Self-September

Hey Protected babes,

As we enter the month of September I decided to make this month a Self-September. After celebrating my sons 14th birthday I started to reflect on the conversation that we were engaged in. During our conversation I found myself telling him that it's okay to be selfish especially when it comes to obtaining his goals. This school year he is a freshman in a private charter high school. Which means more discipline and focus is required. My young king plays on JV Basketball team and run track for his high school as well. This means more prayers, rest, productivity, strength, faith and patience will be required. People, places and things that are a distraction for him will have to cease.

Reflecting on the conversation we had, forced me to apply the same rules to myself. Although my career is a very demanding career that require me to give parts of myself, when I don't have enough energy to do so I always call upon GOD to guide me and give me strength. I allow him to take lead and carry me through the day. There are some days that I am overwhelmed, exhausted and close to burnout. Being proactive about my mental health with many trainings, books and advisors allowed me to stumble upon a Self-Care wheel. Now this wheel is made up of six sections: Physical, Psychological, Emotional, Spiritual, Personal and Professional. I challenged myself for the month of September and on going to develop each section of the self-care wheel every month. With me growing and deepening my relationship with GOD I had to find scriptures to correlate with self-care.

Mark 1:35 says " Very early in the morning, while still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

Mark 6:31–32 says “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”

Matthew 15:32 says, “Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 says, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

In these passages we see Jesus modeling quiet time by himself and calling us to model quiet time with him and pray. These passages remind me of the importance of having time alone to rest. We need sleep. We need alone time. With properly caring for oneself, it is important to spend time with GOD and pray. Submitting myself to GOD in the morning before I enter the world to consciously walk the plans GOD have for me allow me to walk by faith and not by sight. Spending this September in self-care will not allow me to care for myself for my own good, but so that I can care for others. Scripture says in Mark 12: 30-31 "to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love your neighbor as you love yourself." Often times we can forget about the love yourself part as instructed by the father.

So I welcome all of you Protected babes to indulge in Self-September with me. If you would like a copy of the Self-Care Wheel send me a private email at protectedpaid@gmail.com

Until next time always remember to stay Protected & Paid.

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Self-September Week 1: Psychological

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Self-September Week 2: Emotional

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Self-September Week 3: Spiritual

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Self- September Week 4: Personal

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