The Value of Self-Care

Image by Tiny Tribes from Pixabay

​As women we're wired to nurture those around us. As Christians we've been taught JOY stands for Jesus, Others and then Yourself. But IMHO that's backwards. How can we give to others if we're burned out, frustrated or just plain empty?
​
The reasoning is because we benefit from doing things for others, and that's true! But too often this leads to many of the symptoms mentioned in my previous paragraph.

Many people have their own ideas of what "self-care" means, but for me, this does not have to be complicated or costly. Think about what you love to do...

Do you love to read? Take a walk? Sit out in nature? Indulge in a bath with candles and music? These are all forms of self-care. Many times we wait for others to do things for us that make us feel loved and pampered- and that's fine too, but we need to love and pamper ourselves.

"But I don't have time!" You say.

Let's think about this for a moment. How much do you do for others while neglecting your own needs? 

This is unhealthy and out of balance.

Look at your day/week/month with a critical eye and see where you can carve out a few minutes each day, one day a week or a couple of days every month and schedule a massage or visit to a reflexologist or chiropractor. Have a manicure and/or pedicure or whatever you can do to recalibrate your nervous system and reconnect with yourself, your dreams and God.

In other words, have some much needed "Me Time." 

Here are a few more ideas...

Read a book for the sheer pleasure of it.
Take yourself on a picnic or for a walk in the park.
Buy yourself some flowers or a new outfit - again for the pleasure it brings you.

If we want to nurture others, we must nurture ourselves also.

Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge! ™
"Coaching in Pjs" ™

PS: Read The Art of Extreme Self-Care: 12 Practical and Inspiring Ways to Love Yourself More  by Cheryl Richardson for beautiful ideas to transform your life "one month at a time."

---