I give myself permission to have a holiday from worry and incessant multitasking

We had a little vacation one weekend in a hotel in our own city, 24 hours to wander around unscheduled, and unhurried.

Before we left, I consciously told myself that I was leaving my to-do-list and worries at home. I was giving myself a little break. I wanted to fully focus on enjoying the city with my family.

And it really worked. While I was there I didn’t think of my list that never ends. I also didn’t check email once and left my phone alone. I really gave all my energy to this little break. I came back feeling very calm and centered. All it took was 24 hours.

I used to pride myself on my ability to multi-task. You should have seen us juggling away in our PR agency.  But it’s a bad habit with me now. And I think it actually harms me to dilute my focus like that. Studies show it actually is detrimental to my brain.  

I’m thinking also that I can leave my phone alone first thing in the morning. I want to give my whole focus to me, to my family, to breakfast and getting ready, and not spread myself thin with multi-tasking.  

Just do one thing after the other as needed. If I give myself a chance to start my day off calmly and filled with as much serenity as possible, then the rest of the day stands a better chance of being like that too.

My self-talk

Just focus on what you are doing now.

I do one thing at a time.

It’s ok to put down my load.

It’s ok to take a holiday from my worries and to-do-list.

It’s ok to just enjoy this moment.

I give myself permission to just be right now.

My worth is not attached to what I do. My worth is in who I am.

She said to me, "I hate myself." I thought, "ouch..."

We say "I hate myself "without thinking much about it, but part of you takes it very seriously. That part of you wilts under the power of those mean words.

I was at the post office today mailing copies of my book Speaking to Yourself with Love to a bookstore.

The woman working at the counter got all excited when she saw them. “I would like to read it, but I don’t read anymore.”

She talked about how much she loves reading, and all the lovely books she has including a collection of spiritual books her mother left her. But...  she no longer takes the time to read.

“I’m always on my tablet now.”

And then she finished with “I hate myself.”

Ouch, I thought. How painful for that part of her that just heard that.

Research shows that every cell in your body hears all that you say.

Your body actually listens to what you are saying inside.

Your cells hear all your self-talk through sound waves and sensory transmissions.

They react according to what they hear.

Dr Judith Orloff writes that when we criticize ourselves, it is like an inner war goes on inside us. We turn against ourselves. It is like an attack on our system.

Now think about how your cells rejoice when they hear words of love, acceptance and compassion.

So just keep putting love into your inner words as much as you can. Step by step, day by day.

We are all just doing our best.

There is no one to hate. There is just one person to love.

All my best,

Maryse

PS: I’ve just launched a FREE five day Self Talk Transformation Course. If you want to discover my five signature steps to change your Self Talk from cruel to kind, click here.