Sherry

What is Self-Care?

I planned on writing this blog last week. At that point it was going to be a simple “10 Ways I Self-Care” type blog, but then I woke up this morning needing a little extra care myself. I woke up this morning remembering a dream that seemed to package everything I’ve been focusing away from for a while now. It was a Hey-You-really-need-to-face-things type of dream. So, I woke up facing them and, well, I’m a little low. And that is okay. Because seeing that I don’t feel right is the very first step in self care.

So, what is self-care, anyway? It is remembering that you matter. It is allowing yourself to actually see you and know that you are the most important person on your to-do list. Because if you don’t feel okay, it is extremely difficult to help those around you feel good.

Self-care is allowing yourself to not only know when you don’t feel okay, but it is you allowing yourself to feel that way and then caring for yourself just as you would any other loved one. Allowing yourself time on the couch under a blanket. Taking a mental-health day. Eating that occasional bowl of ice cream.

Picture yourself the last time you lost a relationship or had a very nasty flu. You allowed yourself to self-care during that time. You allowed yourself to feel the feelings or feel the sickness…mainly because those two situations are too painful to fight off, so you just rolled with that punch until you could push yourself back to your daily routine.

That daily routine that you rushed back to is the main reason so many of us are lacking in the self-care area…lacking in the happiness area.

If we are not sobbing or sneezing, we are expected to be at work, clean the house, care for the kids, take care of other family members, make sure everyone around us, except us, is happy. We think we need an excuse to put ourselves first…and we are exhausted.

So how do we self care anyway? Based on this blog post so far, you may think I’m suggesting curling on the couch with a bowl of ice cream at every upset. While you’re catching on…that is not exactly what I mean, as that would not be good for us physically. We self-care according to what we need. So I want you to ask yourself the following questions each day…

First, ask yourself how you are feeling that day. And really listen to yourself. If something is bothering you, take a moment to reflect on why. If life is just too much in that moment, it’s okay to sit with that. It’s okay to feel whatever emotion you have. Hold space for yourself the same way you would for someone else. Process it. Once you process, or if you didn’t have anything to process and started the day good, ask yourself the next question…

What can I do for myself today, whether it be 10 minutes or longer (if time allows), that will bring a smile to my face. Or what can I do for myself that I feel I need. Honestly it is that simple. And to clarify, an ice cream on occasion can be perfect. Just remember that self-care is also caring for our bodies long term, so also try going for walks, drinking teas, sitting in nature, reading a book etc.

This is how that process looked for me today. Note, that I didn’t have to ask myself how I was feeling, because it was one of those days where clearly I knew I needed some extra care. Today is an admin day for me in my business. But because I woke up not feeling so good and having everything come at me last night, I did only what needed to be done. I then asked myself what I needed today. I started under a blanket with a cup of coffee.

As I drank the coffee, I allowed myself to feel what I needed to feel in order to process “life”. By the end of the coffee, I was very inspired to write this post for you. No pun intended, but that cup of coffee helped to refill my cup, and now here I am hopefully helping you to fill yours. Am I back up to my normal spirits at this moment? No. But I am higher than I was this morning. I am also confident that I will be better either today or in a few days, because I will continually ask myself what I need in each moment until I get there. And then I will continue doing small acts of self-care every day after, as I have been doing the past five or so years of being on my self-love journey.

Practice checking in with yourself and allowing yourself to care for you however you need. Remember that it is okay to take care of you first, it truly does help you care for others in a better and more present way.

I have a video linked below infused with Reiki. Use that 35-minute-distance session as some self-care time for you. It is intended to help balance out your emotions and help you to take more steps of self care going forward.

If you find yourself knowing you need to take steps, but not being motivated to do so, I have helped many people like you take those small steps forward into a new and beautiful life. You can schedule with me HERE to get your first step forward if you would like. All coaching is done virtually…so I’m local to you.

Best Vibes Always!

Sick?

Something always seems to be going around, especially in these winter months! Right now, norovirus (the stomach flu) seems to be on the rise, so I figured I would help you out with a Reiki video! The video is intended to help colds and all types of flu.

We can’t promise anything with Reiki, so at a minimum, I’m hoping this lofi-music video will give you something to chill-out to while you’re in bed. The intention behind it is to help you get cozy, take a nap, and get closer to feeling better quicker.

