You have to take care of you — here’s how.
– KEYS SOULCARE
New year, new…soulcare? We’re gonna level with you: Self-care can feel less exciting or effective as time goes on. But getting the most out of your self-love journey can be as simple as being open to new adventures, ideas, or perspectives.
If you feel like your ritual could use a boost, try incorporating these lightworker-inspired practices to help you rise above your outdated rituals and love on yourself all year long.
1. Schedule a Boudoir Session
Ready to see yourself in a whole new light? Boudoir is a great way to play with your sensual side with the guidance of a trusted photographer like lightworker Olesha Haskett. The owner of the Oh Experience specialized in boudoir for Black women and was inspired by her journey to soulcare when she founded her business.
“After being in a relationship from 18 to 30 years old [and getting a divorce], really tapping into what I wanted took me almost three to four years,” Olesha shared with Team Soulcare. “I’m empowered now because I’m taking my body back.”
2. Double Down on Your Boundaries
Say it with us: Establishing boundaries is the secret to better relationships. Since many of us have been taught this is “aggressive” or “mean,” you might hesitate to even utter the word “boundary.” But, in reality? It’s actually the opposite.
Boundaries expert and New York Times best-selling author Nedra Glover Tawwab says boundaries allow us to maintain relationships that matter most to us by giving healthy parameters for how we engage. “Helping others does not require you to abandon yourself,” says Nedra, giving you the green light to add “no” to your vocabulary.
3. Love Your Neighbor
Community is self-care. Part of community care is recognizing our own biases and privilege so we can foster safer spaces for everyone. Lightworker and activist Kenrya Rankin helps us put this in perspective. “I’m aware of my own privilege as a cisgender heterosexual female,” says Kenyra. “There are people with more oppression on their shoulders than me. I give my money to organizations that are working to support the Black trans community, and if anyone were to ask me specifically, I’d direct them there.”
4. Move Your Body
Alicia is a huge fan of movement. She’s trained with global fitness leaders and starts her day with physical practices that energize her. As one of the pillars of soulcare, the body tells us so much about our internal world and is our bridge between our higher and earth-bound selves. For lightworker Angie Franklin, movement is a sacred act of survival. “In Kemetic yoga specifically, there’s a lot of emphases on the spine, where the nervous system predominantly lies,” shared with Team Soulcare, “Things like meditation, yoga practices, and Kemetic yoga specifically are designed to trigger your parasympathetic [system] and to give you space to slow down and really reconnect with yourself.”
5. Recite Your Affirmations
There’s one soulcare practice we can always rely on: Affirmations. (You can love on yourself even more with our new affirmation library.) This tried and true method of soulcare is Alicia’s favorite thing. With every affirmation she writes for our offerings, she makes the practice more accessible and visible to our community. You can use affirmations to speak your manifestations, release old ideas, and cultivate joy daily.
How will you be loving on yourself this year? Let us know your top three in the comments!
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