How I'm Learning To Trust Myself
In this newsletter, I discuss practices I used to build self-trust and listening to my body and its needs and how going back to basics helps when times get tough.
Hi Wunderfully Well community, and welcome to a new week and a new newsletter designed to inspire you to live your healthiest and happiest life.
It has been several months since I started this weekly newsletter, and as much as I enjoy writing these each week, I want to ensure they provide you with valuable and accessible insights. With that in mind, please let me know in the comments what topics you'd like me to cover or dive into. Any and all feedback, delivered kindly, is appreciated.
In other news, I've been feeling a bit "whelmed" lately, a term I use for feeling slightly less than overwhelmed. I'm whelmed by the expectations placed on us as humans in the societies we live in, whelmed by our biological needs, such as sufficient sleep, adequate protein, and hydration, and whelmed of planning for the future and ensuring I'm making the right choices today. I've also been whelmed by the astronomical amount of information available today. It may seem contradictory to add more information to the mix after expressing these feelings, but both can be true. I want to write a newsletter to inspire people to lead healthier and happier lives, yet I acknowledge the abundance of information out there.
It's often during times of overwhelm that I lose trust in myself and how my body and heart feel. For instance, I was listening to a podcast yesterday while already feeling tense, discussing the importance of women getting at least 25 grams of fiber each day. As a result, I found myself diligently counting the grams of fiber in my diet based on my regular food choices. Noticing what I was doing, I took a step back and realized I was disregarding my body and my intuition by possibly implementing another wellness habit without checking in with myself to see if it was necessary. Instead of trusting my intuition and my body, I was allowing someone else's information to take precedence.
All of that said, during times of overwhelm, what I've found most helpful is returning to trusting myself, my intuition, and how my body and heart feel. Rather than treating the podcast as gospel, I want to listen to my body and check in to see if the information shared in it aligns with what I need or if my current habits work well for me. Learning to trust myself and my intuition has been one of my most significant personal growth experiences, and I'm grateful for the ability to do so. Below are a few ways that have helped me build the self-trust muscle:
Keep Promises to Yourself: Treat commitments to yourself as seriously as commitments to others. If you tell yourself you're going to exercise, meditate, or read a certain number of pages in a book, follow through. This builds a sense of reliability within yourself.
Journaling: Regular journaling can help you track your progress, reflect on your thoughts and feelings, and identify patterns in your behavior. It can also be a tool for self-reflection and self-awareness, which are integral to self-trust.
Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, reducing self-doubt and anxiety. Mindfulness allows you to observe your thoughts without judgment and fosters self-acceptance.
Consistent Self-Care: Prioritize self-care activities such as exercise, good nutrition, adequate sleep, and relaxation. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being reinforces the belief that you value yourself.
Boundaries: Set healthy boundaries in your personal and professional life. Knowing your limits and communicating them to others builds trust in your ability to protect your own well-being and trust that you know what is best for you.
Seek Support: Don't be afraid to seek support from trusted friends, family, or a therapist. Talking through your challenges and receiving guidance can help you develop a sense of trust in your ability to overcome obstacles.
Positive Affirmations: Use positive self-affirmations to challenge and replace negative self-talk. Repeatedly affirm your self-worth and capabilities to build self-trust.
Lastly, when I feel overwhelmed by tasks, responsibilities, commitments, or information, I return to the basics. I remember that with quality sleep, exercise, whole foods, a connection to nature, and nurturing personal relationships, I will feel great. These simple, foundational practices not only support the healthy and happy life I aspire to but also help me reset when things feel overly complicated.
I hope this newsletter inspires you to trust yourself, your intuition, and practice building that self-trust muscle. When life gets messy, sticking to the basics of what feels good will support your well-being and help you get back to your baseline.
Have a great week ya’ll :)