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Writer's pictureLalita Dileep

Self Care - Affirming Ourselves

Finding the most important fulcrum in an uncertain time within ourselves

Why Self Care Matters


Our relationship with ourselves is what defines us. It is valuable, inherent and authentic. In an uncertain world as we navigate the choppy times we need to find our fulcrum by taking care of our self first. Why is it important to take care of our mind, body and soul everyday and not just when we fall sick?


Because our well-being matters - Self Care Matters. If we are healthy inside out, our ability to work, function, interact with others, be resilient, and have a balanced perspective for all things that come our way. Self-care has been defined as, "a multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being". Put that way it sounds daunting, so no wonder many of us have found out the hard way that it is easier said than done. Instead, if we view #selfcare simply as taking good care of ourselves just as we do of our material possessions, we will be taking one giant leap in the right direction.

Discovering Yourself Anew


Taking care of yourself doesn’t just mean, "Me first." It actually should resonate as Me too. Self Care is not a selfish act. People who love themselves radiate an aura of being self possessed, generous, and kind; they express their self-confidence through humility, forgiveness, and inclusiveness. Allowing yourself to enjoy each happy moment in you’re life is not a luxury it is a necessity.


Given the strong connection between mind and body when we physically take care our bodies, our minds begin to bloom too. Eating sensibly, getting adequate sleep, regular exercise are all the cornerstones of physical and mental self care.


The things that we fill our minds with greatly influence our psychological well-being.

Searching for our Tribe


In this pandemic induced pause in our life, it is important to find our support system. Social Self-Care comes into play in this instance. Close connections built through socialization is often the key. When the world spins out of control it is easy to neglect our relationships, yet if we realize that it is our tribe that will sustain us, center us, we will not lose sight of them.

With so many ways to keep in touch in today's world - there is no excuse to let go of this significant tether.


Developing healthy coping skills to deal with uncomfortable emotions, like anger, anxiety, and sadness is another much needed cognitive craft. Emotional self-care must include activities that help us acknowledge, express as well as face up to our feelings on a consistent basis. This will help us grow, stabilize and mature in far rfar-reachingeaching ways. A plethora of strategies are out there for emotional Self Care - exercising mindfulness, meditation, yoga and so much more. We just have to unlock our own secret treasure chest.


What questions do you ask yourself about your life and your Self Care? Has the pandemic made it harder or easier for you to take care of yourself? What techniques have you adopted as gyms and group workouts have been shutdown?


I, for one, has found myself more focused, calmer and collected about myself and the things that are important in my life. This has made me take a second pass at Self Care and refocus on why it is so important for my own well being. I have also realized that when I am feeling better about myself - the world looks like a magnificent place.


We are stronger together



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