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Hands down, personal self-care should never be inaccurately misconstrued as a form of self-centered indulgence, but rather an essential necessity bearing an acutely significant role. It is arguably THE most important responsibility for boosting your overall wellbeing.
So, if lately you’ve felt like your energy tank is running dangerously low, to the point it’s damn near close to sputtering out into a screeching halt before crashing on empty, I’m willing to bet my bottom dollar you’ve straight up neglected your self-care instead of rightfully ranking it in high priority mode near the top of your “to-do” list like it should be.
In a nutshell, self-care equals longevity through self-preservation, so it’s really no wonder since we’ve all been brainwashed and convinced by a society determined to run us ragged to believe that self-care is selfishly egocentric. It’s not surprising we oftentimes will put other people’s needs before our own even when we’re on the verge of physical and emotional burnout.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to take one quick look around and notice the jumbled up, depressed, anxious, stressed out mess we’ve collectively created in maintaining a fixed mindset of “putting people before ourselves.”
An overdose of people pleasing inadvertently pushes people off the edge causing them to fall deeper down a slippery slope of disconnection, first within themselves, and then obviously with others as well.
Now I’m not saying it isn’t important to help others, it is, but even more important than being of service is developing a self-awareness to know when you’ve crossed the line in offering yourself to others a bit too much, and so much so you’ve seemingly forgotten to care for yourself in the process.
You have permission to rest. It is not your responsibility to fix everything that is broken. Quit trying to make everyone happy. It’s impossible. Remember to take time for you, you need to replenish.
The reality you want is already surrounding you, but you have to get yourself together and fill your cup by repairing whatever’s been spoiled in your heart, mind, body, and spirit.
Don’t neglect your own self-care to the point you feel like you’ve run out of gas on the side of a deserted, dusty road in an overly dramatic flair about to be devoured and consumed by your exhaustion and confusion, like in those post-apocalyptic zombie action flicks. Only you can avoid the crash and burn and instead come full stop with ease and grace.
Self-care is not selfish, it’s creating a strong foundation. Why would you only give people what is left of you, when instead they could be receiving the best of you?
Prioritize what’s worth investing your time and energy into. This will require you to leave some people, situations, and things behind, and there are just some things you cannot help, fix or change.
Relax. Give life a chance to flow its own way.
The time has come to turn in your resignation as “Director of the Universe.” Send out a little faith and trust that what you are seeking is seeking you and everything is all happening in perfect divine timing.
You cannot pour for others from an empty cup. Remember to take care of yourself first.
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Photo Credit: Pixabay