As you move towards the end of the year and you start to visualize your New Year's resolutions, why not make self-care your number one goal for the upcoming year? Fact is, many of us don't stop to think how important this is. It is as important as brushing your teeth every day or like drinking water and eating food. Most of us don't even think it is relevant .. often skipping breakfast and just powering through the day with sugar and caffeine.
Let me ask you a question. Would you treat your work life, your business life the same way you treat yourself? Would you ignore emails, ignore meetings and totally blow off your responsibilities? Well, if you care to keep your job, your tenure, your salary, your benefits or whatever your job offers you ... the answer is a resounding NO!
The same applies to your body, your mind, and your spirit. We (too often and for too long) blow off our bodies, treat them badly, not listen to them, abuse them -- which when taken together or even alone, have a cumulative effect on our bodies. So when we BREAK DOWN, get sick, feel lethargic, sad and uninspired ... we have the audacity to ask "why?" Well, we know the answer. Because we don't dedicate nearly enough time for self-care. We just don't do it. And why don't we do it? Because it is not a priority. Because we have no time. Because there's always some other thing to do.
So ... let's start treating self-care like we treat our work life. Treat it like an important appointment, a meeting with your boss, a deliverable. Put time on your calendar. Honor it and respect it for yourself. Give yourself the permission to do this. Let go of the guilt that you might have in taking time for yourself. Let go of the judgement. There's simply no room for it. Self-care is really anything (really anything) that fuels and nurtures you at a deep level. This can be light or vigorous exercise, a solid nutritious breakfast, extra-time to not rush, a sauna, a swim, a walk with the dog, morning sex, yoga, stretching, meditating, reflecting, practicing gratitude, etc.
Think about it this way: If you're running around DEPLETED ... you will always come from a place of LACK and EXHAUSTION. Your goal is to flip that on its head and approach life from a place of FULFILLMENT and AUTHENTICITY. Only then will you be able to fully serve, love and live.
Here's a simple suggestion:
Sit in a quiet place. Close your eyes. Tap into your inner wisdom, your intuition, yourself. Be grateful for that moment of clarity. Set out an intention for self-care. Think of three (3) things you are most likely to do to make you feel great.
1. ____________________ 2. ____________________ 3. ____________________
It's not hard. You just have to move from that place of KNOWING to the place of DOING. Share your responses by tagging your posts with #payyourhealthfirst
Commit to thrive, Pay Your Health First.
-- Chris
