Self care is a super-power because its effects radiate to every area of your life. The benefits of self care affect the foundation of who you are as a human being.
Self care includes any intentional actions you take to care for your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. An act of self care doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does have to be done with intent. Intention can turn a simple activity like going for a walk into an act of self care.
The practical benefits of taking care of yourself are well known. What qualifies as self care for you will be unique from others, but you’ll know something works for you if it:
- Restores your energy
- Clears your mind
- Relieves your stress
- Boosts your confidence
- Increases your vitality
Four ways to strengthen you Self Care Super Power:
1. Recognize that YOUR BODY AND MIND are your biggest assets
Your value to the world is not dictated by the balance of your bank account or the bottom line of your business’ financial statement at any single moment in time. Your value as a human being is found in how you show up for yourself, your loved ones and people you have close personal and business relationships. By making your self care a priority, you can leverage your greatest assets in every area of your life.
As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily routine and busy-ness of your life and business. When you mustered up the courage to step out on your own, knowingly or not, you committed yourself to a hero’s journey filled with both opportunities and challenges that can be consuming.
When you become consumed in busy-ness, time flies by and before you know it, it’s been months – if not years – since you made taking care of yourself a priority.
2. Set your Self Care priorities
Which do you take better care of – your body, or your car?
Before I became a life & business coach, I was a consultant in the automotive industry. The customers in the car industry belong to one of two distinct groups – those who maintain their vehicles, and those who don’t. It all boils down to a proactive pay me now or a reactive and potentially more expensive pay me later approach.
Do you treat your body as well as you treat your vehicle? When you get to your 70s and 80s, are you going to be able to move around freely? The degree to which you are proactive with your self care is the degree to which you can have a positive influence on your mobility, endurance and energy levels later in life.
If you are taking better preventive care of your vehicle than you do your body, it is time to re-prioritize. You can always trade in your vehicle or move to a different house. If you’ve ever tried to move to a different body….well, you get my meaning.
3. Let go of any judgment you have about self care
I was inspired to write this article by a lively conversation in our Free Your Inner Guru™ Podcast Community on Facebook. I had seen a post in my personal Facebook feed asking, “Are you high maintenance?” Being high maintenance carried a negative connotation, especially for women. In the quiz, several very healthy activities, including going for a massage, increased your high maintenance score.
While it was hardly a scientific survey and was intended as a bit of fun, the message was clear. If you indulge in this type of activity, you are superficial and needy.
Practicing self care does not mean you are superficial, needy or selfish. Self care is a practice of self love.
4. Let go of the belief that working ALL THE TIME is your super-power.
Complete the following sentences:
I’ll start exercising when…
I’ll start eating well when…
I’ll start meditating when…
I’ll make time to do something fun and creative when…
If your answers are anything like:
…I have more time.
…I have more money.
…I have less stress.
…I deserve to.
You are holding your self care super powers away from you and choosing a scarcity mindset instead. Abundance does not flow from the energy of lack.
Taking care of your body and taking care of your mind are two of the super-power strategies in my free eBook 7 Core Life Strategies to Move Forward After a Significant Life Crisis. I wrote the book because of a traumatic experience in my life seven years ago and the importance role that self care, mindfulness and creativity have played in my healing. In times of extreme stress or crisis, it is imperative that you have a strong self care foundation.
Please don’t wait until you’ve experienced a crisis to learn how use your self care super power! If you think your time and resources are stretched now, there is nothing like a life crisis to show you otherwise. My wish for you is that you embrace a proactive approach to self care and turn it into your super power. We all need to keep our vehicle moving forward on the road of life as easily and elegantly as possible.
One thing I’d love to know in the comments below – What is your favourite self care strategy?
