Why do I need self-care?
Are you like so many of us, putting everyone first, and then feeling so exhausted that you have no energy left for nurturing yourself? If your answer is yes, it’s time to choose to prioritize yourself. Give yourself the gift of self-compassion. Self-care is actually choosing self-compassion and self-love. You always have choices. Choosing self-care is the shortest path to embodying self-love. Self-care is not selfish. It is affirming, empowering, and enriching. It may make a difference with whether you will move through life with ease rather than struggle.
You may be saying to yourself, I don’t have time or energy for one more activity. The truth is self-care need not take a lot of time or energy. It can take many forms and can involve small actions such as engaging in relaxation breathing for three minutes a day to help your body know what it is like to feel safe. When your body understands it is safe, you are better able to calm your nervous system in moments when this is needed. It can mean doing the Sunning Practice to help your body manufacture feel good hormones such as serotonin and dopamine which enable us to enjoy life more fully (© Shimoff & Associates, Inc. 2023). Self-care might mean nourishing our bodies through healthy eating habits which prevent strokes and heart attacks. We live longer and are able to see our grandchildren graduate, get their dream jobs or start their own families. Self-care means focusing on solutions and taking intentional actions that support your highest good.
Take a mindfulness approach.
If taking care of yourself is your last priority, consider intentionally putting yourself first. Adopting a mindfulness approach to self-care may seem awkward and too time consuming. In reality, when you attend to your needs first, you will have the energy to manage other challenges and choices that come your way.
The Happy for no Reason model exemplifies a mindfulness approach, a road map to help guide you as you go about designing the happy life you would love living.
Mindfulness may be defined as being aware, on purpose, in the present moment, without judgment. Behaviorally, this may look like noticing beliefs, thoughts, habits, and behaviors without criticizing yourself and taking intentional actions that support your highest good.
Think of choosing to care for yourself as putting on your oxygen mask first. Once you do this, you will find that you have the energy to live the life you love and show up for your loved ones in a more expanded mindset. Choosing self-care will help you feel refreshed, restored, and able to handle your daily activities with greater energy and joy.
Practically speaking, when you take care of yourself, you will actually feel less stressed and more able to show up authentically for yourself and others.
(Excerpted from my newest book, My AI: Affirming, Intentional Self-Care ready for you on Amazon). There you will also find My other new book, My AI: Affirmations and Intentions. Write to Darian Slayton Fleming if you would like to receive both books in braille: Office@embrracehappiness.me