Self-Care, the Luxury You Can Afford

Self-care

Self-care is a choice. When you end up feeling sorry for yourself as you "have to" hit the gymnasium, as you "can't" have that piece of birthday cake or as you "wish" you might be like your chum who stays out late doing exciting things, remember that you are free to flop on the couch, have 2 pieces of cake or not go to sleep at all. You're selecting self-care. Rather than asking "Do I need to do this my full life?" remind yourself, "I GET to do this my full life, if I keep making the choice to!" In his book, "Callings", Gregg Levoy writes, "In the Afghani tongue, the verb to adhere is identical as to die." To me, this extreme statement reminds me of the various years I adhered to smoking, long after it stopped fitting into my life or my self-identity. I have been smoke-free for virtually 6 years now, and I am so thankful for the chance to share what I have learned in my journey towards self-care.

My favorite self-care principle is to concentrate on what you need to add in, vs what you want to take out.

To release the habits you could be adhering to, you must shift the concept that you could have to give up things that you like to take care better care of yourself. When you start, instead, to ADD nutritive self-care treatments, rituals and habits to your life, you can become naturally prepared to let go of what's not best for you.

Because you have sent yourself the message that you are worthwhile. You may become clear about your concerns and will naturally let go of whatever does not fit into the new life that you are building - a new life of more energy, resilience and toleration of stress, increased joy and ease of productivity. TAKING IT TO YOUR SELF-CARE PLAN Confusion : rather than imagining you need to clear the confusion from your whole house or office, instead think about ONE AREA you'd truly like to have clear. Consider the purpose that space will fulfill, what you may do there, what it'll look like, what it'll feel just like and the difference it'll make to your life to have that space. Then go about making ( adding in ) that space.

Emotions : What's an emotion you'd like to be feeling more each day? What makes you are feeling that way? Add in activities, folk, reading, entertainment options or creative activities that bring about that emotion in you.

Getting off the couch : If you fall into the "couch potato" class ( and I actually did for years of my life ), try and trade the "nothing" you are doing for a "something". In the start it might be so simple as adding in a half hour of window-shopping at your local mall. Hey, at least you're up and out!! New Foods : flick thru recipes in the library or in mags or papers or online and try a new plant or two.

Try and eat a different coloured fruit each day for one week. Shift your technique of eating and try new things rather than just making an attempt to find substitutes for what you are used to eating. Low-fat or sugar-free substitutes never appear to taste as good as the "real thing", they can contain dangerous additives, they're costly and they do not inspire any lasting change or the elemental shifts that are wanted to truly make self-care a concern. Relations : consider the qualities you'd like to be receiving more from the folk in your life, and then practice GIVING those qualities at each opportunity.

Rather than brooding about what you might need to give up to practice better self-care, think about what you're able to add in! And with the numerous forms of sickness and illness that are linked to poor self-care habits, self-care is a luxury you cannot afford to ignore!