• 35 Saturday Affirmations To Embrace Rest & Self-Care
    Affirmations,  Self Love

    35 Saturday Affirmations To Embrace Rest & Self-Care

    In this article, discover 35 Saturday affirmations to embrace rest, relaxation, and self-care. Let these gentle and loving affirmations support your journey and remind you that you are infinitely worthy of the time you spend taking care of your mind, body, and soul.

    35 Saturday Affirmations To Embrace Rest & Self-Care
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    Self-Care Saturdays

    You are allowed to slow down.

    You work hard all week to run errands, meet deadlines, and finish all your tasks. You pour your energy into taking care of others. You give so much of yourself to the outer world every single day.

    Now, it’s time to let your inner being take a soulful sigh of relief.

    Maybe you don’t automatically get a break just because it’s the weekend. You may still have chores to complete, people to take care of, and errands to run. But it’s still important to remember that you, yourself, deserve your own time, care, and attention.

    You deserve to be put at the top of your priority list every once in a while.

    You deserve to be seen, heard, and acknowledged.

    So even if it’s just for an hour or two, I hope you pencil in time for yourself to practice self-care. This may look different week-to-week. One week, self-care might look like a nice bubble bath and a good book. The next week, self-care might look like going out to dinner with good friends.

    To know what type of self-care would best serve you, ask yourself, “What does my soul need today?”

    Maybe it’s time to yourself. Maybe it’s time with others. Maybe it’s laughter. Maybe it’s a little extra gentle self-love and self-compassion.

    Whatever it may be, find the thing you need most and give it to yourself.

    And always remember, self-care isn’t selfish. This is a kindness for yourself and others. Because you take care of others when you take care of yourself.

    And when you nurture your own inner being, you also set a shining example of what it means to cultivate true self-love.

    Below, you’ll find 35 Saturday affirmations for rest, relaxation, and self-care. Let these affirmations remind you that you are always, always worthy of the time and attention you so willingly offer to others.

    You are worthy of joy.

    You are worthy of peace.

    You are worthy of love.

    You are worthy of kindness.

    Today. Tomorrow. Always.

    Saturday Affirmations

    • Today, I make space for myself and honor my needs.
    • I wake up today with a grateful heart and peaceful mind.
    • I am grateful for my strong heart, healthy mind, and radiant spirit.
    • I give myself permission to do what is right for me.
    • My mind, body, and soul are my top priorities.
    • I am allowed to put myself first.
    • I am allowed to say no to anything that doesn’t serve my highest good.
    • I let go of worries that drain my energy.
    • I make space in my life for silence.
    • Practicing self-care is the kindest thing I can do for myself and my loved ones.
    • When I serve myself first, I am better equipped to serve others.
    • Self-care is not selfish; it is a kindness for myself and others.
    • I give myself permission to rest.
    • I lovingly nurture my mind, body, and spirit.
    • I succeed and thrive when I feel rested and fulfilled.
    • Today’s rest is tomorrow’s success.
    • I embrace rest, relaxation, fun, and play.
    • I create positive habits that support my mind, body, and soul.
    • Every choice I make is based in self-care and self-love.
    • I am fueled by hope, optimism, and positivity.
    • I relax, let go, and know that everything is working out in my favor.
    • I am worthy of living a joyful, vibrant, passionate life.
    • I choose happiness, and happiness chooses me.
    • I surrender all heaviness within and allow the universe to give me what I need.
    • I deserve the same love and attention that I so willingly offer to others.
    • I take care of the future by taking care of the present moment.
    • I have the power to create profound positive change in my life.
    • I am choosing to show up for myself, today and every day.
    • All the positive energy I put out into the world, I get back tenfold.
    • I deserve to live the truest, most beautiful life I can imagine for myself.
    • I deserve true happiness each and every day.
    • I create everflowing abundance through joy, gratitude, and self-love.
    • I am allowing myself to live in the moment and release any worries about the past or future.
    • In this moment, I am exactly where I am meant to be.
    • I have everything I need to create a beautiful day today.
    Saturday Affirmations
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    What are your favorite Saturday practices for embracing rest, relaxation, and self-care? Share your favorite empowering tips in the comment box below!

    And for more resources on spirituality, meditation, manifestation, and all things self-love, be sure to connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, where I’m posting positive affirmations and empowering messages daily.


    35 Saturday Affirmations To Embrace Rest & Self-Care
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  • How To Love Yourself More Each Day
    Self Love

    How To Love Yourself More Each Day (And Make It Last)

    In this article, learn the meaning of self-love, why it’s important, and how you can love yourself more each day. Plus, get tips on how to lean into self-love even on those days when loving yourself feels a little harder than most.

    How To Love Yourself More Each Day
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    What Is Self-Love?

    Self-love is a state in which you treat yourself with kindness, compassion, respect, and appreciation.

    It means forgiving yourself when you make a mistake and speaking to yourself with care and kindness in the privacy of your own mind.

    It also means nurturing your personal growth and prioritizing your total well-being: mind, body, and soul.

    Self-love can sometimes get mischaracterized as selfishness, and many of us have been taught to believe that prioritizing ourselves is somehow inherently wrong. But it’s actually this belief that’s misguided.

    You see, when you practice self-love, you’re first and foremost taking care of your own energy. Metaphorically speaking, you’re filling your own cup. You’re giving yourself what you need instead of constantly searching for it from outside sources.

    And because of this, you’re able to better show up for the people in your life who matter to you. You’re able to give more of yourself to others. If someone needs to borrow from your cup, you can give easily and willingly, because you know you have the power to replenish it yourself.

    And maybe even more importantly, when you cultivate deep and unconditional self-love, your inner light glows. You become a shining light for others, unconsciously giving others permission to shine their own light, too.

    So self-love is the furthest thing from selfishness. Self-love is necessary.

    It’s how we begin lifting the vibration of the world.

    But first, it starts within.

    By cultivating deep and unconditional self-love, you emit the vibration that you are open to receiving even more love in your life. You also release that desperate feeling of always looking for validation and acceptance from outside of yourself. And because this desperate energy is no longer within you, you can more easily lean into the flow of the universe. Walking your authentic path becomes easier. The energy of the entire universe moves effortlessly through you.

    Self-love is a bridge. It takes you from a state of constantly striving and hustling to simply being, knowing, trusting, and aligning. It allows you to take risks, make mistakes, and grow, knowing that no matter the outcome, you are always deeply worthy of unconditional kindness from yourself. 

    So how do you begin to cultivate deep, profound self-love?

    Below, you’ll find eight practices for how to love yourself more each day. None of these practices require much more than your own conscious time and attention. And each practice is meant to serve your entire well-being: mind, body, and soul. You’ll also learn how to cultivate self-love on even those heavier days, when loving yourself may feel a little more difficult.

    Because no matter what, whether you’re feeling good or bad, whether you have or haven’t been your highest self, you are always worthy of unconditional love, kindness, respect, and compassion – both from others and (especially) from yourself.

    Zanna Keithley quote

    How To Love Yourself More Each Day

    Practice Self-Compassion

    Self-compassion means to be kind, loving, and gentle to yourself, even through your perceived failures, mistakes, and shortcomings. Kristin Neff, pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, says, “Instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings – after all, who ever said you were supposed to be perfect?”

    And that simple question right there is the key to unlocking deep, meaningful, lifelong self-compassion.

    Who ever said you were supposed to be perfect?

    You, probably. I’m guessing you’re your own worst critic. You may tear yourself apart over things that nobody else even notices. And those errors and blunders you’ve made? While others have long forgotten them, you’re still carrying with you mistakes you made years ago – collecting them and storing them in a pocket of your mind where you can go back and replay them over and over again.

    It’s not going to be an overnight process to turn this mindset around. You have to intentionally choose compassion every single day, and keep choosing it, even when it isn’t easy.

    So how do you begin this journey?

    One practice that really helped me was thinking about people I love. Whenever I started to criticize myself for my own perceived shortcomings, I’d step back and ask myself whether I’d have these same thoughts about the people I love. Would I tell my best friend that she isn’t enough? What about my nieces and nephews? What about my parents, sister, brothers, cousins, and other family members?

    No. I’d never say these things about any of them. And I’d never allow another person to say any of these things about them, either. I’d fight for them without hesitation.

    So why was I saying all these things about myself? And why wasn’t I fighting for myself the way I would fight for someone I love?

    Nobody’s perfect. We’re all just human beings trying to navigate life and figure things out as we go. So give yourself grace during this journey. Know that you can be imperfect and make mistakes and still be worthy of your own love and compassion.

    Make A Self-Love Gratitude List

    You likely know what a gratitude list is: a list of people, things, and experiences in your life that you feel truly and deeply grateful for. A common practice is to write down one to three things you’re grateful for in a journal every morning.

    But how often do you write your own name on this list?

    How often do you allow yourself to simply appreciate you?

    What about yourself do you love?

    Do you love your courage? Your inner strength? Do you love the way you stand up for the people you care about? Do you love your inherent kindness? Is there a specific act you’ve done that you feel really proud of? Are you simply grateful that you get to be you?

    Start acknowledging yourself every single day by creating a gratitude list entirely devoted to you. Each day, write one or two things you really love about yourself. You might add a “because” statement to that thing you’re grateful for, like “I’m really grateful that I give my smile freely to others because it lifts others up and adds a spark of joy to their day.”

    Don’t hold back here. Freely write down all the things you love about both your inner and outer self. It’s so easy to criticize yourself and feel like you “deserve” that criticism, but how often do you actually celebrate yourself? This is a profound daily practice that will go a long way to helping you cultivate deep, unconditional self-love.

    Create A Soulful Self-Care Routine

    Chances are, you’re already practicing some form of self-care. Brushing your teeth, scheduling medical checkups, taking showers, and getting enough sleep at night are all forms of self-care.

    But for this one, I’m talking about a deeper level of self-care: self-care for the soul.

    We often associate self-care with spa days and luxurious bubble baths, and these things can definitely be part of a soulful self-care routine. But self-care is also something intrinsically more.

    Self-care means asking yourself daily, “What does my soul need?”

    And then, giving it to yourself.

    Sometimes, your soul may need silence. Sometimes, it may crave time spent in nature. Sometimes, it might need a warm cup of tea and a good book. And other times, it may just need you to speak to yourself with a little extra kindness. To meet your own gaze in the mirror and whisper a simple yet deeply needed, “I love you.”

    Self-care is an act of self-love. Whether it’s standing in the sunshine with your eyes closed for sixty seconds or packing up for a weekend getaway, you can practice self-care in both the smallest and biggest of ways. It’s a chance to nourish your soul. To feed the fading embers within so they grow back into beautiful and fierce flames dancing inside you.

    It’s a chance to renew. Reenergize. Realign with the truest and deepest you.

    And you are so worthy of giving the gift of self-care to yourself. You are deserving. Not just every once in a while but every single day.

    Every day, ask your soul what it needs. Every day, listen for the answer. And every day, make space to receive it. To have it. To give it to yourself.

    Embrace Your Inner Creative

    When we’re young, we’re encouraged to create for the sake of creating. It isn’t about creating something that someone else will deem valuable. It isn’t about being productive. It isn’t even about making something that’s going to last forever. A child can create something in pure joy, then let it go and never think about it again.

    But how often, as adults, do we create without any strings attached?

    Embracing the creativity inside you without trying to make something beautiful or perfect or valuable is a profound act of self-love. It allows you to let go and find freedom in creating something that isn’t for anyone else but yourself.

    It also allows you to fully be you – to embrace your own unique self-expression.

    And what greater act of self-love is there than to allow yourself to be you without holding back?

