Self-Care is Caring for Others
12/10/09 11:08 Filed in: Deep Thought
So Hailey and I have been doing a lot of thinking on identity and healthy living. Not only are we rocking our bodies with a six-days-a-week work-out regime but we're working hard to maintain boundaries in an effort to stay spiritually and mentally healthy. So, I thought I'd pass along some thoughts for you all to chew on which might help you self-diagnose your own health (mentally & spiritually that is).
1. Have you been observing the Sabbath? It doesn't have to be Sunday and your Sabbath probably shouldn't involve going to church. Rather, are you taking time to just stop? You have a homework assignment, a play rehearsal, a big match, a night out with friends, etc. going on and instead of just going, you prioritize time to just stop, rest & play.
2. Until we take care of ourselves, we can't properly take care of others. How often are you trying to solve friend's problems? The starting point in all of this is ourselves.
3. Who gets your best? Do you often work so hard at school or sports or drama or with friends that when you come home it's often like you're another person? Why do we often give our families the left over bits of our energy?
So here's the reality - self-care is not an option, it is a necessity. You must learn how to say no to certain good things, to create space to nurture your heart and to rest. If you don't, you won't be fully present to others. What's more you'll leave a trail of hurt behind as your family, friends and classmates suffer.
Take time.
Rest.
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