The Importance of Self-Care

Sometimes we’re so busy rushing around, doing jobs, looking after other people, trying to be productive, that we forget to look after ourselves. This is where I found myself recently, yet I ignored the need for self-care until I was almost on my knees in desperation. I suffer from debilitating migraines and lately they have been getting more frequent and much more severe, but I have that lovely old fashioned stiff upper lip attitude and tried to keep going regardless. The last attack, however, was so severe that it stopped me in my tracks and gave me a bit of a wake-up call. Now I am stepping back from life a little, I’m thinking about the things that can help me or even just lift me a little and everything else will just have to wait. I have realised that this is impossible to deal with alone, that I need to reach out and accept any help that is offered and also seek out new solutions – what a pity I didn’t do this before the migraines got so bad and got me down so badly. It’s a trap many of us fall into because society programmes us to be selfless, to not complain, to pull up our big girl pants and keep going; at least for my generation anyway. We must step out of that mindset and start looking at ourselves and checking in with our own physical and mental health more often, because we are important too. What good are we to anyone else if we are suffering?

What many people don’t realise is that self-care is spiritual care too – if you’re drained and under parr then so is your connection to spirit. You cannot receive guidance properly when you’re in need of healing. Sometimes we forget how much guidance we receive from spirit and just how reliant on it we actually are, but even when we are suffering that guidance is still there, it’s just harder for us to recognise when we are so caught up with pain. We do make things hard for ourselves sometimes and it’s so daft when you stop and think about it. Spirit always want us to know how important we are, how we should look ourselves as much as we look after others. This is especially important if you work with spirit to help others - how can you advise or heal another person if you are not prioritising your own health care? It’s not just hypocritical, it’s downright damaging to your own health – you cannot give every last drop of energy or sanity away and leave yourself empty.

Sometimes we need to take a step back, to reevaluate and prioritise self-care, not just for our own wellbeing, but also for the well being of those around us. So, if you only do one thing today, please check in with yourself and see if you need some healing, to talk, or just take a little time out, and act upon it. Make you the priority today.