3 Reasons why Self Care isn’t Selfish.
Have you ever felt guilty about the idea of Self Care? “Self-Care” is a fancy buzz-word that’s been a hot topic for awhile now. I know; it seems selfish to step away from the important stuff of life just to take care of yourself. Keep reading to learn 3 Reasons why Self Care isn’t Selfish. (Because, it's not supposed to be!)
“I’m just SO TIRED!!!” I sobbed to my husband one night. He said “Okay, let’s get you some time for a break…” I quickly replied, “But… I feel SO GUILTY for taking time away!”
He stared at me, bewildered, and asked, “Why do you feel guilty? You need space to re-charge, so let’s make sure you get it.”
(Yeah, he’s incredibly sweet — and he’s MINE, so… back off, ladies. 😉)
But it's not just me that struggles with feelings of guilt about self-care. I’ve chatted with lots of women… and we ALL seem to feel guilty for taking any time for ourselves. Are you ready for the BIG NEWS?
Self-Care Isn’t Selfish.
(There… I said it.)
You are ALLOWED to take care of yourself! And, what’s more, you NEED to take care of yourself! In order to explain WHY self-care is so important, let’s look at the definition of Self-Care. (I love a good definition!)
Self-Care (noun) :
"The practice of taking action to improve or protect one's health and well-being."
Okay. So… that’s pretty self-explanatory, right? If it still feels kinda selfish, though… Let’s take a closer look at the reasons for a consistent self-care practice. Are you ready? Here are…
3 Reasons why Self Care isn’t Selfish:
It Creates an Overflow for Others:
If you struggle with feeling guilty about self-care, you probably feel like you give until you’re exhausted and empty. Let’s look at that perspective for a moment: If you fill a cup up and then pour it out, it’s empty (and you have to fill it again).
But; If you fill that same cup until it overflows, the extra just starts pouring everywhere. With consistent self-care, you’ll be able to POUR out of the overflow, instead of feeling drained and empty.
Self Care isn’t all Bubble Baths and Rainbows!
I know, I know… that’s a total bummer. This is probably an unpopular opinion, but my current version of self-care also includes my HOUSEWORK. Let me explain:
If self care is about improving or protecting your health and well-being,… then sometimes that means doing the not-so-fun things, like changing your diet or holding yourself accountable to doing the dishes before you go to bed.
Self-care is about figuring out what things you need in your life that keep you operating at the highest level — so that you have the capacity to take care of who and what matters most to you.
Jesus made time to rest and recover.
And… He’s, like, GOD. So, if it’s good enough for him, then maybe you should give self-care a little more credit. Seriously; think about it: He stepped aside and went off by himself in several passages in the New Testament. He got in a boat and slept through a storm. He went away from the crowds.
Mark 6:31 says “And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
I hope this helps you see that self care isn’t a selfish practice… but that it’s also a necessary part of life. (Especially if you have people and things in your life that you care deeply about!)
