โYou are your best thing.โ
Toni Morrison
โThe price we pay for being ourselves is worth it.โ
Eartha Kitt
โYour crown has been bought and paid for. Put it on your head and wear it.โ
Maya Angelou
#7 Love can change the course of my world.
Caring is all-important.
Years ago, the Beatles famously sang โAll you need is loveโ yet those words ring true today and are especially important for those in sobriety and recovery. Statement #7 and the WFS New Life Program offer a pathway to learning to love ourselves while improving the heavily negative self-image we have had of ourselves.
Our founder, Jean Kirkpatrick, Ph.D., looked within herself and began to rebuild from the inside out. Jean writes in her book, Goodbye Hangover Hello Life, โAt the very heart of my recovery was to change the โI am nobody and nobody loves meโ person to someone who could say truthfully, โI am a capable person whom most people can, and will, like. Some will even love me. Saying, and writing, these words about myself became part of an exercise I did every day first thing in the morning after my period of meditation. Sometimes I spoke the words and found that I felt extremely uncomfortable. There were times when I just couldn’t speak the words, so I began to write them on a piece of paper, over and over. Then, during the day, I began to say them silently, letting them be a litany in my mind as I worked at other things: โI am a competent woman.โโ Wow was she everโฆ. Jean was our first 4C woman!
This month, WFS invites you to โLove Yourselfโ February! Throughout the month we will be โembarking on a journey of self-celebration and self-loveโ and have exciting events planned for everyone. Itโs a perfect way to put action into Statement #7. For our first event, we’re indulging in a Spa Day. Join us to learn how to create homemade scrubs and facial masks, ensuring a delightful pampering experience as we prioritize self-care. Make sure to check out all the details on our WFS Online forum or click here.
Hugzzz
Karen
Dear 4C Women,
Do you care so much about others that you have left yourself off the list of loving and caring? When I first learned about WFS and made the decision to stop drinking, I had no idea that learning to love myself was the first change I needed to make. It was much easier for me to love and care about others and that feeling filled me with joy. However, in learning to love myself, I also finally recognized that I was worthy of being treated with respect, kindness, and authentic caring. That lesson helped me to set boundaries, to put myself on the list of self-care, and to let go of toxic relationships. It also gave me a chance to reflect on my past and search for the love and caring I did receive rather than always focusing solely on the rejection I experienced. It was amazing to recall those people, those moments of being loved and cared about. Why did I let the negative be my narrative rather than the love I received? I believe this is not unusual as this is where the Inner Critic takes over. Itโs challenging to argue with the Inner Critic who has quietly shaped our internal definition of our worth and our value. Well, I have learned to deal with my Inner Critic from a workshop Nina and I presented at the WFS conference years ago. The research that went into creating the workshop was certainly an eye-opener. We did an exercise where we named our Inner Critic and snapped him/her off our shoulders the minute those inaccurate whispers started telling us how unworthy we were. I named my Inner Critic and it was empowering to snap him off my shoulder, telling him to shut up with those lies. I would then loudly tell him all the positive qualities I possessed and that I loved myself for who I am. The name of my Inner Critic has changed over the years as my life experience has changed. What hasnโt changed is the self-love, self-respect, and self-worth I have within my heart.
In practicing self-care, think about what self-love means to you, what you already love and value about yourself, and what fulfills you that you can put into practice and nourish with self-care. I encourage you to attend the WFS Love Yourself events scheduled for February.
Bonded in learning to love and care about yourself, knowing that it will change your world, Dee
Unwind, destress, and pamper yourself with a rejuvenating facial, sugar scrub, and self-love.
Saturday, February 10, 1 p.m. & 9 p.m. ET on a special Zoom link for Spa Day.
More Spa Day information and recipes for facials & sugar scrub
Wednesday, February 14, 6 p.m. ET on a special Zoom link for Galentines Hangout to celebrate the love we have for our amazing gal pals, whether you’re single or attached. Bring a sweet treat to celebrate!
Nourishing Our Roots
Women for Sobriety Conference
DeSales University
Center Valley, PA
June 21-23, 2024
Call for Workshop Proposals
Do you have a particular interest or expertise that you can share with the WFS
community during our 2024 Annual Conference? WFS is seeking workshop presenters for our exciting in-person event. The conference theme โNourishing our Rootsโ opens a wide range of potential workshop topics related to recovery, and emotional and spiritual growth.
Please consider giving back to WFS by designing and presenting a workshop. We have so many talented and knowledgeable women in our community that the possibilities are endless for topic and content.
Simply fill out the proposal form at Nourishing Our Roots Proposal Form. If you have problems with the link, try copying and pasting it into your search bar. Questions? Drop us an email at: [email protected].
Proposals are due February 9, 2024.
