Black Friday: Are You Buying What You Are Truly Seeking?

Today is what many people refer to as "Black Friday". Instead of basking in the opportunity for relaxation that many people of privilege are afforded on this day, we are often swept up in consumerism in an attempt to get the best deals for the upcoming gift giving season. Without mindful awareness, this can fill our minds and homes with added stress and tension and push aside moments of ease and nervous system resets. So, I offer you an opportunity to become mindfully aware of how you are spending your time today. And if you do choose to take advantage of some deals, what are you truly seeking with the gifts you are buying?

In my book, Empowered by the Human Design, one of the most important concepts is the understanding of the difference between fractionated self-care and integrated self-care. Here's a quick sneak peak: "Dr. Ginsburg clarified the difference between “fractionated self-care” and “integrated self-care.” The former are practices that happen separate or fractioned from the source of the pain, whereas the latter occur as an integrated response to the pain. He acknowledged that fractioned practices such as going to yoga and getting a massage, have benefits. They can serve to increase our capacity in some ways. However, the challenge is that when we are constantly stressed to the max, each time we go back into work, the cycle of stress at work and coping outside of work can become an added stress." Instead, when we cope in the moment as the stress, we move through it and don't carry it.

Some examples of integrated self-care strategies are practices such as developing healthy mindsets, fostering effective regulation practices, building a supportive social network, enforcing appropriate boundaries, etc. These integrated self-care practices can lead to increased wellness. And when we increase our wellness, we increase our capacity for empathy and compassion and that helps not only ourselves but the world around us.

So when you think about what you want to gift your friends and family this holiday season, I encourage you to think about what kind of benefit the gift will have for them. Does it support their well-being in some way? If so, does it promote fractionated or integrated self-care?

If you're buying for an educator, Empowered by the Human Design has been described as "a game-changer", "an invitation to revolutionize education", "a new model for regulation and resilience", "a gift to the field" and "a required reading for all educators"! The pages are filled with opportunities for readers to increase their integrated self-care practices! www.bbarsofexcellence.com