Self-Care
Learning how to be kind to yourself
| Self-Care | "To care for oneself, especially mentally or emotionally" |
What is it?
Quite simply, it is taking care of yourself. It is not necessarily treating yourself to something fancy, although it could be, but simply doing something for yourself that helps you maintain a good outlook in life.
Why Is It Necessary?
We are a mixture of emotions, all throughout the day. Hormones come and go and we cycle through a whole range of emotions depending on what we do or think or feel. Usually, we stay within our normal operating range. Sometimes, however, we get stuck in one feeling or another, and we might call it a "mood". If it happens to be a negative feeling then that mood can make our activities of the day seem a little more tiring, a little less interesting, or fun. If those negative feelings persist, and the mood continues for long enough, then our physical health can start to be affected and we experience stress, which of course can lead to many issues, such as lack of sleep, illness, and perhaps even depression.
Normally, we naturally encounter things that tend to lift our spirits and offset any negative impact that the day might have on us. However, if we haven't engaged in those uplifting things in a while, perhaps due to changes in usual daily routines, loss of employment or relationship, isolation, and so on, then it is time to take matters into our own hands. We need uplifting, hopeful moments, and there is nothing odd or strange about making them happen if they aren't occurring naturally. It is simply recognizing that we are wonderful, emotional, beings that need love and care, and that we are actually able and ideally suited to giving that to ourselves. It also contributes to our understanding of ourselves, our needs, where our stress boundaries lie, and the freedom that comes with knowing that we need not rely on anyone else to meet our needs. So go ahead, empower, and strengthen yourself!
What Sorts Of Things Can I Do?
There are so many things you can do, and as you start doing them, more will occur to you. Invite opportunity into your life, into your daily experience and more will follow. Do each practice with an intention, with focus, with awareness. Here are a few suggestions to get you started!
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And of course, if you find that even with incorporating more self-care into your life you still continue to feel down, then know that help and support are always at hand. The ultimate act of self-care might be to give yourself the focused help of your own therapist. You might want to browse our providers using the menu bar above, and see which one feels like a good fit for you. Sometimes a chat with someone who understands your needs and the pitfalls can go a long way to smoothing the journey back to joy and contentment.
We are here for you.
We're Here For You
