To engage in long term change work you need a practice of restoration. Restorative practices remind you of your inherent value. They help you notice your body and breathe in the moment, and allow you to act from a centered, wise place.

Boisterous laughter at youtube videos.
Setting a timer and letting yourself cry.
A morning meditation or yoga practice.
There is no one right way to restore yourself.
You just need to do it.

During the first months of the pandemic, I dove deep into work, stretching and growing, but by early 2021, I was energetically depleted. In the midst of collective trauma and loss, I had drifted away from my restorative practices, and in the process I lost my access to joy and genuine connection.

Committing to a restoration practice takes effort, and you will forget sometimes. But returning to your practice reinforces your integrity, which is necessary to connect across differences.

Now months later, I’ve slowly reintegrated restorative practices, and I’m honestly excited to wake up in the morning and move through my routine. I saw the results when a colleague said I did something wrong.

The phrase “you did fill-in-the-blank wrong” can activate a childhood fear of punishment, which is especially harsh when it reinforces racial inferiority or superiority. In the past, I’ve reacted to this statement with self-doubt, questions, and attempts to appease the critiquer. However this time I was filled by my restorative practices, so I paused, took a breath, and said thank you. End of story.

When you fill up your energy stores, you can make different decisions that respect you and the people you engage. So for today, what’s one restorative practice you want to try?