Many of us are taught to think of self-care in attention to self as selfishness. Particularly those that tend to be empathetic often find it hard to turn their attention only to themselves.in these turbulent times with so many things going on around us and so many reasons to turn our attention outward, I would like my readers to think about reasons to turn in word even for a few minutes.
There’s so many ways to help in the community. Volunteering, helping your neighbor, donating if possible I just a few of those ways. these are all very valuable and I attempt to help out when time and resources allow myself.
As we approach the weekend I would like you to think about your own self care. Being selfless is Christ-like and beautiful, but if you don’t make sure to fill up your own body and soul you will quickly become depleted.
Self-care can take on many forms and by all means don’t feel limited by my recommendations but here are a few:
- Hiking in nature
- Taking a bath in epsom salt and essential oils
- Meditation
- Taking a nap
- Reading
When you have cared for yourself, you develop your own resilience. You also deepen you ability to have empathy for others. You lower your own stress hormones, which improves how your immune system functions. When you come from a calm, centered place, it’s easier to be supportive for others.
My own experience with self care has made me a strong believer that self care leads to better care for others. I give myself some kind of self care daily. I will try to start my mornings with Yoga and usually give myself a Reiki treatment at bedtime. I find that I am able to see many patients during the day with complicated cases without feeling stressed. Years ago, before I started my journey to Reiki, I frequently felt overwhelmed. I wanted to be there for my patients but struggled to create a safe boundary in which patients could express themselves without taking on their issues personally.
If you find yourself feeling stressed, especially with the all the external reminders of our constantly chaning world, turn off your devices and practice some self care.
I always appreciate you spending time with me on my site. If you stay tuned, I am working on creating self paced courses on Reiki Training. Stay Tuned!