What is Self Care?

What is Self Care

“We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle.” Marilyn Monroe

Self care is a common buzzword these days. We see it everywhere. But do we even know what

it means anymore? On one hand it is self explanatory, but on the other hand it can mean

something different for everyone.

Is it about buying yourself flowers? Or that fabulous new spa treatment you saw your favourite

TikTok creator rave about? Maybe it’s having that important conversation you have been

avoiding? It could be all of that, or none of that. Whether it is caring for your body, your mind,

or your soul, finding out what self care means to you is the first step in giving yourself what you

need and deserve.

Start with letting yourself ask the question: What do I need? It might feel selfish to think about

ourselves when our families, our work, and our friends, take so much of our focus. But taking

time to reflect on our own needs is not selfish, it is simply self-focused. Learning what we really

need requires us to focus on ourselves, at least once in a while. As we learn to love ourselves

we are even more able to love others.

Here are some simple ways you might discover what you need:

1. Start a new journal. Make it the bravest, most honest place to reflect on your thoughts

and feelings.

2. Make a list of all the things you wish you had more time to do. Put them in order of

importance. Cross out the ones that are for anyone but yourself.

3. Book that long overdue massage, or haircut, or esthetic service you have been missing.

4. Create a new vision board. You might be surprised but what you see.

5. Talk it over with a trusted friend.

6. Be kind to yourself, you deserve it.

To reflect lovingly and honestly on your own needs takes courage, but you are brilliant and

brave! You know how good it feels to give love and to care for those around you. Now go ahead

and give that same loving kindness to yourself. Because everyone deserves to be happy, to be

loved, to be cared for, including you. Self care is self love in action. Love yourself so that you

may fully love others.

“The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.” Dalai Lama IVX

”Carefully consider, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life?” Dalai Lama IVX