    Make space in your life for embracing your inner creative while you immerse yourself in an environment that feels really good. Maybe you’ll create something truly beautiful. Maybe you’ll create something you’ll forget about tomorrow. It doesn’t matter either way.

    The beautiful creation isn’t more valuable or meaningful than the one you’re going to throw away.

    It’s the act of giving yourself a chance to fully express yourself without limitations that matters.

    Practice Mindfulness

    Mindfulness is non-judgmental, conscious awareness in the present moment.

    This means being aware of your own thoughts, feelings, and surroundings in the present moment without putting labels on any of it as right or wrong. Mindfulness is sometimes referred to as the art of noticing, as it doesn’t require anything from you except to simply notice.

    And this seems really simple, but it’s actually really hard for most of us to do.

    How often do you notice your thoughts without putting labels on them? It’s so easy to tell yourself that you’re bad or wrong – to constantly and persistently criticize yourself.

    But what if, instead, you just noticed what’s happening within you without any of that judgment? And then, what if you took a step back and gently probed your thoughts with non-judgmental awareness?

    “I’m having this thought again. That’s interesting. Why am I thinking this? What’s the source of this thought?” And then: “Is it actually true?”

    Additionally, it’s common for us to not notice our thoughts at all. To simply go into autopilot mode and accept them at face value.

    But mindfulness allows us to break free from the autopilot mode.

    And when you do this, you can begin consciously shifting the narrative. And that’s where this gets really powerful for cultivating more self-love in your life.

    Because once you start noticing your thoughts, you can consciously choose to shift them. You might notice a thought you had during autopilot mode like, “I’m not worthy,” and then you can say, “Oh. I’m having that thought again. But is it true? No, it’s not true. I am worthy. I’ve always been worthy.”

    And soon, even your autopilot mode will begin to change. Instead of those persistent negative thoughts, you’ll begin having more persistent positive thoughts about yourself. And you’ll begin creating a truly deep, profound relationship with yourself based in true, authentic love and compassion.

    Take Social Media Breaks

    I’m actually pro-social media. I think what we get out of it is all a matter of how we interact with it. If given the chance, social media can be a beautiful platform for connecting with incredible souls, discovering daily positive messages, and creating a community based in love, kindness, compassion, and support. 

    But even I know we all need a break from it sometimes.

    You don’t have to go on a total social media detox (unless it feels right for you to do so). But try to schedule regular social media breaks in your calendar. You might also decide that you’ll only go on apps like Instagram and Facebook between certain hours of the day, kind of like intermittent fasting but for social media.

    Why is this important when it comes to self-love?

    For one, it’s a meaningful way to protect your energy.

    But also, the first step to tapping into your intuition and hearing the voice within is to get really quiet. You have to be able to step back from the noise of the outer world and go within. To embrace silence. We sometimes use social media as a distraction from what our hearts are trying to tell us.

    But I promise–listening to what your heart has to say is the best thing you can do for the long-term health and well-being of your mind, body, and soul.

    So every once in a while, give yourself a chance to step back. Take time away from social media and other outside distractions. Get really quiet. Breathe. And just listen.

    Set Loving Boundaries

    For many of us, this can be the most difficult one to practice. Setting boundaries isn’t easy, especially because it often leaves us feeling mean. Will I hurt someone’s feelings? What if they’re not receptive to what I tell them? What if they take it the wrong way and think it’s something against them when really, it’s about me?

    Trust me, I know how hard it is. I’ve often thought many times throughout my life that my very existence is centered around not hurting another person’s feelings. It feels like it kills a little piece of my soul every time I think I might have hurt someone.

    But I’ve learned that setting boundaries isn’t just an act of self-love; it actually helps my relationships in the long-term.

    Setting a personal boundary might mean establishing your own personal space. It might mean setting non-negotiable time during the week in which you get to dedicate all your energy to yourself. It might mean establishing boundaries regarding verbal or even non-verbal communication. Whatever your boundaries are, they’re going to be specific and personal to you.

    It may feel easier at first to not verbalize your boundaries out of fear of confrontation, but holding these thoughts and feelings inside you will only build resentment and anger. It’s a detriment to both you and your relationships.

    If you have difficulty setting boundaries, here are some practices you can start with:

    • First, write a list of all your boundaries, both in your personal and professional life.
    • Write down what each boundary means to you. Include concrete examples.
    • Ask yourself, if you don’t communicate this boundary, how will you feel in the long-term? Can you live with this, or would it ultimately hurt the relationship more if this isn’t done?
    • Consider how you can communicate these boundaries in a respectful way. Often, a boundary is less about the other person and more about you. For instance, I’m an extreme introvert. I need a lot of personal time during the week to renew and recharge. When I set the boundary that I need my own time and space, I make it clear that this isn’t about the other person; it’s one of my basic, foundational, soul-level needs. It might help you to write out how you can communicate your boundaries in a kind, calm, respectful way.

    Connect With Your Inner Self

    I was going to put this first on the list, but I decided to put it last because I think in some ways, all of the practices above require some level of self-connection.

    And that seems so simple, yet for some reason, it’s one of the hardest things for us to do.

    We get so distracted by outer noise. There’s errands to run. To-do lists to check off. People to take care of. Work obligations to complete.

    But what about you?

    Where do you fall on this list?

    And beyond that, how often do you step back from all the noise and allow yourself to go within – to connect with the truest, deepest, most authentic you?

    For some people, this happens in meditation. For others, they connect through journaling. And for some, they find connection through immersing themselves in nature and going on daily walks. (Though if you do this, I encourage you to forget about your step count and leave your music and podcasts behind.)

    Be present with yourself. Is there anything you’ve been suppressing lately? Gently allow it to come to the surface. Maybe someone said something that hurt your feelings, and you’ve been trying not to think about it. It if feels okay, see if you can go within and discover why it hurt you so badly. Are you able to let it go, or will these feelings linger unless you talk about them with that other person?

    Whatever practices you prefer for connecting with your inner self, the most important thing is to be honest. Don’t lie to yourself.

    Show your deepest feelings that they’re seen. Show your deepest hopes that they’re seen. Show your deepest beliefs that they’re seen. Show your deepest regrets that they’re seen. Show every neglected fragment of your inner being that it is seen.

    Show yourself that you are seen.

    How To Practice Self-Love When You’re Feeling Low

    You can do everything “right” and still have days when you have a harder time loving yourself fully. And that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with having hard days.

    There are still a lot of really worthwhile practices you can try to help yourself in these situations. And maybe they won’t immediately fix everything. Maybe they won’t be the cure to all of your emotional and spiritual ailments. But they can still be truly profound and helpful if you allow yourself to lean in.

    It starts with mindfulness.

    Mindfulness on these really difficult days might look like this: “I”m not feeling my best right now, and that’s okay. I acknowledge that I’m having a hard time loving myself right now. I allow myself to have this experience without needing to fix or change anything. Right now, it just is. And that’s okay.”

    The ironic thing here is that by not trying to fix or change anything, we often do. There’s power in acknowledging your thoughts and emotions – in showing them that they’re seen.

    After you’ve recognized your thoughts and feelings as being valid, see if you can lean a little further into self-compassion. Remember Kristen Neff’s words: “Whoever said you have to be perfect?

    Can you recognize that you’re imperfect and still be kind and gentle with yourself?

    Can you recognize that you may make mistakes and still give yourself grace?

    Can you recognize that you’ve done the best you can – that you’re willing to learn and grow from these experiences – and let that be enough?

    Finally, ask yourself, “What feels like love to me?”

    Does love feel like laying on the couch watching your favorite TV show? Does it feel like going on a walk? Does it feel like eating a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie? Does it feel like calling your best friend? Does it feel like making plans for your next vacation? Does it feel like going to the gym and engaging in physical activity?

    This is, essentially, self-care. It’s asking your soul what it needs and then giving it to yourself.

    And even on the days you’re having a hard time feeling that deep self-love, you can still practice self-care.

    This is how you love yourself more each day. This is how you connect to the truest, most authentic you. This is how you remember who you are.

    This is how you grow.


    What practices do you recommend for how to love yourself more each day? Share your tips and experiences in the comment box below.

    And for more resources on spirituality, meditation, manifestation, and all things self-love, be sure to connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, where I’m posting positive affirmations and empowering messages daily.


    How To Love Yourself More Each Day
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  • grounding crystals
    Crystals,  Self Love,  Spirituality

    7 Grounding Crystals and Stones for Stability & Protection

    In this article, discover 7 powerful grounding crystals and stones to protect your energy and help you to remain stable, centered, and balanced, no matter what’s going on in the world around you. Plus get links to stunning crystals and stones you can purchase today!

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product using my link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

    grounding crystals
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    What Are Grounding Crystals?

    Grounding crystals and stones are powerful sources of strength, stability, and security, allowing you to ground yourself in the present moment and release negative energy that doesn’t serve your mind, body, or spirit. And because many grounding crystals are also protective stones, they also serve to shield you from any toxic energy from the outside world that tries to knock you off balance.

    They’re your ultimate friends and protectors, keeping you safe and at ease throughout your day.

    So where do you get started with using these fierce guardians of your energy?

    In this post, I’ve listed seven powerful grounding crystals and stones to help you remain stable, centered, and balanced, no matter what’s happening in your outer world. These crystals will also protect your energy and help you to stay aligned with the positive and peaceful energy you cultivate within. You’ll also find links to some of my favorite picks for beautiful grounding crystals you can purchase today.

    I’ve also provided some resources for getting started below. Learn how to cleanse, program, and use your crystals to get the best results.

    How to Use Grounding Crystals & Stones

    Whenever you bring home a new crystal, it’s always a good idea to cleanse your crystal before you start incorporating it into your daily life. Cleansing your crystals erases any leftover energy from their previous owners, as well as any energy they may have picked up on its travels to get to you. This allows you to start with a fresh and clean slate.

    Additionally, it’s recommended to cleanse your crystals periodically, as they continue to store energy inside them day after day. Eventually, if they store too much energy, they start to lose some of their effectiveness.

    You can read my in-depth guide on how to cleanse and program your crystals to help you get started.

    One of the easiest ways to use grounding crystals is to wear them as jewelry. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings that feature crystals at their center are not only beautiful; they’re powerful healers and protectors of your energy.

    If you’re not someone who wears a lot of jewelry, you can keep your grounding crystals in rooms or spaces that you spend a lot of time in. For instance, you might keep Black Tourmaline or Shungite at your work station to shield you from toxic energy and help you remain grounded throughout the day. You can also keep your crystals and stones in various rooms around your house.

    You might also choose to meditate with your crystals, use them in a crystal grid, or create a meditation table or sacred space for your crystals.

    There are also many exercises you can use specifically with grounding crystals in order to cultivate strength, stability, and inner peace.

    One simple exercise is to find a quiet spot with your feet anchored to the earth, and as you hold your crystals, close your eyes and focus on your breathing. You might think of a specific mantra you want to repeat, such as “In this moment, I have everything I need.” While you can definitely do this inside, I recommend trying this outside with your bare feet touching the earth.

    Connecting with nature is always a powerful grounding exercise, so you might also choose to hold or wear your grounding crystals while you’re out on a walk. As you walk, see if you can focus on your breathing. Use all of your senses to notice the world around you. If you do this, I always recommend taking off your Fitbit or Apple Watch so that you’re not distracted by your step count, heart rate, or calories burned. Simply allow yourself to be in the moment and see where it takes you.

    Grounding Crystals

    Hematite

    When you feel like your foundation has been shaken, Hematite is the ultimate grounding stone to pull you back to earth. Hematite will restore your steady foundation while also guiding you to release feelings of stress, worry, and insecurity.

