Self whatnow?
Self care. The care of self. A self driven care practice.
The concept of self care has received a lot of attention in recent years. Depending on what you read you will be sent towards manicures, massages and shopping sprees. Or, perhaps you may be told to look at your finances, create boundaries or have difficult conversations that you have been avoiding.
Today, I invite you to consider self-care as an ongoing, evolving act of self-love which requires constant commitment and up-keep. Let me explain.
If you pause to consider the times you applied an act of self care you may find that it’s done as a result of something stressful. For me, I noticed I was taking care of myself after burn out, once the exhaustion hit, when I felt overwhelmed and frantic and was white-knuckling through life. I realised that when I felt the pressure, once the wheels have come off, I began to look after myself. Read that line again.
When I felt the pressure, once the wheels had come off, I began to look after myself.
It goes a little sumn’ sumn' like this; life -> issues -> crash, bang, wallop -> self care.
When the impact has already been felt, we look after ourselves.
I know that I wasn’t the only one who had the same timeline. This got me thinking, what would life look like if we properly looked after ourselves before allowing it get to this stage in the first place? If we took time to understand ourselves intimately and nourished our being with what we needed, while removing what we don’t? What if every day was a self-care day?
To care for ourselves, we need to understand what it is we need. Like plants, we need water and sunshine. Like children, we need connection, nourishment and love. Like pets, we need belly rubs and exercise.
But, and here is the kicker, we also need to understand what we don’t need. What are we doing that is draining the life from us? Who are we spending time with that adds nothing to our lives? What habits are we continuing that are taking from our pool of resources - overspending, not moving our bodies, chasing unhealthy relationships? What are we holding on to from the past? What drama-fire are we continuing to give fuel to?
This isn’t easy work to do. It takes contemplation and honesty. It takes a difficult conversation or 12. It takes professionals to guide you through, it takes self-discipline to hold yourself accountable.
Yet I promise you. It is the most rewarding exercise of your life.
Self-care isn’t only manicures, even though those too can be gifts to our souls. Self-care is creating a life you don’t want to run away from, a life you don’t have to take a day off from.
How can you show up for yourself today, and every day, so that when the sh!t does hit the fan you are prepared, your cup is full and you are working from a place of abundance instead of lack? What routines do you need to implement now? What habits will serve you instead of deplete you?
Self care is self acceptance.
Self care is self confidence.
Self care is self awareness.
Self care is self compassion.
Self care is self respect.
Self care is self worth.
Sending you love,
Always love Xx