Peeling potatoes and the 4 C's of self-care

As Karen and I have shared in recent emails, we have decided to slow down many of our activities recently, due to some family health challenges. It has been a very real opportunity to draw on our 4 C’s model, especially courage and compassion, but also connection and creativity. They all play a role and are so interconnected!

As I was peeling some potatoes for supper one day recently (using the best ever vegetable peeler from my days as a knife salesperson!) I realized how calming it was to engage in the repetitive peeling motions. Dare I say I was even enjoying peeling the potatoes! And I realized that taking in this experience in the moment that it was happening would help it to be even more calming for me, because I was helping the positive shift in my body to register. Apparently there really is something to the age-old mindfulness advice to simply ‘wash the dish’ (which I will now personally refer to as ‘peel the potato’!).

So does this mean that I should change careers and start working as a professional potato peeler? Obviously not. More importantly, does this mean that peeling potatoes will change my current stressful life circumstances? Obviously not as well.

But what it does mean is that peeling potatoes - and all variations on this theme - is an everyday activity that can help to regulate my nervous system.

And with a regulated nervous system…

I can better connect with my values and the supportive people around me.

I can better offer myself and others compassion.

I can better engage in actions that are important but uncomfortable, i.e., that require courage.

I can better give myself permission to ‘get messy’ and engage in creative pursuits, so that I stay connected to myself.

While I don’t really want to actually peel potatoes every day, of course there are lots of other ways that I can - and we all can - get the same benefits. Whether it’s from mindfully washing the dishes, or connecting with a loved one, or watching a funny video, or completing the stress cycle through exercise, there are lots of ways to support and regulate our nervous systems.

And a regulated nervous system is always going to help us better engage in the actions needed for true self care. Which is all the more important when life is a little more challenging than usual.

We hope that each of you can find some helpful moments of ‘peeling potatoes’ in your days as well.