Time:

Materials:

The Importance of Self-Care

Forty-five minutes

See Handout - Uniqueness
                     - My Declaration of Self-Esteem

Scissors

In most societies and cultures, women are the primary care providers and nurturing in nature. This critical role that women fulfil in society is not recognized for being important and is not rewarded from a monetary or legislative perspective. The care of self is frequently left out. However, when the caregiver practices self care, e.g., walking, hot baths, reading for twenty minutes, it is frequently viewed or perceived as self-centred and selfish. Since women are at the hub of so many activities, i.e., family, work, volunteer, partner, by taking care of the "hub" everyone flourishes. Women can only truly appreciate others when they appreciate themselves. When women begin to recognize their own uniqueness and contributions, they can begin to appreciate and value themselves and they work they do.

It is important to listen to the Inner Voice and to reflect on an issue that is occupying the mind, e.g., "What can I do about my job?" or "how can I improve my relationship with my partner?" Sit for five minutes with a blank sheet of paper and just jot down whatever comes to mind. It is amazing how many solutions are already there if the time is taken to simply ask.

Methods:

1. To encourage participants to see their uniqueness and contributions; allow fifteen minutes to complete the sheet. If participants are comfortable in sharing allow the class to discuss their findings (15 minutes).
2. The poem "My Declaration of Self-Esteem" is reviewed in class. Participants are encouraged to review this on a daily basis (15 minutes) for the purpose of honing who they are and valuing their contributions.

Other Suggestions:

1. It is only natural that when people are not feeling so good about themselves they tend to focus only on their difficulties and failures - what they don't have. At the end of the day, encourage participants to reflect and think of perhaps, five things for which they are grateful, e.g., I am grateful for the good weather, I am grateful for the hug from my son etc. For somebody who is really not feeling good about themselves this may be as simple as "I am grateful I was able to get out of bed this morning." Participants may want to write their reflections in addition to just thinking about their day.