Learn Reiki

If you’re sick, give it a watch and let me know how it does for you!

Reiki to Reduce Anxiety

Anxiety is a common reason people come to see me for Reiki and there is a reason for that…it helps! That’s not to say anyone should bypass medical care for anxiety, as Reiki is complimentary. Reiki’s ultimate benefit is stress reduction with a very deep calm; it makes sense that it would help to reduce those feelings with anxiety. It has also helped to calm and quiet the ongoing mind-chatter that sometimes comes with anxiety.

Of course, with all energy work, results are not guaranteed. Reiki works by reducing your stress and then allowing your body to heal in whichever way is best for you. If you suffer from anxiety and medicine alone has not been able to help, give Reiki a try!

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I have created this full 1-hour session of Reiki to help you with anxiety. You can use it during an episode or at any time to try and balance your energy to help prevent an episode. Allow approximately five minutes for the energy of the video to begin bringing calm to your body. If your anxiety is caused from deep emotional scars, click the link above to schedule a one-on-one so I can work deeper and more individually on your energy.

Using Reiki for Empowerment

I will often have Reiki clients that return and let me know how they were able to speak up and say what they needed to say after their Reiki treatment. On a more recent session, a client returned to let me know that she had found the courage to tell everyone in her life things she had been holding back for years! Reiki is such an amazing healing tool.

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train with me

I have created a double-layered, full session of Reiki with the intention that whoever watches will receive healing for their highest good as well as to become more empowered. This may make you drowsy, so I personally prefer to watch these as I drift off to sleep for an afternoon nap or before bed at night. Either way, this is for you! Thank you for subscribing to my blog!

Rise Anew, LLC Wyandotte MI 48192

Finding Motivation…Again

Falling out of routine is something we all experience at some point in our lives. It can be tough to get back on track, but definitely not impossible. The truth is, we all have the power to motivate ourselves and regain that momentum…even if this is our tenth or more time getting back to (or trying to even get to) our preferred routine. In this post, I’m going to share the 8 ways that I personally motivate myself after falling out of routine.

Stepping into my ego:

Ego may be a negative word these days, but the fact is that we all have one. Some, larger than others, but regardless, an ego is within each of us. While I do my best not to live in mine on a regular basis, I do pull from it now and again by reminding myself of my accomplishments and how far I’ve come. I am capable of so much more than day-to-day me would like to acknowledge. This is where I allow my ego to step in and get things moving. Call it “Being my own cheerleader”, if you will.

Drinking extra water:

Staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining energy levels and focus. In fact, one of the things to noticeably drop when we are even the slightest dehydrated is energy. As we get busy, it’s very easy to forget water. The correct amount of water that we should all drink is approx. 1 ounce per 2 pounds of body weight. I certainly notice a difference the same day I increase my water intake to the appropriate amount.

Eating healthy foods:

A healthy diet is essential for maintaining energy levels and focus. Cutting out sugar and increasing nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean plant based proteins can do wonders for energy. Depending on how far I fall off the “healthy train”, I may simply start by making sure I throw in a full salad as a meal once per day. Salads are a great way to get at least five servings of fresh veggies in in a day. And then I continue to increase from there.

Watching inspiring videos:

Sometimes, all it takes to get motivated is a little bit of inspiration. Based on what I’m trying to kick back up, I’ll start my morning with those specific YouTube videos. If it’s nutrition that I have slipped away from, I’ll watch healthy recipe or food prep videos in the morning to get me in the healthy mood. When I’m falling behind on work, I’ll watch business or marketing tips (Que the blog!!). Either way, whatever I’m lacking, I know that if I find an easy way to bring it into my day, I’ll be more likely to bring it to actuality in my life.

Reminding myself why I need to get going again:

I take a moment to remind myself of the reasons why I started my routine in the first place. Whether it’s to improve my health, grow my business, or achieve a personal goal, remembering why is a powerful motivator.

Marking tasks in my schedule:

One of the best ways to not just stay motivated, but to actually accomplish things is to break my goals down into small, manageable tasks…and mark them down so I don’t forget. The minute my life starts to feel like it’s more than I can handle and I realize I’m falling behind on certain things, I will grab a daily calendar and start filling in my days with what needs to get done, how, and when. This allows me to gain control when life get’s to big. Noting also that if I need a break, I will schedule that in the calendar as well.

Starting over by doing things for 10 minutes and then increasing the length of time as I go:

Sometimes, starting small is the key to success. As stated earlier, I do this with nutrition, starting with a salad meal and increasing from there. I very often do this with exercise, as that is my hardest thing to jump back to. I set a goal of walking or doing yoga or Zumba for just 10 minutes and then gradually increase the length of time. This is a great way to ease myself back into my routine.

Finally, doing self-Reiki:

Reiki is a form of energy healing that helps me relax and refocus. As a practitioner, I have 24-hour access to this amazing energy technique, and trust me, I use it! This is by far my strongest tool in my toolkit of tips to re-motivate. It’s a great way to clear my mind and reduce stress, which can be a major barrier to focus and motivation. I take a few minutes each day and at least a full 20 minutes twice per week to practice self-Reiki. My body & mood are quick to remind me when I lag here. You can also receive the amazing benefits by viewing my Youtube videos like the one below, setting an appointment or even learning Reiki level 1 – Self Heal. Learning Reiki Level 1 is a simple 1-day course (virtual or in person), and it’s very easy to learn.

It is important to remember that falling out of routine is a normal part of life, and it’s never too late to get back on track. These 8 ways have helped me regain my motivation and momentum on many occasions. The key is to stay positive, be patient with yourself, and keep pushing forward. Remember, progress is not always a straight line, it’s ok to have setbacks, it’s how we learn and grow. And always remind yourself that you got this!

Energize with Reiki

A very common benefit I see among my clients is the “oomph” effect of Reiki. The get-up-and-go feeling that many people often feel depleted of because of current life losses, demands or situations.

It’s usually when they walk into the second visit that I hear all about how they were able to get so much more done than they have in a long time. In some instances it is the ability to move off the couch and begin living life again.

After that second appointment many of my clients will literally feel lighter as I begin pulling stagnant energy (accumulated stress and old emotions) from their bodies. And from there, it only gets better for them.

Want to know how Reiki could work for you? Click the link below to schedule a distance or Wyandotte MI in-person session and experience the benefits of a one-on-one, specific-to-you Reiki treatment!

schedule a 1-on-1 appointment

I have also created this one-hour energy video that you can use to boost your energy for certain projects or work that you need to get done. Just know that Reiki is extremely calming. Even though I have upbeat music in the video to help you “go”, you may still fall asleep from that calming effect before waking up energized. Try it out and let me know in this blogpost or in the video comments how it worked for you!

Create Change in 2023

This year is going to be amazing! Just by you being here, I know that you are taking steps towards a better you. Change doesn’t happen with a New Year’s Resolution, “all-in” attituded. Change happens with a “what new step can I take daily” attitude that helps to create new habits.

Book a one-on-one with me

Reiki is an energy healing technique that primarily allows your body and it’s energy to calm. And with calm and less stress, comes a healthier you that makes healthier decisions.

Watch the video below to clear any residual negative energy and receive a full hour of Reiki intended to help you create better habits moving forward. For extra benefit, come back to this video daily until you feel it is fully working for you!

Healing from the Holidays

Holidays tend to be rough on many of us. For some it’s finances. For others it’s having to spend time with people that know how to get under their skin. And then for some it’s not being able to see those we once loved. Whatever it is that may have given you grief this holiday season, I’d like to help get you back to feeling a little better.

Energy is not limited by time or space. It is all around us and we are 99% energy ourselves. Therefore, Reiki can easily be sent through time and distance.

If you’re interested in receiving some of this divine life force energy that is Reiki, simply click below.

I’ll see you tomorrow!

Subscribe for more! You can also book a book a 1-on-1 session with me in Wyandotte MI or Virtual HERE!

Does Reiki Help with Pain?

Pain. That is a one-word-sentence, but for anyone that experiences pain on a regular basis, that one-word-sentence says it all. It is debilitating, and when it is chronic, we simply have to learn to live with it and struggle through our day, eventually learning to put on a mask to make everyone around us comfortable.

There are many things in modern medicine that can cure pain such as surgery and medicines, but when neither of those work, many people are left feeling hopeless. But before giving up, there are a number of alternative therapies that may help reduce and sometimes even fully remove the pain. One of those therapies is Reiki. Although Reiki is often dismissed without even being tried because how could it possibly work when many times the practitioner doesn’t even touch you?

To answer that question, we first need to understand both what causes chronic pain and how, exactly, Reiki works.

WHAT CAUSES CHRONIC PAIN & ILLNESS?

Many times, many of our body’s ailments, whether pain-related or not, begin with stress. According to an article in The National Library of Medicine, “chronic stress has a significant effect on the immune system that ultimately manifest[s] [as] an illness.” This article lists many chronic illnesses related to stress from asthma to diabetes to tumors and more. The link is attached; however, I feel that by this point, many of us already know that the stress of our jobs and lives can lead to headaches, stomach pains, back pains and so much more. We know this but have a hard time removing the stressors because we feel stuck in the life we set up for ourselves.

So what do we do to prevent the accumulation of stress when we feel there is no way out of our stress-causing life? We better prepare our body to handle the stress!

I’m not going to lie. The best way to deal with stress is to actually remove the stressor. But that takes wanting to make a change and then planning the steps for change and then taking those life-steps. This is, of course very doable; however if you are not there yet or are not sure you ever will be, then at a minimum, it’s time to start working on how you can help your body while in your stressful environment. It’s time now to tell you how Reiki works.

HOW DOES REIKI ACTUALLY WORK?

Reiki is an energy modality similar to acupuncture but without the needles. Reiki works by removing negative energies from our bodies. To explain what that means a little further, take a moment to remember the last time you were really angry or sad. Remember how your body felt during that time. That was negative energy, and while we eventually move forward from those feelings, residual negative energy stays within our energy body. During our whole life we have accumulated these negative emotions. And as we continue through our stressful life either caused by work, pain, or relationships, these negative energies compound and continue to create stress and compounded stress, which leads to pain and/or illness. With Reiki, I as a Reiki Master can go within your energy body and pull out what has accumulated, clearing and rebalancing your energy body to what it is supposed to be.

BUT DOES REIKI REMOVE THE PAIN?

I’m going to start to answer this question with the fact that I personally, even after I began working with Reiki energy early on, never thought it could remove pain. But I have been proven wrong time and again as I watch Reiki’s abilities simply amaze me with each new client I get. I had a client with chronic life-long migraines who had not experienced migraines in “forever” after our third session. I had a client with chronic knee pain who came into my studio on her third treatment day dancing, saying that her years-long knee pain caused by a prior surgery was completely gone. I mention these two clients because they came in for stress reduction, we did not even intend to stop their pain. This is going to lead me to my next statement.

No Reiki practitioner, no matter what they “say”, can guarantee certain results. This is because Reiki simply goes in and removes the stress. From that point it is up to your body to heal however it chooses. Remove the underlying cause for whatever is ailing you and your body can begin to return to it’s natural, balanced state…whatever that means for you. For many, including many more than the two I listed, I have seen pain relief happen.

IN SUMMARY

Yes, Reiki can help with pain, I have seen it too many times to say that it doesn’t. However, what I like to tell my clients (because no one can guarantee what Reiki will do beyond stress reduction) is that at a minimum, Reiki will reduce your stress which can greatly help you deal with your illness or pain a little better. Reiki can only benefit you, give it a try and see how it works for you.

The Loneliness Can Get Better

Loneliness after divorce can be one of the most painful things you can go through. You have spent a large part of your life having someone to lean on, someone that you saw every time you entered your home, and someone to cuddle under the covers with. Suddenly, there is no one. There is only an empty couch to lean on, an empty home to enter, and an empty, cold bed to try and fall asleep in. And when you wake up in the morning, that emptiness repeats itself all over again.

There is a way for the loneliness to get better though. A way to recognize that you are not alone. Even right now, as you read this blog post…you are not alone. Stick with me as I explain.

Hello, and welcome to my blog. My name is Sherry. I have been where you are. Even more, at the time I had to walk away from my marriage, I was told by my therapist that I was codependent. If you are not familiar with what that is, it is an emotional condition in which I had looked outward from myself my entire life for validation. I needed someone in my life to basically validate that I was worthy of anything. A codependent fears being alone, because alone, they are unable to feel loved. So, wherever you are on this path. Know that I, someone who literally needed a partner in their life, was able to walk away and learn to be okay on my own. In fact, I learned to thrive. And so can you.

