In Praise Of Women

March was National Women’s Month and I want to take this opportunity to focus on the outstanding attributes of women. In a word, women are amazing. Women are frequently the anchors in a family. This is true regardless of employment status and who brings home the higher income. Women carry the load – bear the burden, while calming the fears, and quietly holding the worry. Women function as the “emotional containers.” Women are truly remarkable in their seemingly endless capacity to meet the demands and challenges of everyday life yet find the strength to continually persevere. This is true of women of all ages and backgrounds. However, the reality is that this capacity is not endless and needs to be replenished. The concern arises when women become so involved in taking care of everyone else, that their own needs become suppressed, neglected, and even forgotten. With the stresses that naturally occur in the process of living, it is easy to overlook your own needs. Women too need and deserve to be cared for so that they also may live a meaningful and satisfying life.

The usual recommendations of caring for oneself such as taking time for you, practicing daily affirmations, etc., are all excellent. I would like to offer a few other ideas specific to reconnecting with your own strengths and resources in an effort to replenish your being. Consider some of the following exercises while sitting quietly in a safe place:

• List all of your positive attributes – right down to the smallest one
  
  
• Think about a challenging time in your life that didn’t quite go the way you would have liked it to go – what did you learn from that experience?
  
  
• Remember an experience that brought you true contentment – what were the circumstances that elicited those feelings – and how might you replicate that experience?
  
  
• Consider keeping a gratitude journal where only thoughts of gratefulness are recorded – this need not be a daily activity, but whenever you choose to record a memory In closing, allow me to remind you of the many positive qualities you possess simply by virtue of being a woman.

Being a woman is a wonderful adventure – and often a daunting task. Give yourself the gift of caring and time that you give to others. Finally, I invite you to phone or email me should you or someone you know need some support in making life more manageable. I have many years of experience in helping women recognize, understand, and meet their own needs.

Warmly,

Debbie Bauer, LMFT

Please visit my website at www.debbiebauer.com

~easing life’s journey