Podcast Episode 10: Permission to SLOW DOWN

In this episode of The Steward Project, I want to give you permission to SLOW DOWN.

As helpers, healers, activists, and change-makers, we are exposed to a lot of oppression and injustice in the world. And we often run towards it in order to be of service to those suffering first-hand from these injustices. But sometimes, we have to slow down, pull away, and take some time for ourselves. In this episode, I share that NO is a complete sentence and one we should use more often; that self-care is a daily practice of being attuned to what our bodies need and operating with compassion and kindness to meet that need for ourselves; and that we shouldn't wait until we get sick. It's easy to get carried away by the challenges in the world, but in order to stay sustained in this helping, healing, activist and change-making work, we must commit to self-care, which includes...slowing down.

A few things I highlight in this episode are simple reminders as we do this work and survive in this world:

NO is a complete sentence. No need to apologize or qualify it in any way.
Self-care is a daily act of being aware of what your body needs and being kind & compassionate enough with yourself to give you what you need.
We don't have to identify with our habitual patterns or residual trauma responses.
Sometimes the work we do as helpers, healers, activists, and change-makers causes us to plug into the pain and injustice in the world. This can be felt as vicarious trauma.
Emotional Regulation helps us feel our bodies and be attuned to what we need.
Kindness and compassion with ourselves to give ourselves the things we need...this is self-care.

I would love to hear the ways you take care of yourself and how it feels to slow down. Please share any insights or comments you have that support slowing down.

Resources from this episode: