Lesson 27 -
Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.
It is widely quoted and accepted that you can’t serve from an empty vessel. But how many of us actively practice replenishing ourselves?
Many people say that one of the greatest obstacles they encounter when taking care of themselves is overcoming the guilt. Guilt associated with taking time for themselves and of spending money exclusively on themselves.
Sadly, for some it takes an illness or an accident to persuade them to give themselves the time and care they need. For others, they have already reached the point of illness and burn out, yet they continue to push themselves. It is only when they finally break and are forced to take time out that they realise how little care they had taken of themselves.
When we are stressed out, self-care is often the first thing we let go of. We go into fight, flight freeze mode. We become so busy firefighting that we forget to look for the origin of the fire. We spend so much time solving problems that we become stuck in ‘doing mode’.
So, what can you do?
My 27th lesson is, Self-Care is not Self-Indulgence, it is Self-Preservation. Take care of yourself, go for a walk outside, connect with nature, breathe in the fresh air, speak to an old friend. Whatever you choose, make sure it is for you and do it today, you are worth it!