In a culture that prides itself on the ability to multitask and hustle, self-care can often be seen as a waste of time or self-indulgent. We are huge advocates for taking time for yourself, pampering yourself and doing the things that brighten your soul. However, self care goes deeper than that and it is important because we see self care as a strategy for surviving, thriving and feeling empowered in a demanding world. Self care allows you to take the time to appreciate and know yourself so you can show others how to treat you. When you have a good understanding of what love and respect look like to you, you stop searching for self love and acceptance from others. You live life knowing how you want to be treated by others, what you will and will not tolerate and how to set healthy boundaries.
Self care can look like having hard conversations that lead to inner healing, going to therapy, building healthy connections and letting go of bad relationships.
There have been times where I have made the time to pamper myself, take a nice bath, go for a massage and do the things that made me feel good on the outside, but then when I’m about to go to sleep I start feeling overwhelmed by life and anxious. Without doing the inner work, I wasn’t addressing the root of the stress on my life that led to these overwhelming emotions.
Some ways to do the inner self care work:
- Talk – To a therapist to understand why you react to life the way you do, your triggers and find ways to cope with life stressors in a healthy way.
- Connect with a community – Community is powerful as a way of getting together with likeminded people working toward a similar goal which will help you feel threaded into a larger web beyond your immediate circle. This could look like, joining a community garden, book club, religious group, campus organization or charity group.
- Find a mentor – Someone you trust who has done the things you want to accomplish in life. They will be able to guide and encourage you. This will help you get a different perspective on what you’re going through in life and receive guidance where you need it.
- Turn to your faith – Pray for God’s guidance and read the bible to get a real understanding of how God created you and the source of your self worth. You were created for so much more and once you understand that, there is no room for self doubt.
- Time by yourself – Allow yourself to be with your thoughts. We go through life in such a fast-paced environment that we hardly have time to process our thoughts. Check in with yourself, how do you really feel? Life can be so demanding and it’s important to set the time aside to make sure you are ok. Set a vision for your life and set small goals for yourself to stay continuously moving towards your goals even when life feels complicated. This is a time to identify what you truly need and challenge your limiting beliefs to see what you are truly capable of.
- Prioritizing – Close relationships in your life, where you feel seen, heard and loved can be very impactful in your life. Having those people around who you can be vulnerable with and feel safe enough to be yourself will do wonders for your wellbeing.
I needed to hear this ,at times I think I don't have time for self care. Inner self care is also something I need .
Thank you 😊