One thing to grasp is that “we” count. As individuals, we count as someone extremely important in our own lives. Hollywood, Disney, and the fantasy of Happily Ever After have conditioned us to think we can only be “happy” when we find our person. In this blog, I would like to convince you that you can be that person. You can be your happily ever after. This does not mean you have to be alone forever. It simply means that once you are everything to yourself, you can feel fulfilled without someone. Your life can be amazing on your own. And later, when someone does come into your life, that person will stand by your side as someone wonderful…someone you fully enjoy…someone you fully love in addition to you, but most importantly, someone who adds to your happiness rather than someone who makes (with the ability to break) your happiness.

The trick to doing this after divorce is to put the focus back on to you. There are many ways to do this. This blog is going to cover one process that is my personal favorite. In fact, I continue to use this even today. At the end of this blog, I will provide you with a link to access five more tips for free, but for now, let’s focus on how to put your focus back onto you.

Now, this is assuming you have already cleared out the items that remind you of your ex. Memorabilia should be removed from your house. Contact should be cut off unless there are children involved. Even in a peaceful break-up where you would like to remain friends, contact should stop for a while so you can heal. Trust me, it gets you where you want to be so much faster. So, assuming you have taken those steps, let’s talk about putting you first.

It’s really a process of honoring yourself. And I’m going to list out three different ways you can do this:

If you were with someone, what would you want them to do for you today to make you feel loved?

Perhaps you love when a person gets you flowers or little trinkets. Or maybe the best thing about being with your person is snuggling next to a fire, watching a movie, eating popcorn. Maybe your favorite thing is just having someone to unload your day to. In any of these situations, you are able to be there for yourself. It may be uncomfortable at first, because you like to have these things done for you. But being everything to yourself is exactly that…everything. And after you are fully there for yourself a few times, it gets a little more comfortable and eventually it will be something you look forward to. Believe it or not, that amazing self that you share with others can totally be shared with you. So here is how the above items would present in your current life. If it’s flowers you love, go to the store or online and pick out a bouquet that makes you smile, purchase them for yourself and tell yourself how much you deserve them and appreciate what you have done for you. Movie and popcorn? Sure, perhaps you’ve been lost in movies on the couch for a month or so and it is not appealing, because it is your coping mechanism. Get up and shake yourself off. This movie night is about you, celebrating you, and treating yourself to a full-on “movie-night”. Clean up the area, get your favorite blanket and Pj’s, pop some popcorn, light the fire and pick a movie you are excited to watch.

Enjoy this time with you!! About that daily unloading. You can start a blog and just pop into it every day after work. Unload, laugh, share. Don’t want to share? Journaling is amazing. Not only can you chat about your day, but you can also unload the heaviness that is currently residing in you. Doing things like this…being there for you in the way you want someone else to be…shows you that you are someone to yourself, you can be there for you even more-so than someone else.

Simply ask yourself what will make you happy.

This one is my absolute favorite. Every. Single. Day. The moment you wake up, ask yourself what can you do today that will make you happy. It doesn’t have to be big; it can be a simple fifteen minute coffee by the window or whatever else may spark joy for 10 or more minutes a day. It is a simple daily reminder that you deserve to be happy. Even though you may not be happy right now, a small reminder every day will begin to set a pattern of finding happiness every day. You deserve that.

When you were with your person, how did you show love?

What did you do to show them that you loved them? Words of encouragement? Picking up the house? Taking them to their favorite place? Touching them? Making a special meal? You may be at a place now where you feel like you have no one to give your love to. That is so very far from the truth. You need that love that you used to give so freely to the other person. You need words of encouragement. Tell yourself how amazing you are…even if you don’t feel it, say it. You need to feel cared for, so whatever it is you do to show someone you love them, do that for you. You deserve to feel loved. You deserve to be happy…even now…especially now.

Wonderful person, you are not alone. You have you. When you walk into a room filled with your family or friends that love you, are they not happy to see you and spend time with you? That is because you, my friend, are special and are wonderful to be around. Share that amazing part of you with yourself. When you take time to actually “be” with you, it is a love like no other. It is empowering and fulfilling all in one. It may take a little time to fully embrace the concept I have laid out in this blog. One small step at a time and suddenly, one day, you will not even notice that you are no longer lonely.

Want more tips on getting through this transition? Click HERE or the image below.

You can also schedule an appointment with me at 734-224-3884 and/or CLICK HERE to sign up for my monthly newsletter which will include links to all my recent blogs.

Sending love,

Sherry