Treat Yourself

Today, the focus is on coming near grief and finding healing. The suggestion is to do something that brings joy, like treating yourself to something special or meeting someone for coffee. It's acknowledged that it may be difficult for some people to indulge in self-care after losing a loved one, but there is no judgment. The action for today is a box breathing exercise to help with overwhelm or sleep issues. The exercise involves inhaling, holding, exhaling, and holding again. After that, there is a suggestion to listen to a tune called Sweet Treats and reflect on how it can motivate and inspire. Today, you can come near grief and move toward healing. Set an intention to treat yourself to something today that might lift your spirits, even if it is just for a moment. This could be a sweet treat, a new plant, flowers, or ask someone to meet you for coffee or tea. Notice how easily you are able to think of a treat for yourself. Is this something that you feel like doing? Notice what it feels like to think about indulging in a positive activity. Just notice. Emotions. How does it feel to consider doing something special for yourself? Some individuals have talked about how difficult it is to do something special for themselves after the loss of a loved one. Sometimes the living are left with guilt for still being here while their loved one can no longer indulge. Remember, there is no judgment in where you are at this time. These questions are meant to support and guide you. They are not meant to make you feel like you should be or feel anything else other than what you feel in this moment. The action for today is I am going to guide you in a box breathing exercise. This can be really helpful when you're feeling overwhelmed or even if you're having trouble sleeping at night. First I want you to take a moment and put your feet firmly on the ground and notice how it supports you. For the box breathing exercise, I'm going to have you inhale for four counts, hold for three counts, and then exhale for four counts and hold for another three counts. And then we'll repeat it. Put one hand on your belly and when you breathe in, I want you to feel your belly rise beneath your hand. And on your exhales, I want you to deliberately try to have slow and controlled exhales. Let's start. Take a deep breath in, two, three, four, hold, two, three, out, two, three, four, hold, two, three, in, two, three, four, hold, two, three, out, two, three, four, hold, two, three, in, two, three, four, hold, two, three, out, two, three, four, hold, two, three. Feel your feet back on the ground again. Notice the firmness, let it support you in this moment, reflect. Listen to this tune called Sweet Treats and reflect how it can motivate you today. This is a melody from PurplePlanet.com and I'm able to directly upload it into the podcast. So you don't need to go to the bottom of the page. Just take 45 to 50 seconds and listen to this tune. Notice where you feel it in your body. How can this inspire and motivate you today? Let's start. Take a deep breath in, two, three, four, hold, two, three, four, hold, two, three, out, two, three, in, two, three, four, hold, two, three, out, two, three, in, two, three, in, two, three, four, hold, two, three, out, two, three, in, two, three, in, two, three, in, two, three, in, two, three, in, two, three, in, two, three, in, two, three, in, two, three,