Journal
5 Tips for Setting Boundaries Without Having An Anxiety Attack or Throwing Up
It’s easy to see why boundaries have become a trendy topic during the pandemic: Many of us are spending A LOT of time at home with roommates and family members, trying to find the elusive balance between togetherness and alone time.
If you feel like your boundaries are starting to get a little threadbare, or if you are feeling exhausted and run-down from not knowing how to set boundaries in a way that feels good, I thought I’d share a few tips to help you though the end of this pandemic (and hopefully beyond):
Setting Boundaries & Listening to the Wisdom of Your Body with Phuong Thao Nguyen Macleod
This week’s interview is with embodiment coach and boundaries expert, Phuong Thao Nguyen Macleod.
Phuong Thao helps women of color reconnect with themselves, set healthy boundaries and honor the wisdom of their bodies.
She uses a mind-body approach to help women who have experienced personal or systemic trauma reconnect with their worthiness, wholeness and aliveness.
How to Stop Blocking Your Own Power
I don’t know about you but as we start seeing a glimmer of light at the end of this pandemic, I’m finding it harder and harder to just casually ride the Carona Coaster of emotional ups and downs. I WANT THIS SHIT TO BE OVER. Like yesterday.
As we marked one year of pandemic life, I started thinking about the ways the past year has left many of us feeling powerless. And how, when that sense of powerlessness is left unchecked, it has a way of creeping inward and transforming into hopelessness and depression.
Here’s an example from my life:
Reclaiming Pleasure with Sexual Empowerment Coach Ann Nguyen
We’re back with another video interview! This week I got to sit down with sexual empowerment coach Ann Nguyen. Ann’s work is centered on changing the way women relate to their pleasure and rewriting the narrative of sexuality for modern times.
I am a huge fan of Ann’s work and was thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with her about her work helping women reclaim (sexual and non-sexual) pleasure as part of a self-love journey.
Fresh Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
Here’s a reminder for anyone who needs it: there are many ways to celebrate love. Call the people that you love most and tell them. Do a Valentine’s Day craft project with your kids. Spend some extra time cuddling your pets. FaceTime your best friend and feel how grateful you are to have them in your life.
And of course, don’t forget to show yourself love! This form of love can be the hardest to lean into, and devoting part (or all) of the day to self-love rituals might feel kind of awkward at first. So here are a few ideas to get you started:
We’re Doing a Free Online Workshop to Help You Live Big!
What’s up, Lionesse Babes! We’ve got big news for you this week: We’re doing an online workshop!
The Live Fierce series will be a 4-week workshop focused on giving you the tools you need to live big. Each week you’ll join a video call focused on a different topic designed to help you:
Uplevel your self-care game (we’re going WAY beyond pedicures and bubble baths) to help you build a solid foundation for being your best self out in the world
Deal with the negative self talk that takes up space in your head like a troop of angry baboons
Take actual steps to go after that job/partner/raise/new apartment/book deal you’ve been dreaming of
Glow with self-confidence
Fall in love with your beautiful-ass self
Overcoming Internalized Racism & Celebrating Yourself
Hello! I hope you’re well and having a joyful Juneteenth!
I am taking the day today to celebrate simply being Black. Which is something I was never taught to celebrate. As a biracial kid growing up in a white family in a rural midwestern town in the 80s, having brown skin was a constant cause of confusion and sadness. My mom is blond with pale white skin. I was forever longing for her long, straight hair and blue eyes.
There were zero kids of color at my school. Think about that for a minute. No Asian kids. No Latinx kids. No Black kids. Just me.
With my curls that my mom didn’t know how to tame. And my “weird” Nigerian name. And my brown skin.
Self-Care as an Act of Rebellion
I’ve always thought that consistent self-care is an act of rebellion in a society that tells women they need to give and nurture until they collapse. But now more than ever, self-care feels like a meaningful act. A political act. A statement that you are worth caring for. And an essential part of staying mentally and physically healthy enough to stay active and do the work that needs doing.
Because holy shit is there a lot of work that needs doing. We’ve got a racist president to eject from the White House. Systematic racism that we must continue to dismantle. Introspection to do on our role in the current status quo and how to move forward differently.
We can’t afford to burn out. We can’t afford to let ourselves become numb and apathetic. We have to be proactive in taking extra good care of ourselves so that we have the energy to keep putting one foot in front of the other on the path to justice and equality.
In that spirit, here’s our guide to taking care of yourself--body, mind and spirit--in these stressful times.
