The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
June Issue #116
Article Provided By: Becky Stone
The last few years I have seen a great
upsurge in the understanding that taking time to care for our personal
well-being is vital. Many people are grasping the
concept and importance of Self-care. I am so grateful that this conversation is
arising more and more – self-care happens when we choose to LOVE ourselves.
Warts, scars, self-esteem, and all. Self-love is a vital component of our
well-being. Self-care are the acts we choose to do for our wellbeing,
because of Self-love.
EVERYONE should be sure to include
self-care daily! Why? Stress. We have a lot of it these days. There are many
healthy and unhealthy ways we cope with stress. The best way to relieve
chronic stress is to take some time to LOVE on yourself. Chronic emotional
stress is now linked firmly with the six leading causes of death: cancer,
coronary heart disease, accidental injuries, respiratory disorders, cirrhosis
of the liver and suicide. Self-care strategies offer healthy ways to stress
release, and stress release translates to better health.
A few ideas of self-care to inspire you
today to look after YOU.
1. Take time to rest when you feel
tired. Yes, lay down on the couch and close your
eyes. Close the office door, drop the anxiety, and rest your tired eyes for a
few minutes. Nap while the kids are napping. Or just watch your breath quietly
for a while. Yes. You. Can.
2. Be social. Or don't. How about instead of striving to meet someone else's expectations or
trying to meet your own unrealistic ones, you genuinely ask yourself what YOU
want? Oh, and then actually do that for yourself.
3. Go try something new. Or do
something you have always wanted to do. Or do something you used to love when
you were young. Go enjoy yourself on purpose, just for the sake of pleasure.
Even when there is a to-do list as long as your forearm.
4. Ask for support. Somewhere in your life, there is somewhere that you could use a
hand. Or maybe an ear. Don't stand alone. It is so much better when there is
someone to share and support us, even if it is hard at first to ask for the
support. Be it a friend to support you or a professional support to guide you,
it takes the asking to get there.
5. Nurture your spirit. Breathe mindfully in nature, take a smudge bath, pray or meditate,
dance naked in the woods – just remember and honour that you are a soul shining
forth, so very worthy of the Self-Love you are taking the time to practice.
There are any number of ways to bring
healing energy to our mental, physical, emotional or spiritual well-being.
These all involve choosing to spend some of our (oh so precious) time and keep
ourSelf in highest priority. It involves looking at the part of our Self that needs
care and then doing the act of caring for it. It takes self-awareness. Most of
all, it means learning to love ourSelf and showing it one act of self-care at a
time. What have you done for yourself today?
Namaste, Becky
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