When we talk about self-care, we often think about the smaller and commercial side of things such as bubble baths and face masks. And while these have a place in spiritual self-care and provide their series of benefits, these sort of activities only begin to scratch the surface of what it truly means to take care of yourself.
Given these simple activities mentioned above, many fool themselves into thinking that self-care is nothing more than a bit of me time now and again. But proper self-care is much more than that, and it’s by no means easy. It’s probably among the hardest things people have to do in their lives, to lead a happy and fulfilling lifestyle.
Self-care requires a great deal of diligence and determination. Self-care is all about setting a clear set of goals and sticking to them, it’s about establishing a budget and not going over it, it’s about not procrastinating or looking for excuses, and it’s about managing to integrate both your personal and professional life in such a way so that neither one will take over the other.
The Power of Compassion
As we mentioned before, self-care is much more than taking a bubble bath, putting on a face mask, or wrapping yourself in a blanket, with a warm tea by your side and reading a book in the middle of the afternoon. These sorts of activities have their place, especially when trying to relieve some stress or bad feelings you may have gathered throughout the day or week.
But saying that these things will help those who are struggling to find some happiness, balance, or fulfillment, is simply wrong. In many cases, those saying that self-care is this easy are only trying to sell their products by advertising the benefits, as a whole.
Self-care is more of a state of mind than anything else. It’s about putting yourself out there, even if all you want to do is hide in the safety and comfort of your home. It’s about standing up for yourself when you feel that your interests and needs are not met. Self-care is, in the end, one’s ability to look inside and being truthful and compassionate about what they see.
Probably the most crucial part about self-care is learning how to pick yourself up once you’ve fallen, and accepting it as a natural part of life when it happens. Likewise, it’s asking for help, when it’s hard and when you are afraid that nobody will care. Self-care is all about realizing that you are not alone in your struggles, even if it may feel like it at times.
Paradoxically or not, however, proper self-care will provide you with the necessary independence to realize that you can’t do everything by yourself. It’s the compassion that you will give to both yourself and to others that will help you to reach this place. It’s no telling what being kind to others in their time of need, will mean to them and you.
Conclusion
Spiritual self-care is as much about the body as it is about the mind. It’s about knowing yourself and accepting of who you are. It’s about taking charge of your life in an imperfect world and realizing that others are on the same path as yours. If you want to learn more about self-care, and your habits of thinking, contact me directly to receive your complimentary Habit Finder Assessment at www.habitfindercoach.com/debcrowe
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