r M & B i s w o r t h 2 C E s ! G o t o w w w. a b m p . c o m / c e t o l e a r n m o r e . 35