Soul Care: Holistically Caring For Ourselves-physically, Emotionally, Mentally, and Spiritually
A couple of weeks ago, I went tent camping with my family. This was our first time to camp all together, beyond some backyard adventures, and felt like a significant yes to leave comforts and sleep outdoors especially with still having one pretty young child.
The experience proved to be an adventure with one night holding rain all night long, and the second night being filled with high winds and dropping temperatures, leaving me about ready to pack up our car. Needless to say, neither night held a restful sleep, yet there was something deeper taking place.
Camping allowed us to have a weekend in Western, North Carolina, which is an especially meaningful place for our family. It meant for the incredible beauty of Fall leaves, mountain peaks, and a lake that we have traveled to over and over again, bringing up memories of time with family and our children as babies and toddlers as well as meaning Spiritually. We were also able to go apple picking, which is one of my most favorite things, and I witnessed by children delight in the adventure as evidenced by my youngest asking if we were going to stay camping for 20 years!! Amidst some discomforts and lack of sleep, there were good things happening on a soul level.
For a long time now I have been writing and sharing about self-care of a deeper sort. As nice as manicures, massages, and hair highlights are, there is a deeper part of us that longs for and needs nurturing. This extends beyond caring for our physical bodies, though that’s important too. It’s about attunement and nurturing of our whole selves–body, emotions, mind, and spirit.
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to delve deep into this topic in preparation for a workshop with our local Mothers of Preschoolers group. My hope for them and for you is to know that you are worthy of nurturing on a deep level.
What is Soul Care?
Soul care is attunement to the whole self-physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It’s about caring for ourselves holistically with tenderness and nurturing. When we practice soul care, we are more in a position to grow into who we are created to be. This benefits us and other people. It’s not just for the sake of ourselves in a selfish way, it’s ultimately to help us to be nurtured and filled up, so that we can care compassionately for others. In this way, it’s kind of an invitation to authenticity and nurturing of ourselves on a deeper level.
Soul Care & Spirituality
Sue Monk Kidd in her book “When the Heart Waits” introduced me to Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th century Benedictine theologian, who writes about the greening power of God and how both in nature and in the soul, there is a movement towards life and abundance like we see in the springtime.
While there is this greening power and movement, we also have a responsibility, a call, and an invitation to care for and nurture the soul. One way we can do this is by noticing and paying attention to what is life-giving to us. Often this is most effective when we think through the lens of small things, accessible things, inexpensive things, so that we can access and enjoy what is life-giving often, even on a daily basis.
Soul Care & Slowing Down
It seems that an important aspect of soul care is that of slowing down and pausing, so that you can actually notice and name how you are doing and what you need. Many of our days are a flurry of activity--of working and caretaking, of task after task, responsibility after responsibility.
I love the idea of not abandoning tasks, work, and responsibilities, but of integrating and grafting in some nurturing of the soul along the way. This may look like stopping and taking a break, a cup of tea, a moment for prayer and gratitude, and taking a walk. This may look like making sure you can breathe, that you notice how your body is doing and whether you might need something to eat, a glass of water, or permission to lay down. This may look like taking a moment to actually see the beauty of the season around you and to press into a larger story of hope. Slowing down and pausing can be a pathway towards this kind of soul nurturing.
For Reflection
What do I need each day physically?
What do I need each day emotionally?
What do I need each day mentally?
What do I need each day spiritually?
How can I claim space for these things, even in small doses, on a daily basis?
Elizabeth B. Burton is a licensed professional counselor and life coach with Burton Counseling, PLLC. Elizabeth lives just outside of Chattanooga, TN.; you can learn about Elizabeth here and about services provided here. Elizabeth also provides support to individuals and groups through an online course on Coping with Anxiety & Stress and through providing workshops and speaking opportunities. Elizabeth communicates about mental health and well-being through both the Narrating Hope newsletter and podcast as well as through her writing. Elizabeth would love to connect with you and welcomes you to sign up for the newsletter, listen in to the podcast, reach out about working together, and connect on social media.