Radical Self-Care: 30 Day Challenge (Page 2)

A 30 Day Program of Radical Self Care

1. Detox your diet. Eliminate all processed foods, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine (I know this may be no simple task for some of you, so go slowly, plan ahead, and be compassionate with yourself). If you can manage, go vegan, mostly raw, for two weeks. If you can, do a 5 day green juice fast. If not, stick to steamed veggies and salads for 2 weeks.

2. Take your vitamins, superfoods, & supplements every day. I use the Usana My Health Pack, which contains multivitamins, fish oil, calcium, and other minerals. I also take Sun Chlorella and Vitamin D.

3. Make a practice of daily writing. Just for yourself. Keep a Joy Journal. Or do morning pages, as suggested by Julia Cameron, author of the The Artist’s Way. Send your inner critic to time out and just WRITE.

4. Sleep 7-9 hours a night. No buts. Just do it.

5. Detox your friendships. If someone isn’t good for you, take a 30 day break from them. This is YOUR 30 days to nurture you. All toxic relationships are off limits.

6. Move your body no less than 5 days a week, ideally, every day. Walk. Do yoga. Go to the gym. Whatever. Honor your body by letting it move.

7. Meditate. I know, I know. This is the hardest one for me. If you can’t handle the silence, buy guided meditations on CD or Itunes. I love Belleruth Naparstek. You don’t have to spend an hour. But take 10 minutes to close your eyes and get quiet. No excuses.

8. If you have a bath tub, take baths instead of showers. Use your yummiest bath gels, salts, and scrubs. Read an inspiring book while bathing. Finish it off by consciously loving each body part while rubbing on body lotion, coconut oil, or olive oil.

9. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. Drink herbal tea, water, green juice. Get those cells hydrated. If you’re peeing often and it’s clear, you’re doing it right.

10. Have orgasms no less than 5 times a week. If you don’t have a partner, don’t forget what you can do for yourself!

11. Practice forgiveness every day. Forgive yourself. Forgive that person you’ve been holding a grudge against. Be extra specially kind to yourself and others for 30 whole days in a row. Banish toxic thoughts altogether, if you can.

12. Skip the news and read inspirational books instead. I highly recommend the one I’m reading now- Gregg Levoy’s Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life. Or try Martha Becks’s Finding Your Own North Star. Or Marianne Williamson’s A Return to Love.

13. Pray. Reach out the Universe. Make your desires know. Set intentions. Give thanks. Feel the divine energy that runs within you.

14. Choose a mantra for your 30 day program and make this your affirmation. Mine will be “I am successful AND balanced, healthy, vital, and whole.” Write it by the toilet, post it on your computer, repeat it during your meditations.

This 30 day program will require that you give up some other things in your life for this 30 days. I suggest skipping arguing, excessive work, ego-driven ambition, the fourth bedtime story, time spent berating yourself in the mirror, and, if need be- a clean kitchen! Your life isn’t going to fall apart if you take 30 days to radically nurture yourself. I’ll bet you anything it will change your life for the better.

If you can’t manage an intensive 30 day program, don’t despair. You don’t have to beat yourself up if your to do list just won’t allow a program like this. While a program like this will jump start you, you can get your Mojo back with a less radical approach. Simply choose one or two of these activities, and scatter them throughout your life. Exercise Monday. Meditate Tuesday. Have orgasms on Wednesdays. Write on Thursday. No matter what, be compassionate yourself.

Join this group so we can support each other in the process.

Committed to radically nurturing ME and YOU,
Lissa

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Alison S.

8:49AM PDT on Aug 28, 2012

Love this - thank you. I'm going to send this link to my mom and sister and also tape in my day/night journal that will be resurrected :) Even working on one of these things at a time is great.

August 28
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Susan S.

8:46AM PDT on Aug 28, 2012

Bitten by a yellow jacket on the bottom of my foot yesterday. I do believe the universe is telling me to slow down--among other things.

Samantha H.

10:05AM PST on Feb 2, 2012

nice

February 2
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Emma S.

1:57PM PDT on Oct 26, 2011

I found this at a timely moment. Thanks for this.

October 26
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Danielle H.

6:32AM PDT on May 18, 2011

THANK YOU

May 18
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Darla G.

12:31PM PDT on Nov 3, 2010

Wow! I am looking for change right not and this looks like a great way to start the balance I desire. Thanks... I am saving this on my computer so I can see it every day!

November 3
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Stephani H.

2:46PM PDT on Jul 8, 2010

Wow! I took your advice and the biggest change for me was getting rid of all the toxic relationships in my life. I've always been to polite to do something someone else didn't like but I did this for myself and I am happier for it! I'm making your radical self change a life long thing. I have never felt so at peace with myself.

July 8
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Jeannette A.

6:56PM PDT on Jun 28, 2010

How often we forget ourselves in our rush for success, as if that is the purpose of our being alive! I remember someone telling me once, when I was in an unhappy situation, that in 50 years no one will remember or care about my mistakes. When we leave this existence, we do not take our possessions with us but we DO take ourselves. If we do not, first and foremost, care for ourselves, why should others think we are worth caring for or that the beliefs we hold dear have any lasting value? Love and caring for our world begins with love and caring for ourselves.