    It’s associated with the root chakra, which is your body’s energy center for safety, security, and stability. By working with the root chakra, Hematite can help your energy within to flow freely so you can feel grounded and centered, no matter what life throws at you.

    Another bonus of Hematite is that it’s a protective stone. This means that in addition to helping you to feel grounded and balanced, it will also protect you from external negative energy that may threaten to shake your stable foundation. The ability to help you stay grounded and protected makes Hematite a powerhouse in all kinds of situations: at work or at home, while you’re driving or commuting, at the grocery store or your in-laws’ house, and everywhere in-between.

    Below are a few of my picks for powerful Hematite stones to wear or keep nearby throughout the day.

    Obsidian

    Like Hematite, Obsidian is also a powerful grounding stone that helps you to return to your stable foundation when your mind, body, and spirit feel out of alignment.

    I also like to think of Obsidian as that best friend who doesn’t always tell you what you want to hear but rather tells you what you need to hear. If you’ve been suppressing any internal negativity, Obsidian will gently bring it to the surface to face it head-on.

    However, you don’t have to face this negativity alone. Like a trusted mentor, Obsidian will help to clear any negativity you’re feeling and guide you toward the path of light and love. And like Hematite, it’s also a powerful protective stone, protecting your energy from negative energy and darkness, both externally and from within.

    Check out some of my picks for powerful Obsidian stones below.

    Onyx

    Like Hematite and Obsidian, Onyx is a grounding stone that helps you to relieve stress and restore harmony within. What makes Onyx stand out is its ability to guide you through fear.

    What feelings manifest in your inner world when you feel fearful? Stress? Worry? Nervousness and anxiety? However you feel, Onyx can absorb this negative energy and help you to restore confidence and self-belief. That makes this a powerful stone for any situation in which you might be out of your comfort zone.

    This can also help when you’re dealing with uncertainties or fears regarding your future. Even though the path ahead may be unknown, Onyx will support you and guide you down your path with courage and strength.

    While Onyx is primarily associated with your root chakra, it can also work with your solar plexus, third eye, and crown chakras, making this a powerful all-around stone for healing your energy within.

    Below are a few of my picks for gorgeous Onyx jewelry to carry with you throughout your day.

    Smoky Quartz

    Like Onyx, Smoky Quartz is a powerful grounding stone when you’re experiencing strong feelings of fear, anxiety, stress, or unease. It gently helps you to release these negative emotions and guides you to a gentle state of calm and clarity.

    One of the most powerful benefits of Smoky Quartz is its ability to transform feelings that don’t serve your mind, body, or spirit into more positive emotions that support your total well-being. For instance, if you’re feeling deep anxiety, Smoky Quartz can help transform anxiety into insight, allowing you to effectively work through your problems without disrupting your inner peace.

    And as an added bonus, Smoky Quartz often complements and amplifies the energy of surrounding stones. That makes it a powerful amplifier when using it in conjunction with any of the other grounding crystals on this list.

    Here are some of my picks for Smoky Quartz crystals and stones.

    Red Jasper

    Red Jasper is a grounding and stability stone that connects you to the earth and helps you to return home to yourself when you’re feeling uncertain and lost in your daily life.

    With this stone comes not only balance and stability, but fierce courage, strength, and determination. It energizes the mind, body, and spirit and helps you to regain stamina when you’ve been feeling tired and unenthusiastic about your daily life.

    One of my favorite things about Red Jasper is that while its bright red hue screams fire and energy, it’s actually a deeply nurturing stone. This is the stone you want to turn to when you need comfort and when you find yourself feeling uninspired and lacking creativity. It feeds positive energy back to your inner being and gives you the inspiration and endurance to create the life of your dreams.

    Here are a few of my picks for beautiful Red Jasper stones you can purchase today.

    Black Tourmaline

    Black Tourmaline is known to be a powerful protection stone; when you step outside wearing or holding a piece of Black Tourmaline, you can think of it as though you’re walking with an invisible shield protecting your entire being: mind, body, and spirit.

    Black Tourmaline will protect you from toxic energy and low vibrations that may threaten to disrupt the positivity and stability you’ve cultivated within. It’s also powerfully linked to the root chakra, your body’s energy center for stability, security, and groundedness.

    By keeping your root chakra open and activated, Black Tourmaline will help you to remain strong, steady, and confident as you walk through your day. Use Black Tourmaline as your personal bodyguard to shield your energy and help you to feel grounded and secure as you move through the world.

    Below are a few of my personal picks for powerful and protective Black Tourmaline stones.

    Shungite

    Shungite differs a bit from most stones you see in crystal shops in that it’s not technically a crystal. Don’t let that deter you, though. This carbon-based stone is one of the strongest healing stones you can find, used most often for physical, spiritual, and emotional protection.

    When you’re feeling heavy and worn out, use this stone to remove toxic energy and to cleanse your spirit of any negativity that’s forged its way within. Shungite can also ground your energy and help you to stay focused on your tasks and goals, acting like a shield against procrastination and outer noise.

    Finally, Shungite is also popularly used for EMF (electromagnetic field) protection, so if you spend a lot of time around electronic devices, this stone can protect you from any harmful frequencies they may emit.

    Here are some of my picks for powerful Shungite stones.


    How do you stay grounded when the world begins to feel heavy, scattered, or uncertain? And what practices for using grounding crystals and stones have you found most helpful? Leave your comments and questions in the comment box below!

    And for more empowering self-love tips, be sure to connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest!

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  • How To Create A Self-Care Plan That Works For You
    Self Love

    How To Create A Self-Care Plan That Works For You

    Below, learn how to create a personalized self-care plan that supports your whole self: mind, body, and soul. Plus, download your free weekly self-care habit tracker to help you remain committed and consistent with your daily self-care routine.

    How To Create A Self-Care Plan That Works For You
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    What Is A Self-Care Plan?

    Self-care refers to the combination of practices you engage in to serve and support your physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being. These practices range from the small things you do each day (like brushing your teeth) to the bigger practices that nourish your mind, body, and spirit (like unplugging from social media during the weekend to focus on your innermost self).

    When you ask someone whether they practice self-care, you’ll often hear the response that they don’t have time for self-care. You may have even said this yourself a time or two.

    This is because we often associate self-care with spa days, pedicures, and those really “big” things that we consider to be luxuries.

    But self-care is intrinsically so much more.

    You practice self-care when you focus on taking deep, mindful breaths at a traffic light instead of stressing about how many seconds it’ll take for the light to turn green.

    You practice self-care when you set boundaries to protect your energy.

    You practice self-care when you meditate for ten minutes in the morning before starting your workday.

    Self-care can be practiced in many ways, big and small. And a self-care plan personalized to your specific needs can help you prioritize your self-care not just as an “every once in a while” practice but as something you do every single day.

    But first–what exactly is a self-care plan?

    A self-care plan is a set of practices you prioritize in your daily life to take care of your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. This is kind of like preventative care for your mind, body, and soul. Instead of waiting until your cup is completely empty before you finally let yourself focus on your own needs, you can keep your cup full each day by engaging in activities that nourish your spirit.

    Below, you’ll learn how to create a self-care plan that works for you in seven simple steps you can start today. Plus, be sure to download your free self-care habit tracker to help you stay committed and consistent in your daily self-care routine. (Click here to skip straight to your freebie!)

    How To Create A Self-Care Plan That Works For You

    Step 1: Define What Self-Care Means To You

    The first step in building a self-care plan is to define what self-care means to you. By creating your own definition of self-care, you can focus on incorporating practices into your daily routine that fit this definition.

    Each one of us is different, so it’s okay if we don’t have the exact same definition of self-care. For instance, maybe you want to focus more on the spiritual side of self-care, or maybe the spiritual aspect is less important, but mental self-care is your priority.

    To help you get started, here are a few definitions of self-care from individuals and health organizations that you can use as a foundation:

    • The World Health Organization defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.”
    • The Global Self-Care Federation defines self-care as “the practice of individuals looking after their own health using the knowledge and information available to them. It is a decision-making process that empowers individuals to look after their own health efficiently and conveniently, in collaboration with health and social care professionals as needed.”
    • And I love this quote by writer Katie Reed: “Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.”
    • And another one I love by author Robyn Conley Downs: “Self-care: doing the things that make you feel more like yourself.”

    Craft a definition that feels authentic to you, and let this be your guiding light as you create a self-care plan personalized to your needs.

    Step 2: Identify Your Objective

    After you’ve defined self-care for yourself, it’s important to identify your purpose and objective for creating this plan.

    For instance, is there a specific problem in your life that you’re trying to solve? Do you find yourself tired and burned out by the end of the week due to never-ending tasks, chores, and to-do lists? Are you looking to support your own health and well-being for long-term, sustainable happiness?

    Identifying your objective will help you as you begin brainstorming new self-care practices you want to include in your daily routine.

    If your objective is to create a mindset of peace and calm so you won’t become overwhelmed by external demands, then you’ll know to include practices to support a calm mindset (like meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises).

    If your objective is to take care of your long-term health and well-being (kind of like preventative care for your whole self), then you know you’ll want to include self-care practices that accomplish this goal.

    Finally, identifying your objective will help you to stay on-track for those self-care activities you might not always want to do. While the majority of your self-care plan should feel really good to you (i.e. you should want to do these things because they genuinely make you happy), there may be a few things you’re not super excited about. Exercising is a big one for a lot of people.

    There may also be times when you want to practice self-care, but your mind tells you that you should be working late at night or doing something more “productive.”

    In these moments, remembering your objective–or your why–can help you realign with this important truth:

    Self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity for the long-term health of your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.

    Step 3: Acknowledge The Self-Care Practices You Already Regularly Do

    Self-care isn’t just about the really big things that take dedicated time and effort to complete. It’s also about the little things you do in your daily life to take care of your entire well-being: mind, body, and soul.

    Showering, brushing your teeth, and washing your face are all examples of self-care you likely already practice in your daily life. Scheduling doctor’s appointments is another example of self-care. So is making healthy food choices and getting enough sleep at night.

    You’re likely already practicing self-care in both small and big ways. If you meditate regularly, go to yoga class a couple times a week, or take a daily walk outside, you’re already dedicating time to self-care. It may not always feel like this because we often associate self-care with spa days and bubble baths, but self-care comes in all forms.

    (And some of the most important daily self-care practices you can do that don’t take any extra time or energy on your part? Speaking to yourself with kindness and compassion when no one is around. Being kind to yourself in the privacy of your own mind. Building yourself up rather than tearing yourself down.)

    Write down all the things you’re already doing to nourish your mind, body, and soul. You’re not building your self-care plan from nothing. These self-care practices you already do will be the foundation for your well-rounded, personalized routine.

    Step 4: Write Down Any Negative Coping Mechanisms You May Have

    This one may be a little harder, but it’s important to be honest with yourself. When you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, do you have any negative coping mechanisms that might feel good in the moment but don’t contribute to your overall health and well-being?

    Negative coping mechanisms could include drinking, eating junk food, impulsive spending, consuming social media and gossip websites, and excessively withdrawing from others.

    Write down any negative coping mechanisms you have that you’d like to release. A self-care plan isn’t just about what you add into your life but also what you’re letting go of. When you let go of what no longer serves you, you make space in your life for more of the things that do.

    As you begin thinking about what new self-care practices you want to incorporate into your life, consider the negative coping mechanisms you’ve leaned on in the past. Self-care means acknowledging these coping mechanisms (without judgment or criticism–remember, you’re only human) and understanding the root of why you lean on these things to cope with difficult situations.

