Resourcing
Welcome to my monthly newsletter, Attunement!
Each month we “tune into” a theme related to mindfulness and
explore a creative practice and tune based on this theme!
This month of February we’re TUNING INTO the frequency of:
RESOURCING
We've all been feeling the heaviness of what's going on in our country, and in the wider world. There's so much injustice, chaos, and uncertainty, that it's difficult to know how to cope.
This is when resourcing becomes really important.
Resourcing is the practice of intentionally turning toward what helps us feel calmer, steadier, stronger, or more connected. I like mindfulness expert Nicole Wittliff's explanation. She says,
A resource is anything that brings a sense of calm, peace, joy, or strength into the body. It may be external, relating to an object outside of you; or internal, such as a quality within yourself. External resources could be a scene from the natural world, the presence of an animal, or an image of a loved one’s face. They can be intangible, such as a fictional character from a favorite book or film, or an affirming word or phase. Internal resources refer to the qualities of your character that bring a sense of ease to the body or a feeling of empowerment in the world.
Mindfulness is what makes resourcing possible. When we slow down enough to notice what’s happening inside us, we can sense when we’re dysregulated—and we can also start to recognize what helps us re-regulate.
Examples of resources:
External (outside of yourself)
A place in nature that brings you peace
The presence (or memory) of an animal
A photo of someone who has supported you
A song, poem, phrase, image, or object that grounds you
Internal (inside of yourself)
Your values (i.e. kindness, justice, love)
Your character strengths (i.e. compassion, humor, perseverance, creativity)
Resourcing as a Nervous System Skill
Resourcing is especially helpful when we’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, anxious, or shut down. When we access a resource, we may notice it positively affecting not only our mental state, but our whole nervous system. For example,
Our breathing might become more relaxed
Tension in our shoulders or jaw might begin to release
A subtle sense of bodily warmth or expansion might be noticeable
We might experience a bit more energetic space around what feels hard
These small shifts matter. Over time, resourcing builds resilience—not by bypassing difficulty, but by giving us something steady to lean into while we face it.
Some of my external resources:
Below are some beautiful things I surround myself with at home that remind me I can become the kind beauty I seek—the beauty of lovingkindness, justice, creativity, mindfulness, and self-compassion (just to name a few!):
⚪️A framed saying my hubby gifted me
⚪️My 2026 mindful vision board
⚪️A bluebird from The Be Sanctuary owner & co-founder/my friend Deborah
⚪️A scarf signed by singer/songwriter Steve Poltz
⚪️My signed Lisa Loeb album
⚪️Artwork made by my daughters
⚪️My “Keep Marching” sash from the Broadway musical Suffs
⚪️My buddha statue with a ‘dedication of merit’ card, a heart stone, and an aspen tree stick from Vallecitos Mountain Retreat, and on the wall a catalog of some buddhadharma concepts
This month, I invite you to notice what resources you already have access to--within and around you—and practice turning toward them with intention. Music, art, movement, breath, nature, values—these are just some of the many pathways back to our center.
And for those of you local to central Ohio, I also invite you to attend my "Resourcing for Resilience" SoulCollage® Workshop at The Be Sanctuary on Mon. 3/9, 6:30-8:30pm. See "Upcoming Events" section of this newsletter for more info and to register, or register here.
Creative Mindfulness Practice: Resource Board
1. Grab a few magazines, a pair of scissors, a glue stick, and a posterboard/piece of paper.
2. Look through the magazines and cut out images and words that represent various external and/or internal resources available to you. You may also choose to include photos and/or mementos (think scrapbooking!).
3. Place your board in a visible spot in your home, or even at your desk at work. You might also choose to take a picture of your board and use it as your phone or laptop wallpaper.
4. Consider how you might mindfully interact with your board on a daily, weekly, or periodic basis. How could reminding yourself of your resources help you cultivate resilience, joy, gratitude, etc?
FEBRUARY Events:
This Month’s Tune 🎵:
Each month I share a tune that resonates with the newsletter theme. For February's theme of RESOURCING, I've chosen my original song "Nest".
This song reflects one way I resource myself: spending mindful, sensory-rich time in nature. The lyrics—“I will bathe in the forest, I will bow to the trees, say hello to the bluebird as she calls out to me”—name practices that help me return to steadiness and connection: breathing in the forest air, honoring the plant and animal life around me, and remembering that my humanity is inseparable from the wider web of life.
In a time when dehumanization is unfolding at local, national, and global levels, it’s essential that we stay rooted in our humanity—and in our relationship with the Earth. Resourcing practices like these help us remember who we are, refill our inner reserves, and gather the energy needed to keep showing up for the hard, necessary work of caring for ourselves and standing up for one another.
Listen to "Nest" here on YouTube (or anywhere you stream your music!).
Wishing you a resourceful month!
