Turn Self-Neglect into Self-Nourishment

The all to common term that is being thrown around these days is self-care, but self-care seems to have a negative connotation to it. Self-care is seen as spa days, and shopping with girlfriends, girl's weekends and these big lofty 'events'. I like to think of it as self-nourishment, because it really is something we need to nourish in ourselves and nourishment is a need not a want. Listen I am all for spa days and will be last one to tell you not to take the time, we all need that but we need to stop looking at it as a lofty want but instead as a requirement to come back to ourselves. In this instalment we will be talking about turning self-neglect into self-nourishment and what that means for each of us.

Self-neglect is just that, neglecting ones self. When we get into a pattern of self-neglect we often are putting everyone else's needs ahead of our own and are bordering on resentment. What we don't realize is that it isn't the other persons fault, we only have ourselves to blame- I hear you that was harsh, but let's be real shall we? We make a million little choices everyday and that seems exhausting in and of itself when put that way, but many of these choices we are making without thinking of the impacts. We are doing it to make others happy, to please others, to hope that by putting them first we will be valued and worthy, but you are already worthy. Nothing you do for someone else enhances your worth, just by being here you are worthy. Lets think about that for a moment, what are some choices you can make differently today just by bringing them into consciousness? Are you stopping and thinking about how a choice will impact you emotional, physically and mentally? Does the thought of thinking of choices different make you feel selfish? To stop and think of a choice differently does not make it selfish, instead the exact opposite because if you aren't at your best you can't give your best.

Self-nourishment is taking care of all facets of yourself and not feeling guilt or shame but pride and strength. Its setting healthy boundaries, putting your health and wellness first, its meal planning and making smart choices that will support your dream life, its mental fitness, and its taking care of yourself first. I love the oxygen mask on an airplane analogy, because after all what good are you in assisting others if you can't breathe? Is it selfish in that sense to take care of yourself first (I sure hope you said no here), and its not selfish to take care of yourself first in everyday life either. What's best about this is as you start to take care of yourself first, you start to enhance your ability to help others. Your awareness expands as to what others need and you start to see that perhaps they don't need you to rush to their rescue but instead perhaps stand on the sidelines cheering them on, encouraging them. You just never know when you may be inspiring someone else to put theirselves first.

So let's remember self-care is self-nourishment and just like we need to eat to live, we also need to take care of ourselves to live life fully. You wouldn't neglect your best friend, so why neglect yourself? Take the time to take care of your needs and remember there is nothing selfish in that, it's a necessity to living a full, and abundant life.

With peace and love,

Leah