    Sometimes, these negative coping mechanisms may be easy to let go of and replace. Maybe you tend to go straight to the junk food when you’re feeling stressed at work, and you can instead turn your attention to breathing exercises, meditation, nature walks, positive affirmations, and other tools to serve and support you.

    But in other scenarios, these negative coping mechanisms may be a little more difficult to let go of. It may also go beyond the coping mechanism itself–maybe it’s the root of the issue that really needs to be addressed.

    If this is the case, remember that talking to someone–whether that’s a therapist, counselor, or someone else who can help you–is also an important aspect of self-care.

    Step 5: Write Down The Self-Care Practices You Want To Add To Your Daily Routine

    Now, the fun part. What self-care practices do you want to add to your daily routine?

    To do this, it might be helpful to break it down into categories: Mental Self-Care, Physical Self-Care, Emotional Self-Care, and Spiritual Self-Care. You can also include a category for Professional Self-Care, which would include self-care practices that can support you while you’re at work.

    When you’re making your plan, try not to make it too overwhelming–and even more, make it something that actually feels exciting for you. Don’t throw in things just because you think you should do them. Fill it with activities that feel good and right for you.

    Some people may love to cook and find a lot of joy in the cooking process, but if this isn’t you, don’t force it. In fact, your personal self-care plan might include ideas to lessen your time spent cooking throughout the week.

    Here are some ideas for different types of self-care practices you can include in your plan:

    Mental Self-Care

    • Practice mindfulness
    • Learn a new skill
    • Read a book rooted in personal growth
    • Unplug from social media
    • Do something creative
    • Talk to a counselor or therapist

    Emotional Self-Care

    • Journal
    • Create a gratitude list
    • Spend time in the sun
    • Have a coffee date with a friend who always lifts your spirits
    • Take a relaxing bath with candles
    • Hug someone you love
    • Watch your favorite funny TV show
    • Laugh, cry, or do a little of both

    Physical Self-Care

    • Stretch your body
    • Go on a daily walk around the neighborhood
    • Drink plenty of water
    • Get enough sleep to feel rested and energized
    • Move your body in a way that feels good to you
    • Practice good hygiene

    Spiritual Self-Care

    • Pray
    • Spend time in solitude
    • Create a sacred space in your home
    • Connect with your higher self
    • Meditate
    • Journal under the new moon (or full moon)
    • Read a book rooted in spirituality
    • Connect with a spiritual community

    And don’t forget to add in professional self-care if this is important for you. Examples of professional self-care practices include eating lunch away from your desk, taking regular breaks, using your standing desk (if you have one), setting boundaries, and using your vacation time (either for an actual vacation or for your own mental health day).

    Step 6: Schedule Your Self-Care Into Your Calendar

    After you write down what practices you want to include in your self-care plan, it’s time to commit to them. And the best way to do this is to schedule your self-care as a non-negotiable promise to yourself in your calendar.

    To start, pick out any “bigger” self-care practices that are going to take a little more time. For instance, maybe you want to start taking yourself out on a date once a week. Now go ahead and schedule these events into your calendar.

    If there’s anything additional you’ll need before you start (such as face masks for your own at-home spa night or a good book for the reading time you have scheduled later in the week), make sure you write down and commit to purchasing these products, too.

    Then, take a look at the smaller daily activities you want to focus on. This could include practices such as meditating for ten minutes every morning, going on a daily walk, spending time in the sun, or stretching in the evenings.

    Instead of scheduling each of these things into your calendar every day (though you absolutely can if you find it helpful), you might find it beneficial to create a habit tracker for your self-care practices.

    A habit tracker is a tool that helps you track how well you’re sticking to the daily habits you’ve decided to commit to.

    After you complete a self-care practice, mark it on your habit tracker to signify that you completed it. At the end of each week or month, you’ll be able to easily see which habits you were consistent with and which ones you might need to focus on a little more.

    Note that the purpose of the habit tracker isn’t to judge or criticize yourself for what you do or don’t do. It’s simply an assessment tool that can also help keep you committed and consistent in prioritizing your self-care. (Remember: Consistency > Perfection)

    To help you get started, you can skip to the bottom of this post to download your free self-care habit tracker.

    Step 7: Reflect & Adjust Your Plan After The First Month

    Are there any self-care practices you included in your plan that you’re realizing you don’t actually enjoy? Is there something that can be tweaked or changed? Or do you want to add more of something into your plan? (For instance, increasing your daily meditation time by ten minutes or adding an extra hour of reading and relaxation time into your week.)

    Make sure you’re regularly assessing your self-care plan for what is and isn’t working. Just because you committed to something in the beginning doesn’t mean you have to continue doing it if it doesn’t feel right.

    Remember, your self-care plan is meant to serve you, not the other way around. Don’t do something just because you feel like you’re supposed to. Do it because it supports your mind, body, and soul–because it makes you feel better in the long-term, not worse.


    click to download your free printable self-care tracker

    Are you ready for your free printable self-care tracker? Click here to download yours today! This digital file is completely free for your personal use. I just ask that if you do share this file on your website or social media, you link back to this website or tag me. I’d love to see how you fill out your personal self-care plan!

    And finally, no newsletter signup is required to access this free printable. But I do definitely encourage you to sign up for my newsletter, as every single time I create a new freebie like this one for the blog, I also send it to my newsletter subscribers. Additionally, I also send a printable affirmation calendar to my subscribers at the beginning of each month!


    How do you approach your own personal self-care plan? Share your tips and experiences in the comment box below!

    And for more resources on spirituality, meditation, manifestation, and all things self-love, connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, where I’m posting positive affirmations and empowering messages daily.

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  • Sacred Self-Care For The 7 Chakras (A Complete Guide)
    Chakras,  Spirituality

    Sacred Self-Care For The 7 Chakras (A Complete Guide)

    In this article, learn the importance of self-care for healing your body’s energy centers, and discover meaningful self-care practices for each of your body’s seven main chakras.

    Sacred Self-Care For The 7 Chakras (A Complete Guide)
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    What Are Chakras?

    Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning “wheel” or “disk.” A commonly accepted definition for the word chakra is a wheel of energy in your body

    You can also think of it like a vortex of energy within you. This vortex isn’t an actual physical thing, though. Rather, it’s energy that you experience through feelings, sensations, and your deep inner knowing.

    So what do these vortexes, or energy centers, do?

    Within you, you hold universal life force, or prana. Ideally, your life force is always flowing effortlessly through your body. You can think of it kind of like you have your own transportation infrastructure inside you. Your life force is the vehicle moving through you.

    This vehicle travels along roads called nadis. (You have thousands of these roads, or energy channels, inside of you.)

    And these nadis meet at intersections, which are your chakras.

    So ideally, everything in your infrastructure is working perfectly. Roads are open. Intersections are unblocked. Energy flows seamlessly.

    But just like an actual road or highway, everything doesn’t always work as perfectly as we’d like. Sometimes, intersections get blocked. Roads get backed up. Cars get stuck.

    This happens when your energy gets stuck somewhere inside you. For instance, let’s start with your root chakra, also known as your first chakra, located at the base of your spine.

    The root chakra is your body’s energy center for stability, safety, strength, security, groundedness, and inner peace. Your root chakra acts as your foundation. This is where you build your strength, power, and steadiness so that the flow of energy can easily move freely throughout your entire body.

    Now, let’s say your fundamental needs like food, shelter, warmth, and safety aren’t being met. Or maybe you feel financially insecure or uncertain about potential job layoffs. When these things happen, your energy gets stuck at this energy center, unable to move freely through this intersection.

    This results in energetic imbalances, which can manifest as feelings of insecurity, anxiety, depression, disconnection, fear, worry, and restlessness.

    This is just the beginning of understanding your chakra system. If you’d like to learn more, I definitely encourage you to check out my chakra articles, which include affirmations, journal prompts, and healing practices for your seven main energy centers.

    And if you’re interested in exploring more about chakras and want to begin your own powerful journey of chakra healing, you can check out my Chakra Healing Bundle, which contains a Chakra Healing eBook, Chakra Healing Workbook, and 8-Week Chakra Healing Guide. These healing resources are designed to help you begin a profound journey into aligning with your highest self, healing your soul, and cultivating unconditional self-love.

    The Ultimate Chakra Healing Bundle click to learn more

    Self-Care For The Chakras

    So why is self-care important for activating, opening, and healing your chakras?

    Each energy center is connected to specific emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual attributes. For instance, as we mentioned above, the root chakra is associated with security, stability, and strength. Your sacral chakra, which is your second chakra, is associated with creativity, passion, joy, and prosperity. (You have more than seven chakras, but we tend to focus on the seven below as being your seven “main” energy centers.)

    In order to ensure your energy is flowing freely within you, it’s important to regularly check in with yourself. Has your creativity been stifled lately? Have you been engaging in too much work and not enough play? Is your sense of security shaken? Do you feel like you can speak your authentic truth? Do you feel connected to yourself, others, and the universe as a whole?

    By connecting with yourself and pinpointing any potential blockages within, you can make space to spend a little extra time with this part of your inner being. Self-care is a profound way to do this.

    Below, you’ll find self-care practices for each of your body’s energy centers. I’ve also included the balanced and imbalanced attributes for each of your main chakras. If you meet the balanced attributes, your energy is likely in a good place. But if you meet more of the imbalanced attributes, you may want to spend some extra time engaging in self-care practices associated with that energy center.

    Root Chakra Self-Care

    • Sanskrit Name: Muladhara (Mula: “root”; Adhara: “support” or “base”)
    • Location: Base of spine
    • Color: Red
    • Balanced Attributes: Secure, Grounded, Strong, Centered, Stable, Steady, Safe, Peaceful, Supported, All Basic Needs Are Met
    • Imbalanced Attributes: Insecure, Anxious, Depressed, Scattered, Disconnected, Restless, Fearful, Cynical, Neglected, Worried
    • Fundamental Need: Survival

    Connect to the Earth

    The root chakra is associated with the earth, and one of the most powerful self-care activities you can perform is to immerse yourself in nature and let your bare feet touch the ground. You might also find a quiet spot to sit outside where you can journal, meditate, or just simply be. Or if you’re a gardener, you might choose to go outside and work in your garden, allowing your bare hands to dig into the earth.

    Nature is one of the greatest healers in the universe. When you take the time to connect with the earth, you connect with your roots, your foundation, and the truest, most authentic you.

    Focus on Your Basic Needs

    When we think of self-care, we often think of pampering activities such as spa days and pedicures. But self-care is intrinsically something more. Whenever you brush your teeth, take a shower, or schedule a medical appointment, you’re practicing self-care. And taking care of your basic needs is the foundation of self-care. These needs include food, water, warmth, rest, security, and safety.

    Have you been getting enough calories? Have you gotten enough sleep? Write a list of all the things that you need in order to meet your basic, foundational needs, and regularly make sure you’re meeting your needs.

    Other Practices

    Sacral Chakra Self-Care

    • Sanskrit Name: Svadhishthana (Sva = “self”; shthana = “place”)
    • Location: Lower abdomen (below your navel)
    • Color: Orange
    • Balanced Attributes: Creative, Joyful, Playful, Prosperous, Stable, Sexual, Sensual, Passionate, Open, Energetic, Honest, Forgiving
    • Imbalanced Attributes: Lack of Creativity, Unstable, Insecure, Anxious, Scattered, Lazy, Fearful, Disconnected, Depressed, Unmotivated, Negative, Lack of Sensuality
    • Fundamental Need: Emotional flow, desire, sexuality

    Get Creative

    How often do you make space in your life for creativity that has absolutely no end goal? It’s not meant to be productive. It’s not meant to be good. And it’s definitely not meant to be perfect. It’s just pure, unrestricted, joyful creativity.

