Practical Ways To a Breakthrough 

This is what’s in my treasure recovery/ “cope with life toolbox,” and I’ll tell you how I use these tools: 

Transcendental meditation

Healthy eating

Vitamins and Supplements 

Hot baths with epsom salt and baking soda

Naps

Confess to trusted person

Laugh and joke with trusted person

Watch raunchy, honest stand up comedy

Make jokes in my head

Listen to music

Walk

Walk and listen to music

Create music

Write

Journal

Prayer

Trauma informed Yoga

Self compassion

Somatic therapy

Reading/ education and reporting 

Massages

Stretching

Intense workouts

Coloring

Support groups

Traveling

Stretching myself using faith to get a win

Beautifying/Hair and makeup

Retail therapy

Binge eating 

Movie/TV marathon

Cleaning

Fantasizing/Planning to make it a reality

Intermittent Fasting

Mindful Self-Compassion 

The first thing I did was learn self-compassion using a book called The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, by Dr. Kristen Neff. 

I worked with a therapist through the book.

I used the guided meditations in the book. I downloaded them to my phone. They are excellent. 

A Formal Commitment to Self

I read the book about marrying myself and took notes. Self Marriage 101: How to Marry Yourself, by Luna Williams. I married myself. I created vows. I celebrate my self-vows every year. 

The Whole 30 Diet

I did the Whole 30 Diet. Completed 3 rounds in the span of a year and a half. Taught me how to eat for my body and mood while taking supplements to wean myself off medication for bipolar disorder, that was doing more harm than good. 

This is my affiliate link to a book called The Whole 30, Day by Day, which was a very helpful journal that got me through my first 2 Whole 30 rounds. 

Brain Science

I went to a center free for veterans with PTSD, called Recovery Resource Council in Fort Worth, TX and got free EMDR therapy which was excellent and the most difficult counseling process I’ve ever done. 

I also learned Transcendental Meditation, which I consider a type of brain science, taught by an official, certified teacher that I had to pay. There are discounts for veterans, students and for those in financial need in general. See their website for more details. 

Find Support Through Relevant Groups

These groups don’t always need to be an official support group. One of the best groups I joined was especially for women veterans called WoVen. 

Reignite Creative Passions

We need creativity in our lives. Try to incorporate some creativity daily. If you think you aren’t creative, you are. You just need to discover it or re-discover your creative. We are all creative beings. Doing fun creative activities reminds our brains that we are creative beings. It feeds our soul and our mind. 

I read the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and did all the exercises in the book. It was an incredible therapeutic process to reignite latent talents that I lost confidence in my abilities to do over some time. 

My Basic Morning and Evening Self Care Routine 

• Upon rising I write my Morning Pages. 3 pages of a brain dump. 
• I practice 20 minutes Transcendental Meditation as taught by my certified TM teacher.
• I make my bed
• Have breakfast
• Take a walk or so some trauma informed yoga

Evening

• Ideally before dinner I practice 20 minutes or Transcendental Meditation 
• I have dinner
• Practice some relaxing trauma informed yoga
• Write, Watch TV, Play Music, Play an Instrument or anything creating and relaxing into the night.

You can use this as a template of how you would like to structure your self-care days. Modify it as needed. 

Namaste My Sisters,

Anala Love