This week, I wrapped up the online self-love retreat for women. The 6-day program was designed as a refresher course in self-love for busy women, offering a booster dose and a gentle nudge for their self-love journey. It aimed to provide them with some structure while also encouraging them to discover their own unique flavor of self-love. The overall idea was to provide them with actionable steps, practical tools and insights tailored to their personal needs.
The program also allowed me to revisit and deepen my own self-love practices and beliefs. Guiding others through their self-love journey not only provides me with a unique perspective on their growth but also gives me the opportunity to reflect on my personal journey. Witnessing the participants’ progress and commitment was incredibly inspiring and reaffirmed the value of community in our collective growth. Working together, we held each other accountable, shared our insights, and supported one another, highlighting the essential role that community plays in fostering self-love - especially for women.
Here’s a brief overview of our retreat:
Day 1: Kickoff
We began by defining what self-love and self-care mean individually. Participants identified obstacles to practicing self-love and committed to taking small steps towards self-kindness. We practiced meditations and reframed beliefs to reinforce our self-worth and release any guilt associated with self-care- which is a very crucial first step for women who are working or in caregiving roles but struggle to give themselves the same level of care and love.
Understanding self-love and self-care is the foundation of a fulfilling life. It helps us prioritise our well-being, set healthy boundaries, and cultivate a positive relationship with ourselves.
Day 2: Body
We then shifted our focus to body positivity and gratitude. Participants examined their perceptions and criticisms of their bodies and practiced gratitude for their bodies' strength and resilience. They were encouraged to perform a small act of kindness for their bodies.
Loving and appreciating our bodies promotes a healthy body image and self-esteem. It allows us to celebrate our physical selves and treat our bodies with the respect and care they deserve- something women struggle with because of societal expectations and the stories we have been told explicitly and implicitly.
Day 3: Mind
We delved into our mental habits and inner dialogue. We reflected on our thoughts and beliefs, recognizing the mind's role in our well-being. We tried to foster a compassionate and understanding relationship with our minds.
A healthy mind is crucial for overall well-being. Loving our minds involves acknowledging our thoughts and emotions without judgment and fostering a supportive inner dialogue.
Day 4: Heart
This day centred on acknowledging and accepting all our emotions without judgment. Participants explored societal pressures and personal tendencies to suppress emotions, committing to embrace their full range of feelings.
Embracing our emotions allows us to live authentically and deeply. It involves accepting all feelings as valid and learning to navigate them constructively. For women in particular, there is a cultivated belief that some emotions are acceptable and some are not which makes such practices very essential. This construct needs to be dismantled for an authentic self-love experience.
Day 5: Embracing Power
Participants examined areas of their lives where they felt powerless and reflected on how they might downplay their abilities. They practiced affirmations to bolster confidence and assertiveness, and explored steps to assert themselves more in their daily interactions.
Recognizing and embracing our strengths empowers us to lead more confident and assertive lives. It helps us to stand up for ourselves and express our true opinions and abilities. This is particularly challenging for women because of how we are conditioned and the regular feedback we might receive from our family, friends & coworkers.
Day 6: Confronting Shadows & Commitment for the future
The final day was about committing to a lifelong journey of self-love. Participants acknowledged their shadows, identified potential setbacks, and devised strategies to cope with challenges. They committed to being gentle yet firm with themselves, allowing room for growth and self-compassion.
Committing to self-love is a lifelong journey that involves continuous adaptability and patience. It allows us to embrace our whole selves, including our strengths and weaknesses, and to navigate setbacks with resilience.
Feedback:
The response from the women in this group was absolutely beautiful. Some participants had breakthroughs and major realisations which they shared during our calls while some later communicated to me that this retreat gave them "a lot of food for thought" along with "steps they can immediately start taking". They appreciated that the program "covered a lot in the matter of a few days" and was "a good re-set point" for them in their self-love journey.
For the readers:
For those interested in trying out the practices we covered, we will soon have a printable PDF available on our website. This low-cost resource will include the affirmations and prompts we practiced during the retreat. Of course, for the full experience, including guided meditations, sound journeys and community support, it is best to join us for future retreats. If you missed this retreat and are interested in future sessions, join our waitlist here to be notified of upcoming retreats.
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