    Embracing your creative flow is one of the most beneficial practices you can do when working with your sacral chakra. Do something you feel good about that isn’t related to your job and that you don’t feel the need to be perfect when doing. Let it be both messy and beautiful.

    Spend Time In Water

    The sacral chakra’s associated element is water, and there are several powerful ways you can use water to connect with this energy center. My personal favorite practice is to take a luxurious bubble bath. When your sacral chakra is open and balanced, you have a positive relationship with your body and embrace your own divine sensuality. A warm bubble bath is the perfect way to honor your body.

    Of course, you can also find water all over nature, which is one of our greatest teachers and healers. Oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams all offer opportunities to connect with your sacral chakra. If you’re not too keen on getting in the water, that’s okay! Even sitting near the water while meditating, answering sacral chakra journal prompts, or simply sitting in silence can offer meaningful healing.

    Other Practices

    • Dance
    • Smile and genuinely compliment yourself every time you look in the mirror
    • Meditate
    • Repeat sacral chakra affirmations
    • Write a letter to your inner child encouraging yourself to play and use your divine imagination.
    • Practice yoga. Include the following poses (asanas): Pigeon, Butterfly, Frog, Cobra, Goddess Squat

    Solar Plexus Chakra Self-Care

    • Sanskrit Name: Manipura (“City of Jewels”; sometimes translated as “Lustrous Gem”)
    • Location: A couple inches above the navel/Below the chest
    • Color: Yellow
    • Balanced Attributes: Confident, Positive, Joyful, Empowered, Driven, Motivated, Collaborative, High Self-Esteem
    • Imbalanced Attributes: Lack of Confidence, Negative, Fearful, Low Energy, Indifferent, Unmotivated, Competitive, Low Self-Esteem
    • Fundamental Need: Self-worth

    Fire and Sun

    The solar plexus chakra’s element is fire, so this is the perfect time to have a (safe) bonfire with friends or enjoy some family time by the fireplace. You could also combine some time by the fire with other self-care practices, like meditating. If it’s summer and you’re not keen on starting the fireplace, another powerful practice to balance your solar plexus is to go for a walk or have a picnic in the sun. 

    Write A Self-Love List

    Write out a list of positive qualities you love about yourself, and describe why you love each of those things. For instance, “I love my smile because it lights up a room. When I smile, I notice that other people smile, too.” Focus on both your internal and external qualities. There’s no room for negativity here. Compliment yourself. Focus on the positive. Remember that you are worthy and deserving of unconditional joy and love.

    Other Practices

    • Meditate
    • Repeat solar plexus affirmations
    • Practice color therapy by immersing yourself in all things yellow. Eat yellow foods such as bananas, pineapple, yellow peppers, and squash. Light yellow, lemon-scented candles. Wear yellow. Paint with the color yellow. Color therapy is helpful for working with any of your chakras, but I especially love it for working with the solar plexus chakra because yellow is such a bright, happy color.
    • Practice yoga. Include the following poses (asanas): Warrior I, Full Boat Pose, Bow Pose, Reverse Triangle Pose, Warrior III, Plank

    Heart Chakra Self-Care

    • Sanskrit Name: Anahata (“Unstruck”)
    • Location: Heart/Center of chest
    • Color: Green
    • Balanced Attributes: Loving, Loveable, Peaceful, Compassionate, Empathetic, Trustful, Open-Hearted, Serene, Understanding, Kind
    • Imbalanced Attributes: Unloved, Unlovable, Lonely, Depressed, Indifferent, Judgmental, Distrustful, Self-Isolates, Spiteful, Selfish
    • Fundamental Need: Love

    Walk in Nature

    The color of the heart chakra is green, and its element is air. Combine these attributes by taking a long, cleansing walk in nature, breathing in the fresh air. If you live near a forest or a beautiful, green meadow, this is ideal, but just taking a walk and getting some fresh air can do wonders for healing your heart chakra. You might also go to the beach on a breezy day and let the cool wind dance across your skin.

    “What Feels Like Love To Me?”

    If you’re feeling disconnected from yourself, ask yourself, “What feels like love to me?” This can vary depending on the day.

    For instance, sometimes love feels like eating your grandma’s homemade chocolate chips cookies, while other days, love feels like a big salad filled to the brim with fresh veggies. Sometimes, love feels going on a hike, and other times, love feels like staying in and cozying up on the couch with a good book.

    Ask yourself what feels like love to you and let your heart guide you to the answer.

    Other Practices

    • Meditate
    • Repeat heart chakra affirmations
    • Drive with the windows down and let the air blow against your skin
    • Practice any form of self-care that feels especially loving and nurturing to you
    • Practice yoga. Include the following poses (asanas): Camel Pose, Wheel Pose, Handstand, Fish Pose, Extended Puppy Pose, Bridge Pose, Cow Face Pose

    Throat Chakra Self-Care

    • Sanskrit Name: Vishuddha (“Especially pure” or “Purest”)
    • Location: Throat/Center of Neck
    • Color: Light Blue
    • Balanced Attributes: Communicative, Calm, Honest, Peaceful, Decisive, Expressive, Patient, Authentic, Centered, Good Listener
    • Imbalanced Attributes: Excessively Shy, Withdrawn, Dishonest, Loud, Indecisive, Inexpressive, Impatient, Disingenous, Moody, Insincere
    • Fundamental Need: Expression

    Find A Big, Open Space Outdoors

    Yep, nature again. If it’s a nice day, find a quiet spot outside where you have plenty of space. Lay on the ground and watch the sky. You could also meditate outside, sketch the scenery, or write a letter. If you hear any nature sounds, like birds chirping or a babbling creek, allow yourself to close your eyes and just listen. (Listening is as important for your throat chakra as speaking.)

    Write a Letter

    Write an open letter to somebody in your life: a current or past partner, friend, relative, boss, coworker, or even an acquaintance. What have you always wanted to say to this person but never found the courage or the right words?

    Write your truth in this letter. Allow yourself to release any negative emotions that your body may have been carrying from holding in your truth. (You don’t have to actually send this letter. Simply writing the words may be enough to release this stagnant energy.)

    Other Practices

    • Meditate
    • Repeat throat chakra affirmations
    • Sing
    • Schedule a date with your best friend and practice speaking your authentic truth while being an active, engaged listener
    • Practice yoga. Include the following poses (asanas): Cobra Pose, Fish Pose, Camel Pose, Bridge Pose, Rabbit Pose, Shoulder Stand, Seated Fold

    Third Eye Chakra Self-Care

    • Sanskrit Name: Ajna (“Beyond wisdom.” Can also be translated as “Perceive” or “Command.”)
    • Location: Center of Forehead/Between Eyebrows
    • Color: Indigo (Also associated with purple.)
    • Balanced Attributes: Intuitive, Imaginative, Insightful, Perceptive, Open-Minded, Sense of Clarity, Mentally Strong, Trusting
    • Imbalanced Attributes: Lack of Intuition, Confused, Unimaginative, Fearful, Unable to Focus, Close-Minded, Scattered, Distrusting
    • Fundamental Need: Insight and intuition

    Immerse Yourself in Light

    The third eye chakra’s element is light, so embrace opportunities to sit or walk in the sunshine. If you have a sun room or any open rooms with big windows in your home, take advantage of this space by sitting in silence, reading, or doing some crossword puzzles/logic games. You might also try sitting or meditating under the moonlight if it’s especially bright out.

    Tap Into Your Intuition

    Your intuition is that deep inner knowing that whispers inside of you. We all have one, but like a muscle, it becomes stronger when we actively work with it.

    The first step to working with your intuition is to quiet your mind and simply listen. You can’t hear what that inner voice is trying to tell you if you’re constantly immersed in noise. The quickest and most profound way to start connecting with your intuition is to let silence be a normal part of your life. If you can, see if you can step away from the outer noise and immerse yourself in silence.

    Here are some more practices that will help you tap into your intuition.

    Other Practices

    • Meditate
    • Repeat third eye chakra affirmations
    • Daydream
    • Do some logic puzzles and games that actively engage your mind
    • Practice yoga. Include the following poses (asanas): Downward Facing Dog, Child’s Pose, Extended Puppy Pose, Seated Forward Bend, Head to Knee Pose, Pyramid Pose

    Crown Chakra Self-Care

    • Sanskrit Name: Sahasrara (“Thousand-petaled”)
    • Location: Top of Head
    • Color: Violet (White is often associated with this chakra as well.)
    • Balanced Attributes: Spiritual, Enlightened, Trusting, Peaceful, Creative, Focused, Blissful, Present, Connected to Higher Power
    • Imbalanced Attributes: Cynical, Close-Minded, Lack of Faith, Frustrated with Life, Forgetful, Unfocused, Lonely, Scattered, Disconnected
    • Fundamental Need: Connection to the divine

    Communicate with the Universe

    You can call this prayer or simply speaking to the Universe. If you’re feeling low, heavy, or detached, find a safe spot where you feel comfortable being vulnerable. Then, speak. Surrender your heaviness. Let it out. If it’s more comfortable for you to write your thoughts and feelings, write it in a letter. Then, allow whatever comes forth to be, exactly as it is. Trust that the Universe is supporting you in every way possible.

    Detox/Fast

    Your physical body needs food for nourishment, but your spiritual self doesn’t really need food in the same way. Unlike your other energy centers, which have associated foods that allow for healing, the crown chakra is best healed by detoxing or fasting.* This helps you to clear your mind while flushing out toxins that may be harming your body. When detoxing, focus on fresh fruits, veggies, and lots of water.

    *If you choose to detox or fast, just make sure you’re following the proper guidance of a medical professional.

    Other Practices

    • Meditate
    • Repeat crown chakra affirmations
    • Go inward. Try to find an open field or special spot that gives you lots of space to think, turn inward, and simply be. If you feel safe and comfortable enough to meditate outdoors, this would be the perfect time to meditate. If the weather allows, journaling outdoors is also another powerful practice for healing.
    • Practice yoga. Include the following poses (asanas): Lotus Pose, Corpse Pose, Tree Pose, Headstand, Fish Pose, Standing Prayer Backbend

    What are your favorite chakra healing self-care practices? Share your favorites in the comment box below!

    And for more resources on spirituality, meditation, manifestation, and all things self-love, connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, where I’m posting positive affirmations and empowering messages daily.


    Sacred Self-Care For The 7 Chakras (A Complete Guide)
    Pin this for later! Sacred Self-Care For The 7 Chakras (A Complete Guide)
  • 30 Day Self-Care Challenge (Free Printable)
    Self Love

    30 Day Self-Care Challenge (Free Printable)

    Download your free 30-day self-care challenge and challenge tracker below, plus get tips for how to approach each activity to best serve your total well-being: mind, body, and soul.

    30 Day Self-Care Challenge (Free Printable)
    Pin this for later! 30 Day Self-Care Challenge (Free Printable)

    What Is Self-Care?

    Self-care refers to the combination of practices you engage in to serve and support your physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being. When you stick to a sleep schedule, brush your teeth, schedule medical checkups, eat healthy foods, and take walks around your neighborhood, you’re practicing daily self-care.

    But self-care also goes a little deeper. Self-care means making space in your life for silence. Connecting with the innermost you. Asking your soul what it needs. And then, giving yourself that thing.

    And at an even deeper level, it means noticing the trending direction of your thoughts. Are you speaking to yourself with kindness? Do you constantly criticize yourself? Are your inner dialogues loving and compassionate or condescending and judgmental toward yourself?

