“And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself.” – Rumi
Self-care and selfish are mutually exclusive. As children, we are taught that we are selfish when we look out for ourselves. But what if we were taught wrong? What if we learn the lesson that we are better able to care for others when we are fully present and care for ourselves.
On airline flights, we are instructed to put our own masks on first before we help others with theirs. A great life lesson is that we teach others how to treat us. One way we do so is by showing them how we love and care for ourselves.
Eastern Washington University (www.ewu.edu) provides these great 7 steps to self-care and wellness.
1. Examine your values. Do what's important to you. Don't sweat the small stuff. Get the leisure time you need to avoid burnout. Use goals for daily living.
2. Build yourself up. Have positive 'self-talks.' Discipline yourself not to overreact emotionally to stressful situations. Anticipate life change events and plan for them in advance if possible. Affirm your value.
3. Learn to relax. Meditate. Listen to soothing music. Breathe deeply and block out the world twice a day for 15 minutes or so. Pace yourself and give yourself time to recharge.
4. Exercise regularly. Three to four times a week for 30-60 minutes a session.
5. Eat sensibly. Maintain your normal weight with a low-fat, high carbohydrate diet (or follow the most recent recommendations of health professionals).
6. Avoid chemical solutions. Stop smoking. Avoid caffeine. Limit your alcohol and avoid other drugs.
7. Take control of your life. Maintain a sense of humor. Delegate responsibility and combat perfectionism. Resist unreasonable demands on your time. Spend time with your family. Nurture your friendships and things you enjoy. Always keep one foot in something comfortable. Live through your values.
One of the best way to remember to take care of yourself is by being here for yourself. By journeying into yourself, you can give yourself the love and care you deserve.