During this month when the world is focused on romantic love, let’s focus on self-love and self-care which makes us (and the world) better.
Self-care isn’t selfish, even though that was what I believed while growing up. It was everyone else’s wants, needs, and desires first, and if, and only if, everyone else was happy…then I could consider what I wanted. It was a very tough way to live and made me resentful.
Back then, a good daughter, wife, mother, and worker…would give all she had to make those around her feel fulfilled without a care or concern for herself. We were always at the bottom of the list. It was a recipe for resentment, exhaustion, and disaster.
I am so thrilled that self-care and self-love are now more commonplace and widely regarded as healthy and acceptable within our culture, dialogues, and practices.
What does Self-Care mean?
Self–care means nurturing your emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs to feel at peace and centered. It is a way of honoring and respecting yourself.
You are a multi-faceted being, so it’s essential to tend to all aspects of your life to be in alignment and balanced. By caring for yourself, making yourself a priority, you are treating yourself as a beloved, as if you truly matter, because you do. You don’t have to earn your worth, you are worthy as you are.
But taking good care of yourself is more than just an occasional spa day, although a spa day can be excellent self-care indeed.
The key to a sustainable self-care and self-love practice is to make it a regular part of your life and not just as a once-a-year treat. You are worthy of this exquisite self-care.
By caring for yourself, you provide an excellent example for those around you, and when your cup is filled, you are a better all-around person, and each of your relationships benefits. You are a contagion for good!
Benefits of Self-Care
Self-care and self-love benefit your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual selves.
- Lower stress, anxiety, and worry levels.
- Better sleep.
- Improved immune system response.
- Increased self-esteem.
- Improved productivity.
- Decreased risk of heart disease, stroke, or cancer.
- Increased happiness.
- Increased sense of well-being.
- Better sense of connection to others mentally, physically, and spiritually.
- More clarity and life balance.
- Improved energy.
How can you begin your self-care and self-love practice?
Good news: you have already begun your self-care and self-love practice by reading this article. You can move forward in baby steps: small chunks of time to care for YOU, dear heart, because you are so worth it.
You can start by building self-care into your schedule. Set aside a block of time right now on your calendar and make an appointment with yourself. Hold yourself accountable to this self-care time just as you would another significant event on your calendar. You are worthy and deserving of this self-respect.
10 Ways you can care for yourself today
- Take a walk in nature
- Dine by candlelight to make your meal special
- Put on some fun music and dance
- Journal, rest, or meditate
- Enjoy a favorite snack or drink
- Spend some time in soothing solitude
- Create something
- Enjoy a favorite pastime
- Buy yourself flowers
- Read or take a class about something inspirational and uplifting
Years ago, I remember only feeling good and worthy spending money on household goods, food, and our son’s needs. Money was hard to come by, and our expenses were high. Making ends meet was a struggle, and I was definitely placing myself at the bottom of the list.
One year, I decided to buy myself a box of my favorite candy, and I squirreled it away for myself. A whole pound of my favorite chocolates! This purchase felt decadent and liberating. It was the beginning of me spending money on myself, and it was the beginning of self-care for me.
At the time, I felt a little guilty because this purchase felt frivolous and selfish, but I was so glad I gave myself that gift. Not only did I enjoy the candy over the course of several weeks, but I also leaned in to giving to myself, respecting my wants, dreams, and desires.
Remember, self-care and self-love aren’t selfish. It is a way to honor the precious gift of your life. Taking good care of yourself benefits you and all those in your world. It makes you a contagion for good in this world.
Imagine being a good example of self-care and self-love to those you care about. What a precious gift that would be.
A favorite quote about self-love I’ve enjoyed over the years is by Cheryl Richardson. “What if the only resolution you made was to love yourself more?” It’s especially poignant this time of the year when resolutions abound, and romantic love is around every corner.
My invitation to you is to make time for yourself for a regular self-care and self-love practice. Get your calendar out and book some “you-time” right now. Start with baby steps and small increments of time. Your self-care needn’t even cost anything. Review the list above for the 10 Ways you can care for yourself today for ideas.
The key is to love and respect yourself enough to prioritize this care because you are worthy and deserving of it.
We’ve just finished our six sessions of Self-Care Saturday, and the recordings are available on-demand for you to continue your self-care and self-love practice.
Each session covers a self-care topic, includes a meditation or attunement, journaling prompts, and is followed by group discussion. It’s a gift of self-care and you’ll walk away enriched, rejuvenated and feeling more centered by loving and honoring yourself. .
Connect with Janette on The Wellness Universe.
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I’m Janette, founder of Angel Angles which exists to spread more love, joy and peace into the world. Angel Angles also shares the Divine beauty which resides within us all. Helping us remember what beautiful, loving, amazing people we are and what a beautiful. loving world we live in.
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