    And when you notice that you’re being hard on yourself, you then have the option to choose differently – to be a little gentler, a little kinder. A little more understanding. (This is directly tied to mindfulness.)

    Self-care is a deeply personal practice. What looks and feels like self-care to you might not align with someone else’s definition of self-care. And that’s okay. What’s important is defining what self-care means to you – and then, prioritizing it not as an option but as an essential aspect of your health and well-being.

    To help you with this, I’ve created a 30-day self-care challenge filled with practices that you can personalize to your own needs. In many ways, this is also a self-love challenge. This challenge is designed to help cultivate a mindset of deep care, kindness, and compassion toward yourself. (Because if you’re anything like me, you’re likely your own harshest critic.)

    As you begin your self-care challenge, I want you to remember that this is your challenge. So if there’s anything on this list that doesn’t resonate with what feels right to you, feel free to change it to something that feels better.

    You’re also empowered to define what each activity means to you. Below, I provide you with suggestions for how to approach each self-care practice, but if you have different ideas, please do what feels best to you.

    Don’t worry so much about being perfect. Rather, focus on what feels good and right to you.

    You can download your free 30-day self-care challenge and challenge tracker below. And if you complete this challenge, I’d love to hear about your experiences. Feel free to leave a comment in the comment box at the bottom of this article, tag me on social media, or send a note through the contact form.

    I hope you find value in this challenge and that it serves and supports your total well-being: mind, body, and soul.

    30 Day Self-Care Challenge (Free Printable)
    Click the image above to download your free printable!

    30-Day Self-Care Challenge

    Below, you’ll find some suggestions for how to approach each of the activities in this challenge. But remember, this is your self-care challenge. So if you have a different idea for how you want to proceed, or if you want to replace one of the challenge tasks altogether, go for it!

    And don’t forget to download your free 30-day self-care challenge here. No newsletter signup is required to access this free printable, but I do definitely encourage you to sign up for my newsletter, as every single time I create a new freebie like this one, I also send it to my newsletter subscribers. (Additionally, I also send a printable affirmation calendar to my subscribers at the beginning of each month.)

    Start A Gratitude Journal

    You can use a notebook, journal, or even your preferred notes app on your phone. Write down 3 things you’re grateful for. Then, for the rest of the challenge, keep writing 3 things you feel grateful for every day. If you need help, check out my list of 500 things to be grateful for today.

    Write Down 10 Things You Love About Yourself

    This one can also be done in a notebook, journal, or digital document. Pick 10 things you really love about yourself and write them down. These can be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual qualities – anything you want. If you’d like, you can add a “why” statement to each list item, diving deeper into why each of these things make you so incredible and unique. (Don’t hold back here!)

    Recite 1 Positive Affirmation Every Hour

    A positive affirmation is an uplifting statement designed to boost your confidence and self-belief. I have thousands of positive affirmations across this website, which you can find here. Recite at least one positive affirmation to yourself every hour today. If it helps, you can set phone reminders or write these affirmations on post-it notes.

    Set Phone Reminders With Uplifting Words

    Set phone notifications to go off throughout the day filled with words to uplift, inspire, and motivate you. You can be your own biggest cheerleader here, reminding yourself that you’ve got this, you’re worthy, you’re incredible, you’re more than enough – whatever you most need to hear throughout the day. Fill the screen with positive, loving words. You can also write affirmations or your favorite quotes here if you’d like.

    Compliment Yourself & Others Throughout The Day

    How often do you tell yourself what a good job you’re doing? How often do you spend time simply being proud of yourself? How often do you look in the mirror and smile into your own eyes? Compliment yourself throughout the day. Then, spread these good vibes and compliment the people you interact with. Make someone’s day today!

    Journal & Reflect On The Past Year

    In the busyness of daily life, we can often forget to spend time reflecting on how far we’ve come. Take some time today to reflect. Journal your thoughts and feelings. If you encountered difficult moments, make sure to honor your own resilience and strength. Acknowledge both the good and the bad. Be kind, honest, compassionate, and authentic.

    Do Something That Makes You Happy

    This one’s pretty broad. Simply do something that makes you happy! Does buying yourself a special coffee make you happy? Does reading a good book or watching your favorite movie make you happy? Does time spent in nature make you happy? You’re not limited to doing just one thing. If you can, you might try to do one thing that makes you happy in the morning, one things that makes you happy in the afternoon, and one thing that makes you happy in the evening.

    Follow A Guided Meditation

    If you already meditate, this one should be pretty straightforward. Don’t meditate? That’s okay! I personally use the Insight Timer app for guided meditations. There, you’ll find thousands of free meditations you can listen to. See if you can find one that appeals to you. You don’t have to sit in a special posture or try to clear your mind of thoughts. Just sit comfortably, close your eyes, and listen.

    Express Your Creativity

    Draw. Paint. Write. Play with chalk. Make paper snowflakes. Color in an adult coloring book. Or a children’s one. Whatever feels good to you.

    Spend Time In Nature

    This can be as simple as going out for a walk around your neighborhood. You might also go out on a hike in the foothills or spend some time near a lake or the ocean. Whatever you do, see if you can unplug for a bit. Notice the moment using all of your senses. Inhale peace. Exhale anything that doesn’t serve your mind, body, and soul.

    Cook A Special Meal For Yourself

    You can cook your favorite breakfast, lunch, or dinner. (Or all three!) You might also try cooking one of your favorite recipes from childhood. And if cooking sounds more like self-torture than self-care, order out from your favorite takeout spot!

    Practice Yoga Or Do Some Light Stretching

    If you don’t feel super comfortable with yoga but are willing to try, there are tons of great yoga routines for beginners on YouTube. You can also find a light stretching routine to try out!

    Write A Letter To Your Younger Self

    I’d definitely recommend doing this practice when you have some uninterrupted time to yourself. You can grab a notebook, lined paper, stationary, or open up a blank digital document. Visualize yourself at a certain age, whether it’s when you were 8, 11, 16 – whatever feels right to you. What do you want to say to this version of you? Is there something you think they really needed to hear? Write these things down. There’s a good chance your present-day self needs to hear these things, too.

    Read A Book You Genuinely Enjoy

    Do you have a favorite feel-good fiction book? Is non-fiction more your thing? Is there a new book you’ve been dying to read? Make time for some reading today. I’d recommend reading at least for an hour, but this is completely up to you.

    Spoil Yourself – You Choose How

    What does spoiling yourself mean to you? For some, spoiling themselves means buying a special coffee or meal. For others, spoiling themselves looks like candles and bubble baths. Try to find at least one way to spoil yourself today. (But it’s completely okay to pick more than one thing! Encouraged, even.)

    Try An Artistic Endeavor

    You don’t have to be a poet to write poetry, and you don’t have to be a painter to paint. Even if you’re a creative person already, see if you can try something you wouldn’t normally do. Don’t judge your work. Just have fun with it.

    Make A Music Playlist Of Old & New Favorites

    See if you can remember your favorite songs from childhood. Add in some of your current favorites. Fill your ears with sounds you love.

    Write Down 10 Self-Promises

    A self-promise is a commitment you’re willing to make to yourself about your life and your future. For help here, you can check out my article, 100 Wholehearted Promises To Make To Yourself Today.

    Write Down & Release 1 Limiting Belief

    A limiting belief is a deep-seated belief that holds you back from realizing your limitless potential and living the life that you know you’re truly meant to live. It’s the thing that’s preventing you from moving forward. Your fears. Your worries. Your doubts about your own potential.

    Take some time to identify what beliefs you carry that aren’t serving you. Write at least one down. Then, create a new, reframed belief. So if your limiting belief is that you don’t have what it takes to succeed in your chosen career path, you can create a new belief that you’re more than capable of succeeding and thriving.

    You can learn more about limiting beliefs here. And for even more guidance, I’ve created a digital workbook for releasing limiting beliefs to help you begin releasing your old, limiting beliefs (and creating new, empowering beliefs) today.

    Unplug For At Least 2 Hours

    What makes you feel good when you’re not on your phone or devices? Do that thing.

    Brainstorm Ways You Can Destress Your Life

    What are the biggest stressors in your life? Write them down. Then, write down some ways you can remove some of your daily stress. Ideas include going to bed on a set schedule, meditating first thing in the morning, meal prepping at the beginning of the week, organizing your office, decluttering your email inbox, and anything else that might remove a little bit of the daily stress you often experience.

    Write A Letter To Your Future Self

    Choose a specific age in the future: one year from now, five years from now, ten years from now – whatever feels best to you. Sit down and write a letter to this version of you.

    You can write about what’s happening in your life right now and share some funny or heartfelt stories that will make your future self smile. You can write about your hopes and dreams. You can write your favorite quotes and/or something you heard recently that’s especially meaningful to you.

    When you’re done, place your letter in an envelope, address it to yourself with a date on the front, and stash it somewhere for safekeeping.

    Write Down Your Goals For The Next Year

    I’d recommend writing down five to ten big and small goals. Then, pick a goal and write an action plan for it. What’s the next step you need to take to achieve this goal? You can write next steps and action plans for as many goals as you’d like.

    Treat Yourself – You Choose How

    This one’s just like the spoil yourself day – you get to define what treating yourself means to you. Maybe it means a spa day. Maybe it means treating yourself to a couple hours of uninterrupted you time. Maybe it’s buying your favorite dessert from a bakery or going to the bookstore and picking out some books. Whatever it is, just make sure it feels special and good to you.

    Make Space For Fun & Play

    What’s fun to you? What feels like play to you? Engage in activities that make you feel good. Play video games. Have a crafting day. Build a blanket fort. Create your own Lego masterpiece. Go to the beach. Dance like no one’s watching. Connect with your inner child and let yourself come alive in pure, unadulterated joy.

    Connect To The Earth & Nature

    My favorite way to connect to the earth is to stand with my bare feet against the dirt and close my eyes. You can also do this while watching the night sky. Gardening is also a profound way to connect to the earth. What can you do today to connect to the trees, sun, stars, ocean, wind, and all parts of nature?

    Compliment Yourself When You Look In The Mirror

    Every time you look in the mirror, look yourself in the eyes and say either internally or aloud something really kind to yourself. Offer yourself sincere compliments. Speak with loving kindness.

    Declutter Your Social Media Accounts

    Go through your most-used social media accounts and unfollow/unfriend anyone who may cause you to feel negative energy within. Keep the ones that uplift your spirit, inspire your dreams, and/or make you laugh. If they feel like positive energy, keep them on your list. If they feel like negative energy, send them love and gently distance yourself from them.

    Try 1 Thing You’ve Never Done Before

    It’s easy to get in a rut in your daily life, so this is a chance to do something new. It doesn’t have to be a really big thing like skydiving or traveling to a new country. Maybe there’s a restaurant you’ve never tried or a dish you’ve never cooked. Maybe there’s a crafting activity that’s been hanging out on your Pinterest boards for a while that you’ve been meaning to get to. Maybe there’s a park you’ve never been to that you can go visit. This can be as big or as small of an activity as you want.

    Repeat Your Favorite Activity From The Challenge

    This is the equivalent of the free space in bingo. What activity did you really love doing over the past 30 days? Do it again! You can also repeat multiple activities if you want. For instance, you can recite positive affirmations once per hour throughout the day while also making time in the evening to read a good book.


    If you complete the 30-day self-care challenge, be sure to share your experience in the comment box below!

    And for more resources on spirituality, meditation, manifestation, and all things self-love, connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, where I’m posting positive affirmations and empowering messages daily.

