Preparing Yourself, Self-Care, and Resilience
Sustaining meaningful action begins with caring for our bodies, spirits, and relationships. Resources like the Unitarian Universalist Association’s spiritual practices and Community Resilience Hub, along with trainings from Right To Be, offer grounding tools for navigating stress and uncertainty. Practical guidance—from the University of Texas at Austin on engaging across differences to simple practices like mindful breathing, nourishment, and time in nature—supports resilience in daily life. Together, these resources invite us to slow down, reconnect, and build the inner steadiness needed for the work ahead.
UUA, Spiritual Practices for Challenging Moments
Right to Be, Resilience – Calendar of free trainings, Betsy’s Recommendations
Online trainings have included: “We’re All We’ve Got: Mutual Aid for Survival and Resistance” and “I’m Disabled, How the Hell Do I Survive/ Resist This? To Exist Is to Resist”
PEACE Resource Protocol – 5 Steps to Modulate Activation and Build Resilience
University of Texas, How to talk to people who disagree with you politically
The most essential bodily activity that we can control is our breathing. A deep breath is helpful at any time. The4-7-8 Calm Breathing Exercise promotes relaxation, reduces anxiety, and can also help you fall asleep more quickly.
Feeling anxious or stressed causes some people to overeat, while others lose their appetite and reject food. Foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, Vitamin B-12, magnesium, and probiotics may help reduce anxiety and stress. If you have no appetite, maintain your body by drinking water and tea and eating calorie-dense foods that you like and protein.
Go outdoors and commune with Spirit and nature. Even a small five-minute reprieve from an indoor environment can provide the Benefits of Being in Nature. It frees our minds to think more deeply, gain insights, and meditate.
Come and Find the Quiet Center in the multifaceted life we lead and simply be.
DRINK WATER!
