Creating a strong foundation to feel good.
Building a strong internal foundation is one of the most beautiful things that you can do for yourself. When we are confident, trust ourselves and know that we have the means of dealing with life in a healthy way, we more easily achieve the things we want and remain present along the way.
When you feel good at baseline, you allow life to flow. The things that you want come more easily, and when you don’t get exactly what you want, you can trust that something better is coming. Achieving your goals is easier because you are open to creative ways of getting there and the energy you give off attracts the right people and opportunities. You can take the good with the bad and learn the lessons that life has to teach. You allow yourself to live without the added pressure of having to control every outcome.
So what does this look like and where should you start? This may look different for everyone, but the building blocks are usually the same:
Self worth & self love: This first one is all about you, numero uno. Knowing your worth and loving yourself are the first steps in building a strong internal foundation. When you value yourself and what you have to offer, you are more likely to make choices that serve you. You surround yourself with people who care about you and add value to your life. You take care of your body and put yourself and your needs first. You don’t place your worth in the hands of other people because you know that their approval means nothing so long as you like who you are.
Spirituality/Faith: This does not mean that you need to attend church every Sunday or that you have to pray before bed every night. It simply means that you trust in something bigger than yourself, or at the least — you trust in yourself. Whatever it is, having some sort of spiritual belief and practice can bring you much guidance throughout your life in both times of struggle and of peace. For me, spiritual practices leave me feeling safe, grounded, hopeful and sure. Whenever I sit in prayer or meditation regularly (I call this a higher power, for some it is God, for others it is nameless, etc.), I am always guided through intuition / signs and if nothing else, I feel lighter. Being able to turn inward and lead yourself back to peace is truly a super power, one that everyone can carry.
Movement: To build a strong mind, you can not neglect the body. Getting some type of movement every day is essential to keeping a strong mental foundation. Whether it is walking your dog, stretching or going to the gym after work, getting yourself up and going will keep you healthy and get that stagnant energy flowing (because if you know me, you know that I believe that stagnant energy is where our problems manifest). Also, please drink your water. Dehydration = decreased internal movement.
Environment: Often times people underestimate the impact that their environment has on their life and their mental resilience. If your external environment screams “I don’t care”, how do you think this reflects on your internal environment? Take out the trash, open the blinds and get a plant. Need help moving?^^ Pick a room and clean it, you’ve just hit two birds with one stone (:
Routine: You could say that I’ve saved one of the best for last because building a healthy and meaningful routine is like making a daily promise to yourself to take care of you. This doesn’t have to be an elaborate routine, it is simply a way to ensure that you are doing at least one good thing for yourself every single day. For the best results, include something from one or all of the building blocks listed above. This ensures that you are creating a strong foundation and committing to it daily. Start with what is attainable for you and add onto it.
It is easy to stay grounded when things are going well, but when things happen out of our control it can often derail us. It is important to remember that life is 50% good and 50% bad, for everyone. Things will not always go our way. What matters is how we move past that and use it to our advantage. When you are strong at baseline, life’s problems are just lessons / detours / proof that we’re alive.
& when things go your way, this foundation allows you to truly remain present and be grateful for all of the blessings around you.