It's Not Selfish

Why self-care is so vital...

Self-care. We talk about it. Everyone admits we all need to take time for ourselves. “Experts” generally agree that it’s an importat aspect of good health. So why don’t more of us actually do it?

It’s amazing how many people reveal that they always take care of others. Many of them confessing that they have been taking care of one person or another for decades. Men and women who have been taking care of everyone but themselves, generally leading to a deterioration in overall health and wellness; physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

When asked what do they do for themselves it’s a different story. Often the answer is silence or a reason why there is not enough time. This pattern of behavior continues day after day, year after year. It’s only when there is a noticeable decline in health that many are even open to the implementation of self-care.

We are a product of our culture. While self-care is a big talking point, applying it is another story. Often people taking time for themselves are shamed, judged, or made to feel guilty. There numerous examples out there. A few you might have encountered could be parents taking time away from the children for a weekend getaway, a partner doing an activity away from their significant other, going to the spa to revitalize, or taking a day off of work just to recharge. We preach self-care but penalize those who do it. Don’t let that stop you.

The reality is that your health and wellness is going to directly reflect upon how you support and assist others, along with every aspect of life. If your health (physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually) is breaking down then you aren’t going to be serving others very well, most of all yourself. On top of that the opportunity to be an example to the world around you is being lost. People need to see it’s ok to take time for themselves; to take care of themselves.

Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It is a necessity that leads to greater overall wellness. When we are thriving is when our ability to take care of others is at its greatest. Self-care can be anything that feeds the soul. It might be a walk on the beach, an hour of reading in a coffee shop, going for a run, or simply taking a nap.

Self-care is simply about making time for you. A time to feed your soul and spirit so that each day can be approached with joy and inspiration. There is nothing selfish about self-care. The better you ar