Let's talk about the power of positive thought. Not the frantically trying to think negative thoughts type, but actual positivity.

- Writing down positive experiences helps us remember them

- A focus on positive can help us experience more positive things

- This focus makes us more aware of how we experience positive emotions (and become more attuned to them)

Once we get out of an abusive situation it can be difficult to remember who we are outside of that narrative. But, holding on to our past may get us stuck in victim mode.

- Use your experience as a foundation, rather than an anchor

- Use a SWOT analysis to get some insight in yourself

- Write a Personal Mission Statement

My book on journaling can be found here: http://bit.ly/FindingYourWings

The Healing Academy Module on journaling can be found here: http://swanwaters.com/journaling-for-emotional-healing/

This is the third and final step of my strategy for communicating with people I know are toxic.

- Create the circumstances where you can use your communicative strength

- An abuser will actively pursue to keep you off your game

- Also, acknowledge your weaknesses

The Healing Academy Module on Communication can be found here: http://swanwaters.com/prepare-for-difficult-conversations-module/

This is the second step of three that I use when dealing with someone who is toxic.

- Find out where your strength lies

- Respond in a way that makes you feel empowered

This is the first step of three that I use when having to deal with someone who I know is toxic.

- When we react emotionally we are more easily manipulated

- Find a way to return to calm by venting the emotion

- Practicing a standard response can help maintain calm if you are ambushed

A little while ago, I was listening to Heather Dane’s Hay House Radio show when her guest Arielle Ford—a relationship expert—shared a disclaimer that I think we should see far more often when talking about interpersonal relationships. And it is the following:

Toxic Relationships Are Not Part of This Conversation

- We should keep this in mind when we look at general information

- An abuser has very different drives and motivations

Recap of  Heather Dane’s Hay House Radio show: http://heatherdane.com/your-relationships-your-health/

Talking to Crazy: How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life: https://amzn.to/2L6EgCk

Raise your hand if you do this: when you do something to look after yourself you have a huge guilt trip? Is there part of you that things looking after yourself in selfish? Then this is the episode for you!

- You can't pour from an empty cup

- Self-care isn't a luxury, it is essential

- We cannot heal without self-care

- We need and deserve some indulgence sometimes

- The guilt trip can cancel out the self-care

- Our wants and needs change over time

- Try what works for you

- Everything you try helps, even if it helps determine what doesn't care for you!

Today I am joined by Christine Judd. She is a holistic business mentor, author, yoga teacher and Lomi Lomi practitioner. Her journey through depression has led her to explore various different treatment approaches from medical to woo woo. She’s launching a podcast called ‘Living through the hard stuff’ exploring depression through the eyes of different holistic traditions and sharing her tips and tricks of how she manages to ride the waves of depression through daily activities, spiritual practices & other techniques.

You can follow Christine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinejudd/

Some days it is easier to self-care than others. Christine and I talk about the things we do to get through the days when it is a little harder.

Once you start thinking of self-care as a way to look after different aspects of your being, you open yourself up to creative ways to self-care.

- Make your bed

- Dress to impress (and start with nice undies!)

- Declutter!

- Give some of your former clutter to charity

- Keep a Praise Love YEAH! Journal

- Do something outside of your routine

- Get up! or Stay in bed!

I discuss more creative ways to self-care in the Healing Academy: http://swanwaters.com/self-care-module/

People often think of self-care as bubble baths and fancy chocolates, but I think that a much too narrow definition of the concept.

- Many people see self-care as picking ourselves up after we collapse

- Self-care should be about not collapsing

- Self-care should relate to different areas of our being

The Healing Academy Module on Boundaries I mention can be found here: http://swanwaters.com/personal-boundaries-module/