4 Reasons Why - Self Care Isn't Selfish
'I don't have time for that', 'I already do face masks & brush my hair, isn't that enough', 'I need to look after everyone else first'.
These are the most common reactions to the topic of self care. Partly due to the reason that this concept is so broadly interpreted, and most commonly misunderstood. Some see it as locking yourself away from children, ignoring the kitchen being on fire & meditate through it. That's not what we mean, and doing so most likely won't improve your, and your loved one's quality of life.
How I, and others view self care is by engaging in acts that improve the quality of life for our future self. By putting time & energy into ourselves for self improvement, we can be our most fulfilled, confident & happiest self, then show up as such for those we love. Examples of this can well indeed be a hot bath, getting our nails done, breath work, going to the gym, meditation, learning new skills, shadow work, drinking healthy, nutritious drinks like Catalyse (Just saying...) etc. Or more in-depth such as therapy.
Here we'll look at why, contrary to popular belief, self care is not selfish, but one of the most compassionate things we can engage in.
1- 'You can't pour from an empty cup' - When we're under stress, part of our brain is activated which can inhibit normal functioning. Therefore, if we're absolutely burnt out, exhausted, stressed and on edge, making the mental space to listen to our partners, friends & children's at the end of the day is going to feel like a burden, even just listening, let alone being able to help with their problems. If we want to have a higher quality of conversation, then we need to be in the most balanced mindset for it.
2-'Lead by Example' - Have you ever had advice from someone, politely nodded and thought 'why would I want to follow that advice & end up like that'. When we make time to invest in ourselves, grow & develop, we gain confidence, a sense of calm & competence. This energy shift shows up in our posture, body language, tone & in ways other people's subconscious picks up on. This will ultimately give us more influence & gravitas when engaging with others, problem solving or working as a team
3- 'You are what you think' - Our minds & bodies are intrinsically linked. That's why when we're burnt out we get poorly, when we're stressed we break out & when we're lacking in motivation our diet & exercise go out the window. If we want to act & feel better physiologically, we need to look after the engine that fuel our behaviour & decision making - our mind
4-'The Butterfly Effect' - We all know this to be true on physical actions, but it's also true on an energetic & emotional level. Have you noticed how someone complimenting you puts you in a good mood, maybe even spurring you on to compliment someone later in the day? Or you've been in a good mood, but then you speak to a grumpy colleague & it completely kills your mood? When we're going about life in a more peaceful, compassionate & emotionally regulated way, that has an effect on people, which then effects the people they meet, and so it goes on. If we want to live in a more positive world, then we can all affect a small change. And we're all about Catalysing a bigger change through small steps at Catalyse!
Self care does not have to be expensive spa days, new wardrobes, 4 hours in the gym or learning chess. There are numerous techniques online, it's all about finding what works for you, your schedule & budget. The quickest & cheapest practices - meditation, breathing exercises, EFT tapping etc are often the most effective.
Another convenient way to help achieve the mood you're looking for is of course through our range of exceptional blends - Catalyse!
I hope you find this useful, that's all for now!
Eirian x