As we come to the end of our four weeks of self-care, I wanted to share some final thoughts with you.
Over the past few weeks, as we’ve discussed the importance of self-care, some people still have questions or thoughts about self-care that I wanted to cover and set those minds at ease. Let’s get started.
Is mindfulness self-care?
Yes, it is. It is a very important part of self-care because when we live in the present, we notice our feelings, emotions and physical needs. For that reason, this really isn’t the end of our self-care. If you read this blog there will more self-care tips and ideas. Hopefully, that is what you want to hear.
My core intention with this blog was to help others learn about mindfulness and healthy living. Self-care is a part of that, and we will continue to discuss it in the future.
Is self-care expensive?
Taking care of ourselves isn’t about spending tons of money. Going to get tummy tucks, new cars, or exciting vacations will certainly make you feel on top of the world. However, those feelings only last a short time before you need to do something else to feel good.
Self-care is the opposite of spending money. It’s little things that help nurture our spirit. I’ve shared a ton of tips that cost little to no money that will help you learn to take care of yourself. It’s those little things that you need that will help you love yourself as much as you do others.
Isn’t self-care being selfish?
Selfishness and self-care are not the same things. In fact, they are complete opposites.
Selfishness is defined as the concern for one’s own welfare at the expense of others and excessive interest in oneself. Self-care is about taking care of every aspect of your health so you can be at your best for others.
If you are always doing for others and they never support you or give you time to care for yourself, who truly is the selfish one? Trust me, it’s not you.
People that make you feel guilty for taking time for yourself because it takes away time you can be doing for them are the selfish ones.
Anyone that truly loves you wants you to be a whole person and they encourage you to take a break. They will even take over and cover things for you while you take your moment to care for your own needs.
This was possibly the hardest part for me to learn. I’ve spent many years around others that only wanted to know what I can do for them. I am one of those who rarely ask for help myself, but always the first to help others. This trait made me a magnet for selfish people.
I thought that I could make people happy if I kept doing more for them. It never worked because they were never happy. Anytime I spent caring for myself I was made to feel guilty about it. This ultimately drained my energy and my health suffered.
I finally learned that it was alright for me to not be everything all the time. To set healthy boundaries and to quit letting people take advantage of me. Guess what? Those people didn’t like the new me and are no longer in my life. That’s alright because now I have healthy balanced relationships.
Any relationship you have should be one of balance and you should never be made to feel guilty for taking care of your mind, body, and soul.
Your mindfulness challenge for this week:
Sit for a moment and let your body rest.
Think about three items you would like to do for yourself. Something you enjoy that refreshes your body, mind, and soul.
Decide with every part of your being that you are making this change to care for yourself.
We’ve gone over many ideas and tips in the past four weeks on self-care and things you can do to incorporate these into your daily life. This doesn’t mean you have to choose from them, perhaps you’ve come up with three new things. That’s great! Do what you feel is right for your life.
I’ve created a blank weekly self-care checklist for you. Print out three copies. Remember, it takes 21 days to make a habit and 21 days to break a habit.
Use this to create your own routine of self-care. Think about the things we’ve tried in the past few weeks and what felt beneficial and true for you.
Write down the three items that you selected. If you feel that three is too much, only choose one. If you feel you can do more than three, write those down. However, I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed. It’s best to start small and grow.
Whatever you write down must be done each day.
Keep your list where you can see it as a reminder.
You got this! Now go show yourself some love.
Other articles you might have missed this past week:
Why You Need to Read This Book on Karma
Self-Care Love, My Guide to Herbal Tea
Herbal Tea, How to Mindfully Create Your Own
Peace & Love,
Ela
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.