Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Apr/May 2018 Aspire Magazine Full Issue | Page 67

As the remarkable Anne Frank wrote, “I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” 4. Ask for Help Reaching out for help reinforces that we are supported in our lives and is critical for cultivating resiliency. If asking for help is a challenge for you, start by accepting help when it is offered. Over time challenge yourself to start asking for help. Remember people want to be able to help and the larger our support system is, the more resilient we will be able to be! 5. Nurture Yourself Every Day Cultivating a self-nurturing practice is an ongoing way of cultivating resilience and empowerment in our lives. We cannot give from an empty tank so filling up every day becomes critical to building resiliency in our lives. Identifying the activities that help us feel grounded, connected to ourselves, and filled with joy create the foundation of our self-nurturing practice. Embrace the art of self-nurturing and commit to the practice every day! Cultivating resilience allows us to bounce back from difficult experiences and feel more empowered and confident. Recognizing that we are stronger and wiser as a result of overcoming our challenges is the hallmark of resiliency. Since we are likely to experience more challenges in our lifetime, cultivating resiliency is a wise and empowering choice. As the profoundly resilient Maya Angelou reminds us, “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” May you be inspired to cultivate more resilience as you nurture peace in the world from the inside out! Peace, love and gratitude, Kelley Kelley Grimes, MSW - Kelley is a counselor, speaker, internationally bestselling author, Aspire Magazine expert columnist, and self-nurturing expert. She is passionate about empowering overwhelmed and exhausted individuals to live with more peace, joy and meaning through the practice of self-nurturing. Kelley also provides professional and leadership development to organizations dedicated to making the world a better place. She is married to an artist, has two empowered daughters, and loves singing with a small women’s group. Learn more at www.CultivatingPeaceandJoy.com and download your free Self-Nurturing Mobile App 67 A recent study found that spending 5-10 minutes each day writing about things that “went well” and “why” resulted in stress levels and mental and physical health complaints decreasing. In addition, when we acknowledge what we feel grateful for in our lives, our accomplishments, our growth and blessings, and joy we have experienced, we rewire our brain to focus on what is going well in our lives providing intrinsic motivation to keep moving forward.