Why Self-Care Can Feel Selfish And What To Do About It
Is Self-Care Selfish?
How to take care of yourself and not feel selfish!
Image source: breakingpic
Self-care is probably one of the most important aspects in life, and yet so many of us feel guilty doing it. So, what is self-care, and why do we feel so guilty sometimes?
In a raw definition sense, self-care is the ability to preserve or improve ones own health. Our personal health can be unfolded into so many ways. The easiest one is physical health. No one feels guilty or bats an eye if you need to see a doctor for an ailment. But, health comes in so many forms such as mental health, emotional health, spiritual health, and just your overall well-being. We should feel the same sense of urgency when it comes to taking care of ourselves emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
Even when boarding a plane, we are instructed to place our oxygen masks on ourselves before helping children or others around you. This is such a great analogy for self-care. Don't be that person who is putting on everyone else's mask, only to then find yourself passing out, and no longer able to help the ones who might need you most.
The guilt may be due to a lack of understanding, whether from you or others around you. So often we mistake self-care as being selfish. Being selfish by Webster Dictionary definition is to lack consideration of others, concerning chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure. As you can see there is a clear difference.
Image Source: Hassan Ouajbir
Self-care looks different for everyone. Some need to unwind with a deep tissue massage, others need to go for a run or practice yoga daily. Some need a quiet bath, or a good book. We shouldn't judge others in the way they indulge in themselves in order to satisfy that self-care desire.
We should, however, choose to be happy. Give yourself permission to take care of yourself. So whatever that may look like for you, go out and find your inner peace and do what makes YOU happy!
XO,
Mindy