    More Articles You May Like

    30 Day Self-Care Challenge (Free Printable)
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  • affirmations for heartbreak
    Affirmations,  Self Love

    40 Gentle Affirmations For Heartbreak And Healing

    Below, discover 40 gentle affirmations for heartbreak to support you during every phase of your healing journey.

    affirmations for heartbreak
    Pin this for later! 40 Gentle Affirmations for Heartbreak and Healing

    Positive Affirmations & Heartbreak

    The terms positive affirmations and heartbreak don’t seem to go together very well. Experiencing heartbreak can be one of the most profoundly difficult experiences in a person’s life. And you can’t simply gloss over the depth of your feelings with some feel-good words, even if you wish you could.

    So I want to make it clear: using affirmations for heartbreak isn’t about suppressing the pain you feel.

    In fact, the affirmations you use should be geared toward allowing yourself to feel all of your emotions: the good and the bad.

    They should also be focused on allowing yourself to take your time through your healing journey, not rushing through this difficult experience, and giving yourself the space you need to heal at your own pace.

    And finally, they should also include gentle reminders that you are worthy of deep and unconditional love, no matter what.

    But this isn’t just about external love. More importantly, it’s about the love you show yourself. Because you are worthy of your own time, care, and attention. You are worthy of loving yourself fully, in every season of your life. And you deserve to be loved, exactly as you are.

    You are enough. You have always been enough. You will always be enough.

    Below, you’ll find 40 gentle affirmations for heartbreak and healing. Some of these affirmations may serve you better during different parts of your healing journey, so choose the ones that resonate most in this moment.

    Let them serve and support your mind, body, and soul.

    Affirmations for Heartbreak & Healing

    • I allow myself to move slowly through this healing journey and take my time.
    • I lean into my emotions, no matter how uncomfortable they feel.
    • Emotional releases are good for me.
    • I will be gentle with myself today.
    • I allow myself to take time for me.
    • It’s okay if all I do today is just breathe.
    • I know that healing is not linear, and I accept my good days and my bad days as they come.
    • My feelings are real. My feelings are valid. My feelings matter.
    • I am allowed to put myself first and prioritize my needs.
    • No matter what, I am always worthy of deep and unconditional love.
    • I love and accept myself for exactly the person I am right now.
    • I allow myself to accept and receive love from myself and others.
    • I show compassion for myself always.
    • I am far stronger than I realize.
    • I cultivate deep courage and compassion within my body, mind, and spirit.
    • My heart is grateful and my mind is at peace.
    • I choose to love myself as deeply as I love others.
    • Every day, I love myself a little more.
    • I lovingly nurture my mind, body, and spirit.
    • I deserve real, wholehearted, unconditional love.
    • I release the shadows of my past.
    • Today, I choose to prioritize my mind, body, and spirit.
    • I am safe and supported, rooted in the present moment.
    • I am healing more and more every day.
    • I allow myself to find peace in solitude.
    • I am willing to believe everything will work out, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
    • I love myself completely.
    • I am loved, loving, lovable.
    • Every ending offers me the opportunity for a beautiful new beginning.
    • I am grateful for my strong heart and resilient spirit.
    • I hold the key to my own happiness.
    • My happiness comes from within.
    • Who I am, exactly as I am, is worthy of unconditional love.
    • I am me, and that is always enough.
    • I am strong.
    • I am resilient.
    • I am whole.
    • I am loved.
    • I am worthy.
    • I am enough.
    affirmations for heartbreak
    affirmations for heartbreak
    affirmations for heartbreak
    affirmations for heartbreak
    affirmations for heartbreak
    affirmations for heartbreak
    affirmations for heartbreak
    affirmations for heartbreak

    For more uplifting affirmations and self-love resources, be sure to connect with me on Instagram, where I post daily affirmation stories every morning. And don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest, where I’m pinning positive affirmations and empowering quotes every single day.


    affirmations for heartbreak
    Pin this for later! 40 Gentle Affirmations for Heartbreak and Healing
  • journal prompts for anxiety
    Self Love

    30 Gentle and Calming Journal Prompts for Anxiety

    Below, discover 30 journal prompts for anxiety designed to help you gently explore your anxiety with love and kindness. Find a quiet place where you can connect with your innermost self, and allow yourself to answer each question with truth and compassion.

    journal prompts for anxiety
    Pin this for later! 30 Gentle and Calming Journal Prompts for Anxiety

    Experiencing Anxiety

    What does anxiety feel like to you?

    For some, anxiety is most often experienced physically. Your chest may start to feel tight and hot. Your stomach might feel like it’s flipping over itself. Or maybe there’s tension in your head that just won’t go away.

    For others, anxiety might be experienced emotionally or mentally. A stream of steady, anxious thoughts might keep you up at night, or your anxiety may cause you to feel sad, angry, or overall pessimistic.

    And still, your answer might be all of the above: physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. And feeling that deep heaviness day after day? It’s more than just hard; it can be debilitating.

    While it’s tempting to try to suppress your anxiety, it can be a healing exercise to do the opposite: to move toward it and gently probe the source of your anxiety, how it feels in your body, and what practices help you when anxiety takes over.

    Below, you’ll find 30 gentle and calming journal prompts for anxiety. These journal prompts are meant to help you explore your anxiety with kindness, compassion, and love. I encourage you to give yourself time and space to answer these prompts in a safe place where you’re free of outside distractions. You might find it helpful to light some candles or play some soft music while you write.

    Note that these journal prompts are not meant to replace talking to a healthcare professional. For further anxiety resources, I encourage you to check out this article from Everyday Health. It includes a list of organizations that can provide valuable information about anxiety, resources for BIPOC communities, information about financial assistance, and more.

    Journal Prompts for Anxiety

    • What does anxiety feel like to me?
    • Where in my body do I experience anxiety the most?
    • In what types of situations do I most often experience anxiety?
    • Are there specific triggers that make me feel anxious or overwhelmed?
    • Is there anything I’m feeling anxious about right now?
    • For anything I feel anxious about right now, what can I do for myself to alleviate my anxiety?
    • What practices have helped me in the past when I feel anxiety setting in?
    • When my anxiety feels overbearing, what can I do to show myself kindness and compassion?
    • What can I do to support myself when I know I’m entering a situation in which I might feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stressed?
    • What do I need from the Universe when I feel worried or anxious? How can the Universe support me?
    • What do I need from my loved ones when I feel worried or anxious? How can my loved ones support me?
    • What has my anxiety taught me about the world?
    • What has my anxiety taught me about myself?
    • In what ways is anxiety not a weakness?
    • What negative thoughts do I most often experience?
    • Why do I think I have these negative thoughts?
    • Can I turn any of these negative thoughts into positive thoughts?
    • Where do I feel the safest? What about this environment makes me feel safe?
    • With whom do I feel the safest? What about this person (or people) makes me feel safe?
    • Describe what it feels like to feel safe, supported, and protected.
    • How can I carry the feelings of being safe, supported, and protected into my everyday world?
    • Write ten calming affirmations that bring peace and serenity within. Save these affirmations to your phone, or write them on a piece of paper that you can carry with you throughout your day.
    • What do I feel grateful for about my life right now?
    • What do I love most about myself?
    • What makes my soul truly beautiful?
    • What superpower do I have that makes a positive difference in other people’s lives?
    • What hardships have I experienced that have made me stronger? How did I show courage, strength, and resilience while experiencing these hardships?
    • What self-care practices can I do for myself to nourish my whole self? How can I take care of my mind, body, and spirit?
    • How can I show myself unconditional love in my daily life?
    • When do I feel happiest? What brings me true joy? How can I incorporate more joy into my daily life?

    What practices do you turn to when you’re experiencing anxiety? Share the practices and exercises that have helped you the most in the comment box below.

    And for more resources on spirituality, meditation, manifestation, and all things self-love, be sure to connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, where I’m posting positive affirmations and empowering messages daily.


    journal prompts for anxiety
    Pin this for later! 30 Gentle and Calming Journal Prompts for Anxiety
  • how to protect your energy
    Self Love,  Spirituality

    How To Protect Your Energy (7 Essential Practices)

    In this post, learn how to protect your energy with 7 simple yet profound practices. Plus, get positive affirmations for protecting your energy and images you can save for later!

    how to protect your energy
    Pin this for later! How to Protect Your Energy (7 Essential Practices)

    Protecting Your Energy

    One of the greatest self-care practices you can do on a daily basis is to protect your energy.

    But what exactly does this mean?

    Protecting your energy means choosing how you think and feel rather than allowing outside forces to dictate your thoughts and emotions.

    It means that no matter what’s happening in the outer world, you’re able to cultivate a beautiful inner world through your own thoughts, beliefs, and choices.

    And it means being true to your authentic self and not hiding or denying a single part of yourself for anything or anyone.

    Finally, it also means holding yourself accountable. For instance, if you’re in a group that’s gossiping about someone you know, you have the choice to engage in the gossip or step away. At all times, you can ask yourself, what action best serves my positive energy?

    Another question I like to ask is, what path feels most like love to me?

    For the example above, if love feels like walking away from gossip, then that’s the best thing you can do in that moment to protect your energy. Because ultimately, the best energy protector is love itself.

    Love might feel like morning meditations. It might feel like a walk in nature. It may feel like spending every Wednesday night alone, practicing self-care.

    In all instances, you can choose the path that feels like love to support and protect your divine energy.

    Below, I’ve listed seven powerful practices you can incorporate into your daily life to protect your energy. These practices range from using crystals and water as an energy purifier to taking social media breaks and setting loving boundaries. I encourage you to find the practices that resonate the most and begin to use them each day to protect your whole self: mind, body, and soul.

    And again, because it can’t be emphasized enough:

    The greatest way to protect your energy is to follow the path that feels like love.

    Love will always protect you. Love will always heal you. Love is your superpower.

    How to Protect Your Energy

    Affirmations

    Protecting your energy from external toxicity all starts with your mindset.

    While all of the practices on this list are powerful in helping you to protect your energy, nothing is as powerful as knowing that you are in control of your thoughts and that you’re the only one who gets to choose how you feel.

    That’s why I’m putting affirmations at the top of this list. Using positive affirmations (and truly believing them!) is a powerful way to own your energy and decide how you want to feel in any given moment.

    When I first started using affirmations, I used them all the time: when I woke up, as I got ready in the morning, while I worked out, as I was driving, while I cooked dinner, as I got ready for bed, and anytime the opportunity presented itself to embrace positive thinking.

    Eventually, though, this practice lessened: not because I suddenly forgot about affirmations but because the powerful words had become a part of me.

    I no longer had to constantly affirm that I was worthy because I knew in every cell of my being that I was undeniably and unconditionally worthy, no matter what.

    That’s why affirmations can be so powerful when it comes to protecting your energy. In the beginning, you may need to remind yourself to repeat them, but in time, the powerful, protective words will become a part of you.

    Below, you’ll find a list of affirmations for protecting your energy. You can also find more protection affirmations to guard your energy in this post.

    Affirmations for Protecting Your Energy
    • I am in charge of my own energy. I choose how I feel in every moment.
    • I am the only one who gets to choose how I feel.
    • I am choosing to feel grounded, calm, peaceful, and secure.
    • I am safe and supported, rooted in this present moment.
    • I have the power to rise above negative emotions that do not serve me.
    • Even when the world around me feels chaotic, I remain rooted firmly to the ground.
    • When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I allow myself space to pause and breathe.
    • I vibrate powerful, abundant, peaceful energy and attract this same energy in return.
    • I am strong, steady, and grounded.
    • I am always supported and protected.
    • I deeply appreciate my ability to remain calm and peaceful in all situations.
    • I am grateful for the abundance of strength that radiates throughout my entire body.
    Affirmations to protect your energy

    Crystals

    Crystals are a powerful resources for protecting your energy and helping you to remain grounded, stable, and secure.

