Sacred Pampering Principles: An African-American Woman's Guide to Self-care and Inner Renewal

by Debrena Jackson Gandy Narrated by Lynnette R. Freeman

Overview

Originally self-published to enormous acclaim and demand, Sacred Pampering Principles is a beautifully written guide with hundreds of easy and innovative ways for on-the-go women to pamper their bodies and nurture their spirits.

With her holistic approach to filling your life with comfort, balance, and peace, Debrena Jackson Gandy debunks society's myth that doing something for yourself is decadent and selfish. In fact, she says, the joy we gain from treating ourselves--whether to a luxuriant bath or to a meditative hour alone--is transferred to the people in our lives. When we emerge rejuvenated, others benefit from a patient mother, a fulfilled wife, an effective coworker, a solidly grounded friend.

Written for African-American women, but accessible to women of all races, Sacred Pampering Principles demonstrates not only pampering ideas, but also explains why pampering, for less time and money than one might imagine, is vital to a balanced life.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal

A motivational speaker, author, and founder of the Pacific Northwest African-American Women's Advance, Gandy here relates her "pampering principles." Teaching tolerance, advocating a go-with-the-flow attitude, and blending the aspects of mind, body, and spirit, Gandy believes in leaving negative fears behind. Chapters cover information on meditation, use of affirmations and journal writing, and creating meaningful rituals for spiritual improvement. Her beliefs on the causes of disease are similar to Louise Hay's. This self-help guide, which applies not just to African Americans but to all women with overcommitted lives today, will be a useful though not essential addition for most public libraries.-Lisa S. Wise, Broome Cty. P.L., Binghamton, N.Y.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175571722
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/27/2022
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

I think our obsession with "busyness," overdoing it, overworking, overextending ourselves, and overnurturing others — that is, the Strong Black Woman (SBW) Syndrome — is a haunting remnant of the powerful Mammie and Aunt Jemima images that are still anchored deeply in our minds from slavery. The SBW Syndrome has an insidious way of pervading our lives, shaping our beliefs and thus our behaviors, attitudes, and actions. These images are then reinforced by society, the media, and cultural conditioning. Mammie was the nurturer, "the omnipotent caregiver," the always-listening ear, the "everlasting arm." Mammie provided the shoulder for everybody else to lean on. She was the Rock of Gibraltar, the Strong Black Woman who constantly gave out love, attention, and affection but who didn't ask for it, appear to need it, or require it in return. She could give, give, give, and do, do, do without seeming to need a break, a breather, or a vacation. Other ways the SBW Syndrome shows up is when we become control freaks and micromanagers of almost everything and everyone in our lives. In turn, others in our lives respond in ways that perpetuate and reinforce the syndrome. We have a tendency to take over or dominate, and in turn others let us, and even come to expect it. They figure we can handle it.

We have a hard time delegating and trusting that it will be done right or get done at all — then we end up doing it ourselves, once again. We start feeling stressed out and depleted. The Syndrome can creep in and quietly start to show up at work, at home, and in our relationships. We look up and others have become too dependent on us. Over time we start to become resentful because wedon't feel we're getting the support we need. We start to feel others are not pulling their share of the load. But what we often don't realize is that we've been instrumental in creating the very situation that has us so frustrated.

Copyright ) 1997 by Debrena Jackson Gandy.

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