Speaker 1: 0:06

Okay, now welcome back. Welcome back to Self-Care Saturday, on the Sweet Spot where science meets the soul. I'm Dr Derek Sweet, and today we're taking a pause from the action to explore the power within. This week we have journeyed through the five R's of restorative practices, but today we turn inward, focusing on how we can restore and practice these principles within ourselves. How's that? Are you ready? Great. So I invite you to take a deep breath. If you're not driving and you're not doing anything that requires activity, and you can do this take a deep breath with me and close your eyes for just a moment. Remember we're in self-care Saturday today.

Speaker 1: 1:02

What does it mean with your eyes closed? What does it mean to truly restore yourself, to rebuild, replenish, reconnect with your inner strength, the you that's inside of you, that's inside of you? So I was thinking about the word restore, and restore means to bring back to a former state, to renew, to revitalize. Restore is about replenishing right, it's replenishing your energy, your spirit, your sense of wholeness. Restoration is about taking care of yourself mind, body and soul. So that's what restorative means. And then what about this word practice? So practice isn't just about repetition. It's about conscious effort, continuous improvement and striving for mastery. It's about integrating these principles into your daily life, making them a habit, a way of being. So when we put it together restorative practices wow, we get it right Renewing, revitalizing, replenishing, consciously continuously striving for mastery. So when we restore and practice the five R's that we discussed all week within ourselves, we can build a strong foundation for applying them to our relationships and others. We become more empathetic, more understanding, more capable of navigating challenges with grace and resilience. So I want to guide you through the five R's of restorative practice in a different way today.

Speaker 1: 3:10

Self-care Saturday. Rather than use this to resolve a conflict or a situation, how about we turn it on ourselves, doing some self-reflection? And let's start with the first R. Remember, the first R was relationship, but today we're not going to focus on relationships with others. We're going to focus on your relationship with yourself. Question are you kind, compassionate and supportive of your own needs and aspirations? Do you respect your own boundaries, your values and your limits? Are you able to say no? Do you honor your authentic self, even when it's different from what others might expect? Or do you acquiesce to others all the time?

Speaker 1: 4:15

The third R is responsibility Question. Do you take responsibility for your own well-being, both physically and emotionally? Do you make choices that support your growth and your happiness, your personal happiness and peace of mind? The fourth R is repair. How about repair? Are you willing to forgive yourself for past mistakes and let go of nagging self-criticism? Do you actively work to heal old wounds that might be haunting you? Do you actively cultivate self-compassion?

Speaker 1: 5:07

And finally, the fifth R in restorative practices is reintegration. Do you embrace all parts of yourself, even the ones or the parts that you might not like? Do you strive to create a sense of wholeness and integration within your own being? Do you feel cohesive, coalesced together? These are some questions that I'd love you to spend some time with on this Self-Care Saturday.

Speaker 1: 5:46

Maybe you want to spend some time in nature, maybe you want to meditate or practice mindfulness, or maybe just engage in a creative activity, with music or painting, or maybe it's something a little more active and structured, like setting boundaries, or something more challenging, like forgiving yourself for past mistakes or simply taking the time to rest and recharge.

Speaker 1: 6:09

Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it's essential. When you prioritize your well-being, you become a more powerful force for good in the world and you're better able to engage in restorative practices. So this Self-Care Saturday, on the sweet spot, I want you to take the time to restore and practice to restore and practice, nurture your inner strength, cultivate your resilience and embrace the power within. When you do, and you do it authentically, you will be amazed, my friend, at the positive impact it has on your life and your relationships. So I leave you with this what's one practice you'll commit to today to restore your mind, body or spirit, if you feel up to it? Share your self-care ritual using hashtag selfcaresaturday. This is Dr Sweet. You've been listening to the Sweet Spot where science meets soul. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow for Slow Down Sunday. Take care of yourself.