Note to self- Honor Your Right to Protect Your Spirit

 

Your first and foremost job is to take care of you. Everything else comes second.

 - D. Simone

Our spirit is the deepest, truest part of us. It's the seat of our emotions, our inner light, our sense of self. When our spirit feels seen, valued and nurtured, we walk with confidence and strength. But when our spirit is continually battered or bruised, we can lose touch with who we are. That's why it's so important to honor your right to protect your spirit.

What does it mean to protect your spirit? It means being aware of people and situations that are toxic or draining and limiting your exposure to them. It means speaking up when a boundary has been crossed, whether that's a hurtful remark or a betrayal of trust. Protecting your spirit means creating space in your life for activities that spark joy, inspire you, and make you feel whole.

Honoring your right to protect your spirit may require making difficult but necessary changes:

• Ending toxic relationships, even if they are longstanding ones. Consider if the good still outweighs the soul-crushing aspects.
• Reducing time with people who leave you feeling diminished. Don't continue subjecting yourself to their energy-draining ways.
• Letting go of resentments and anger that bind your spirit to past hurts. Forgiveness can be for you, not them.
• Creating healthy boundaries with work, family and friends. Know your limits and when to say no.
• Making self-care a priority, not a luxury. Do what nurtures your spirit daily.

Protecting your spirit is not about ego or selfishness. It is about self-preservation of your inner light and peace. No one else can define your worth or dictate how you should be treated. Honor what your spirit needs to thrive.

When you consistently take action to protect the sanctity of your spirit, you will attract more love and positivity into your life. You will feel confident, empowered and resilient. 

 Shine on.

Currently listening to Shalamar-There It Is

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Note to Self- Practicing Detachment

 

It’s likely we’ve all been on the receiving end of a hurtful remark at some point in our lives. Maybe it was a careless comment from a friend or family member, or perhaps something more purposefully cruel from someone we don’t know well. Whatever the case, in the moment these words can cut deep and make us feel small, embarrassed, or ashamed.

When confronted with hurtful remarks, it’s natural to want to react or try to defend yourself. But fighting back often escalates the situation. There is a different approach you can take to help diffuse the pain of the moment and prevent lingering hurt - practicing detachment.

What is detachment? It means separating your emotions from the offending words or actions of another person. Detachment allows you to step back and view the remarks more objectively, without taking them so personally. It’s understanding these comments likely have little to do with you, and much more to do with the other person.

Some ways to practice detachment when faced with hurtful remarks:

• Recognize the comments stem from the other person’s issues, wounds, or projections - not your own flaws or worth. Their words are informing you about their state of mind more than your value.
• Don’t try to argue or convince them to see your point of view. Chances are high they are speaking from an emotional reactive place, not an open-minded space.
• Don’t dwell on the remarks or exaggerate their meaning. The urge to ruminate comes from making it personal. View it as impersonal behavior happening at that moment, which you happened to witness.
• Use protective mental images such as an invisible shield around you deflecting the hurtful words before they can sink in. Or imagine yourself as a mountain - solid and unmoved by passing storms.
• Affirm your own value. Remind yourself “This comment does not define me or my worth.”

With practice, detachment allows you respond calmly in the moment, without compromising your boundaries or feeding into the dynamic. You recognize the other person’s cruelty or carelessness says far more about them than it could ever say about you. Your sense of self remains intact.

Does detachment come easy? For most of us, it requires diligence and conscious effort. But it is a invaluable skill that helps diffuse conflict and protects your spirit from toxic barbs. With time, you can learn to let the hurtful remarks of others simply bounce off the shield of your own inner light.

-me

Currently listening to  J Dilla - Beat 27 (Another Batch)

Be Careful

 In the intricate fabric of life, those who weave webs of deceit and make it a habit of speaking ill of others regularly should not be astonished when, at the end of their journey, they find themselves facing a destination far from the pearly gates. For the seeds of negativity sown in the hearts of others often become the bitter harvest that shapes one's eternal path.

-me