March 7, 2019 - The term self-care has been thrown around a lot lately, making it seem almost too trendy to fully appreciate. What is self-care anyway? Buying a coffee on the way into work? Taking a walk? Signing up for an art class? Using an umbrella on a rainy day? All these activities count toward self-care, so why do we need reminders to take care of ourselves?
The internet has spread its influence into just about every aspect of our lives, including how we talk about emotions. With the surge of social media, we’ve seen an increased acceptance toward mental health as more and more individuals are sharing their stories and experiences with a broader audience. What was once deemed as something that only affected “those people” is now seen as something that, in one way or another, touches everyone. With a broader acceptance of mental health, more and more people are sharing their feelings and emotions with those around them. As we learn to accept and appreciate each other’s emotions and how they affect our physical presence, we build on our emotional intelligence. That emotional intelligence helps us better appreciate the importance of self-care.
When we practice self-care, we encourage positive feelings. Those positive feelings help us to build on our self-esteem and strengthen our feelings of self-worth. Rather than continuing to give ourselves to others (our jobs, families, communities, etc.), we’re taking time to give back to ourselves. This ensures that we are not “pouring from an empty cup”, but instead taking time to refill that cup. When we practice self-care we’re not only helping ourselves, we’re making sure that we’re better able to help others, while setting a strong example for those around us, encouraging them to focus on their own self-care.
Self-care is a form of setting boundaries to promote our own self-worth. To be our best selves we must take time to do whatever it is that makes us feel good. Just as you show kindness and compassion toward others, take time to show kindness and compassion toward the most important person in your life…you!
