Oct. 2020 Meetup Recap
We started today by taking a pause to think about how we’re feeling in the moment. I encourage you to take the same pause. Our bodies might sit in a place of overwhelm and without pausing, we may not know how we truly feel in order to process what our bodies are trying to tell us.
In addition to listening to our bodies, we also need to listen to what our mind is telling us about our body. When studying self-advocacy in any form, it begins with believing in yourself and believing you are worthy.
We completed an exercise found here, where we rate our self-esteem, what supports our well-being, and thinking of a way to improve our well-being. There are several steps and it’s a great exercise for awareness!
The wheel of wellness is another way to find out where to focus your energy. If you look at each attribute, it may prompt you to see the one or two areas you feel best about and which one or two need more investment.
Once you’ve identified wants and needs, a big step of self-advocacy is realizing what you have control over and what you don’t - then taking action on the things you can control. If you want a certain certification, look into it - how much does it cost, what does it entail, how long does it take, will a present employer pay for it? Answering these questions allows you to advocate for yourself by making a plan and timeline. Some examples are tricky, like wanting a spouse or partner. You cannot take a single action and magically have a partner; however you can take actions like make a profile on a dating site (if you want), make a list of what you want in a partner and dealbreakers so you’re more confident in dating, or complete a few counseling sessions to process past trauma before going in to a relationship.
When you’ve considered the things you want/need and identified where you have control over next steps, making a plan will help ensure you continue to advocate for yourself. I encourage you to set a time like once a quarter or the start of each month to evaluate how things are going. Otherwise, we may get stuck in the “I’ll do that someday” boat. If you’re unsure about priorities, this article is a great resource: Why You Need to Put Yourself First and How to Do it.
Lastly, know your strengths and seek peace for what is right for you in this moment. Our independent journeys will all look different, and that is okay. Act on your strengths and what makes sense for you in this season, and re-evaluate when the next season arrives.
Talk to you soon, friends.