Self-care and the Art of Turning Inwards
With thanks to our member, Sadhbh Courtney, for this article.
As the seasons change, turning inward is an art of balancing your inner world with external natural cycles. Autumn and winter are times for release, relaxation and introspection. Nesting during the winter months is one intentional behaviour that can be healing.
Changing the lighting to warmer tones and making quiet areas in your home for introspection describes the Danish concept of “hygge”. In essence, when we rest, we create a cocoon that supports the crucial processes of emotional processing and profound rest. This signals to the nervous system that it is safe to switch from “doing” to “being”, offering a psychological safety net against the unpredictability of the external environment.
Perhaps making the habit of introducing a digital detox gives your brain time to recover from a condition of continual overstimulation. This intentional unplugging may create the necessary quietness for authentic introspection. A simple place to start would be to establish clear digital boundaries. For myself, I started small, with “screen free Wednesday evenings”. This simple practice of committing my full presence and attention to my family felt extremely refreshing. Allowing yourself the space to truly tune in to both physical and emotional needs without the distraction of screens develops a deeper level of listening and presence. Avoiding the temptation to ignore signals that your body gives you daily, perhaps even something as simple as “I am hungry”. During our frantic daily lives and lists of “to do’s” we often override these prompts due to work deadlines, stress, family demands or simply because it has become a bad habit of ignoring our inner world.
Scheduling protected time for ‘being’ as opposed to ‘doing’ helps develop authenticity and self-reflection skills, which are vital for counsellors in training. Discovering a self-care practice that works for you, whether that be mindfulness, meditation or nature bathing is essential. Connecting and nurturing your authentic self enables an exploration of values and emotions. As Rumi says, “we welcome them all”. An adventure of self-discovery, introspection and relaxation. Curating a place of rest, resting just as you are. Filling up your cup so that you can return to the world in the service of others.
