Prioritizing Self-Care is Not Selfish
We are often taught that prioritizing our mental, emotional, and physical health is selfish – that we should bend to the expectations of others so we can be better at our jobs, better friends, better parents, or better partners.
As a result, we have internalized this notion that we have to treat others better than we treat ourselves. It shows that we’re willing to go the extra mile for the things we care about, right? After all, they say to treat others the way you want to be treated!
Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that you will be treated the same way in return. That’s why I believe it’s time for us to lead by example – to show people exactly how to treat us by taking care of ourselves and loving ourselves unconditionally.
The Importance of Self-Care
I want to talk about the importance of self-care and how practicing it can lead to success in all areas of our life. If you’re looking for ways to implement self-care as a working woman or busy mom, check out this blog!
Self-care leads to self-love. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that loving yourself makes you conceited or selfish. You spend more time with yourself than with anyone else, you are the person who gets you through each day, and you are the one who has accomplished so many things – and will continue to! I believe that we should all invite more love into our lives by starting with ourselves.
Tip: If you don’t know where to begin with self-care or self-love, ask yourself what you would do to show love to a friend. And then do that for yourself.
Self-love makes us more resilient. We are usually our own worst critics. Actively working to love ourselves means that we allow ourselves space to make mistakes, grow, learn, become better. Instead of telling ourselves that we made a mistake because we’re “not good enough,” let’s repeat self-loving affirmations, get back out there, and try again.
Tip: When you find yourself spiraling with negative thought patterns, ask yourself if you would talk to someone you loved this way? If your best friend made the same mistake you did, what would you say to her? I bet it would be kind as reassuring. Give yourself that grace.
A self-care day keeps the doctor away. There are much better ways to avoid illness and ailments than eating an apple every day. Self-care can look like taking a day off to rest so you don’t get burnt out, quitting a job that makes you feel anxious and depressed, or prescheduling all your health and wellness checkups for the year so it’s not an afterthought!
I have a little challenge for you. I want you to write down 10 things that you love about yourself and repeat the affirmation, “I am worthy of love, and I deserve to live a life that excites me.”
Spread the love! Share this blog with people who need more love in their life.