    My personal favorite way to use crystals for energy protection is to wear them as jewelry, as this allows me to remain protected throughout the day, no matter where I go. I also like to keep protective stones in spaces where I know I might encounter some negative external energy, such as in my workspace and in the car. And if you’re doing an energy protection meditation, holding protective gemstones in your hands while meditating can be a powerful way to amplify your intentions.

    To learn more about how to cleanse, program, and use crystals, you can check out my blog post on how to use crystals here.

    Here’s a list of crystals and stones you can wear, carry, or keep in your space to protect you from toxic energy:

    • Hematite
    • Obsidian
    • Onyx
    • Black Tourmaline
    • Shungite

    If you want to learn more about the specific meanings of each stone, I’ve got you covered in this article on grounding crystals for stability and energy protection.

    Water

    For centuries, various cultures and religions have used water as a way to cleanse, purify, heal, and help one reach spiritual enlightenment. Don’t underestimate the power of water to cleanse your aura from toxic energy. Just like water can cleanse the energy of a crystal, water can cleanse your own energy both within and outside of you in a profound way.

    Ideally, you’d be able to spend time at the ocean or near a lake or river whenever you need a spiritual reset. But if that isn’t possible, that’s okay! A shower or a bath works just as well in cleansing your energy.

    One of my favorite practices is to meditate in the shower by imagining the water washing away any negativity within or around me. This practice only takes a minute or two but can positively affect your energy throughout your day.

    First, close your eyes. Take a deep, soulful inhale and a rejuvenating exhale. Concentrate on how the water feels on your skin. As the water falls around you, imagine it washing away any negative thoughts and emotions you’re holding onto. The water takes your tension and carries it to the drain. Anything that doesn’t serve your highest good is washed away from your body.

    Feel your body becoming lighter. Your mind is clear. Your heart is open. Anything that doesn’t serve or support your total well-being has been washed away, swirling down the drain, where it will be cleansed by the earth.

    When you’re done, smile and express gratitude. Feel the strength of your body, mind, and spirit.

    You are worthy, powerful, whole, and more than enough. Carry those feelings with you throughout your day.

    For more information on how water can heal and purify, I encourage you to check out this article from Sonima: The Radical Healing Effects of Water.

    6 effective ways to do a shower meditation

    Visualization

    When you feel like you’re surrounded by negative energy, visualization can be a profound way to replace any negativity in your auric field with positivy, protection, and love.

    While you may associate visualization exercises with meditation, you can actually take a moment to practice visualization almost anytime during the day.

    For instance, let’s say that you’re at work, and the energy of your coworkers, employees, and/or customers feels especially negative today. People are stressed and blaming each other for mistakes. The air around you feels tense, and that tension is starting to seep into your body, mind, and spirit.

    Take a moment to step back from the outer world. Close your eyes. Imagine a beautiful light is surrounding your entire body. This light might be white, gold, purple, or any other color that resonates with you. See that light protecting your body from any negative external energy that tries to seep in. Visualize yourself walking through your day, being protected by this light at all times.

    Know that you are always, always being divinely guided and protected. No amount of toxic energy can break through the loving shield of the Universe.

    Breathing Exercises

    A breathing exercise is conscious, purposeful breathing with the intention of calming the mind, relieving stress, improving your lung function, and grounding yourself to the present moment.

    What I love about breathing exercises is that it feels like a mini-meditation that you can do practically anytime and anywhere.

    Breathing exercises can be powerful practices to protect your energy because they allow you to step back from the external world and return to your inner self. And when you return to your inner self, you can release the stress and overwhelm of the outer world and cultivate a sense of calmness, peace, and groundedness within.

    My personal favorite breathing exercise is alternate nostril breathing, which you can read more about here.

    Another simple yet powerful practice is the 4-7-8 breathing technique. In this practice, you inhale through your nose for 4 seconds, pause at the top of your inhale for 7 seconds, and exhale through your mouth for 8 seconds. Repeat this 4 to 8 times in a session.

    Often, at the end of a breathing exercise, I’ll recite a few grounding affirmations to affirm that I’m in control of my thoughts and emotions. You don’t have to do this, but if you want, you can give it a try and see if this practice resonates with you.

    For more examples of breathing exercises, you can check out this article from Healthline here.

    how to protect your energy

    Social Media Breaks

    I don’t believe social media is universally good or bad; I think it’s all in how we use it and what kind of people/accounts we choose to connect with.

    In my experience, social media can be a beautiful platform for connecting with incredible souls, receiving positive messages, and creating a community based in love, kindness, compassion, and support. I think the use of social media has served my growth in many ways, especially in the past year.

    But there have also been many, many times when I’ve needed to step back and take a break from it all.

    I won’t go too in depth on the dangers of social media here, because I think it’s likely you’ve heard most of the arguments against it: it can be a highlight reel of people’s best moments, causing you to somehow think your life is “less than” because you don’t have everything another person has.

    It’s also easy to get trapped in the belief that likes and follows somehow have any kind of impact on your worthiness (which is 100% not true).

    And even if you only follow positive accounts, you might start to think that you’re supposed to be a positive, upbeat person 100% of the time, which also isn’t true.

    Taking regular social media breaks is necessary for protecting your energy in the long-term. Like I said, I believe there are a lot of really great aspects of social media, and in most cases, I don’t think it’s necessary to delete it entirely.

    But I do recommend scheduling social media breaks into your calendar. Also take non-scheduled breaks when you start to feel like social media is becoming an energy depleter instead of an energy restorer.

    And if there’s an account that makes you feel less than or causes you to feel negative or toxic energy within?

    Unfollow.

    Choose to consciously curate your social media feed to best support your mind, body, and spirit.

    Set Boundaries

    Boundaries.

    For most of us, this is likely the hardest practice on this list.

    Whether it’s in your personal or professional life, setting boundaries can be a difficult practice because it often requires having uncomfortable conversations. What helps me in this situation is to ask myself, what’s more uncomfortable? Having a conversation about boundaries, or not setting boundaries and continuing to live in a state of frustration, anger, and/or overwhelm?

    If you’re feeling hurt or resentful about something, then 10 times out of 10, the best thing you can do to heal your energy is to set boundaries.

    However hard it may feel, it is possible to make the practice of setting boundaries a little easier. How do you do this? By stepping forward in the energy of love.

    Often, we imagine conversations about boundaries to be hard, serious, and even negative. However, it is possible to approach this act with love and compassion for everyone involved. I recommend writing down your thoughts before having this conversation and scheduling time when you can have a calm conversation with the person or people you’re setting boundaries with.

    In other words, try to approach this with a sense of clarity and calm rather than letting yourself get consumed by the heat of the moment and potentially saying something you’ll regret later.

    Also remember, boundaries aren’t always about another person. Often, they’re about what you need. For instance, maybe you need one night a week to yourself without any interruptions. This may mean that you need to set a boundary that Wednesday nights are your nights. By dedicating this time to yourself, you’ll actually be able to show up better the rest of the week for the people in your life.

    So remember, boundaries aren’t a negative thing. They’re a way you can show love to yourself, which ultimately will positively affect all aspects or your life.


    Recap: How to Protect Your Energy

    • Recite empowering, grounding affirmations to affirm that you are in control of your thoughts and the only one who gets to decide how you feel.
    • Use protective crystals and gemstones such as Obsidian, Onyx, Black Tourmaline, Hematite, and Shungite.
    • Let the power of cleansing water purify your mind, body, and spirit.
    • Visualize a healing light surrounding you and protecting your auric field.
    • Do breathing exercises to calm your mind, let go of stress, and ground yourself to the present moment.
    • Take social media breaks whenever it feels as though social media is depleting or negatively affecting your energy.
    • Set loving boundaries that serve your total well-being.

    In what situations do you feel most in need of energy protection? And what practices have you used to protect your energy? Share your favorite practices in the comment box below!

    And for more empowering self-love tips, be sure to connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest!

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    Affirmations,  Self Love

    35 Calming Affirmations to Release Your Worries

    In this post, discover 35 calming affirmations to help you cultivate a sense of serenity and deep inner peace, no matter what’s going on in your external world.

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    Pin this for later! 35 Calming Affirmations to Release Your Worries

    Updated December 3rd, 2021

    Inhale Peace, Exhale Worry

    How do you speak to yourself when you feel worried or anxious? What about when you’re feeling uneasy about something that’s happened in the past or may happen in the future? How do you respond to uncertainty and doubt?

    Where does your mind go when everything in your external world begins to feel messy, scattered, and out of control?

    In tense and anxious moments, it’s easy to get lost in your own troublesome thoughts. One negative thought leads to another, which leads to another, sending you down a rabbit hole of persistent worries and fear. Often, your brain does this to protect itself. Maybe you don’t want to get your hopes up too much, and you want to protect your heart in case things don’t work out the way you hope.

    If you’ve ever felt this way before, know that it’s okay. Instead of criticizing yourself for having these thoughts, breathe love and compassion into your worries and fears.

    And know this:

    You are in control of your thoughts. You are the only one who can determine how you get to feel in every moment. There is nothing outside of you that can bring you the peace and serenity you’ve been looking for. Why? Because deep inner peace already exists within. It’s always there, even when you don’t see it. It isn’t about finding peace; it’s about releasing anything that obscures the peace, love, and tranquility that you have access to in every moment of every day.

    It’s okay to feel anxious sometimes. Just know that you have the power to both acknowledge your worries and fears while still rising above anything that doesn’t serve or support your highest good.

    Below, you’ll find 35 calming affirmations to help you in moments of worry, anxiety, and fear. These calming affirmations are designed to help you take back your power from anything that’s been weighing you down. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, let these calming affirmations soothe your spirit and bring you deep inner peace. Whenever you notice your brain straying to worrying and anxious thoughts, use these affirmations to gently bring you back to the present moment and help you cultivate a sense of serenity, stability, and strength.

    And for some tips on how to get the most out of using affirmations in your daily life, be sure to check out my post, How to Use Affirmations (So They Actually Work).

    Calming Affirmations

    • I inhale love and exhale fear.
    • I choose peace over worry.
    • I release doubt and welcome faith.
    • I choose courage over fear and peace over perfection.
    • In this moment, I have everything I need.
    • My heart is grateful, and my mind is at peace.
    • I am calm, peaceful, and patient.
    • I radiate calm, peace, and serenity.
    • All is well.
    • In this moment, I am exactly where I am meant to be.
    • All my needs are always met.
    • My strength is greater than any struggle.
    • I am always loved, guided, and supported.
    • I am not my thoughts.
    • I am not my fears.
    • I am so much stronger than I realize.
    • I can do hard things.
    • When I feel overwhelmed, I am allowed to step back and breathe.
    • There is no rush.
    • I have time to complete everything I need to do today.
    • There is beauty to be found in slowing down.
    • I take care of the future by taking care of the present moment.
    • I trust that the Universe gives me what I need at exactly the right time.
    • I release my worries and allow myself to find peace in life’s quiet moments.
    • I know deep inner peace.
    • Deep inner peace is my natural state.
    • I surrender my worries and fears to the Universe.
    • I am worthy of my own love.
    • I am so loved in each and every moment.
    • I choose love.
    • Love flows to and through me in all moments.
    • I give myself the love and compassion I deserve.
    • I breathe love into my criticisms, judgments, and fears.
    • When I’m unsure where to go next, I follow the path that feels most like love.
    • In love, I am whole.
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    For more uplifting affirmations and inspiring messages, be sure to connect with me on Instagram, where I post daily affirmation stories every morning. And don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest, where I’m pinning positive affirmations and empowering quotes every single day.

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