The Truth About Self Care

I know I'm not the only one who has a little obsession with the idea of self care. Pinterest posts with flowery script telling us it's not selfish to take some YOU time. Tanned goddesses with flowing locks look up from their journals and lattes, their sparkling eyes holding the secret to true happiness. If only we practice daily self care, we too can be our best selves! True self care is that whisper in the wind that says we are worthy of listening to our needs and nurturing ourselves. However, the idea of self care can paint a picture of weird perfection that isn't only unattainable, it may not be that healthy in the long run. Here are a few common misconceptions that give self care a bit of a bad rap.

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1. One size fits all

Self care means different things to different people. Finding your version of self care is like learning the language of your inner self. The love language between you and yourself. What is it that truly feeds you? What types of things bolster your spirit?

Is it gift based? Buy/create yourself a treat. There are millions of ways to do this inexpensively.

Is it quality time based? Spend some time alone with yourself. One of my favorites is to take myself to a movie.

Is it physical? Massage, full body meditation, yoga, actually taking a shower after not doing so for a week... these are great ways to speak to your body.

There are plenty of self care assessment quizzes online if you want a little help figuring put your own style. Another way to understand your own needs is by looking at how you treat others. We often respond to a friend's needs in the same way we'd like to be treated in that situation.

2. Self care is basic bish nonsense

Looking after your own well being is never nonsense. Taking care of yourself doesn't have to be cotton candy fluff that you sometimes see on Pinterest. It's not all about flowing fonts and bullet journaling. Maybe sometimes it can be a band-aid or quick fix, but I bet if you challenge yourself to find out what's really going on beneath your self care needs, you'll come out the other side even more enriched. Self care can be a deep, meaningful, and essential part of life. If you take the time to make it so. Self care and self knowledge can often go hand in hand. And knowledge is power, my friends. Once you can figure out how to feed the tools that are your body, spirit, and big ol' brain, you could be unstoppable.

3. Practicing self care will fix you

Baby, no amount of bubble baths and/or deep and careful introspection will "fix" you. Even if you are able to shift your focus and make self care a part of your life routine, you will still have the hound of life scratching at your door. Don't let the worries of life paralyze you, but don't be bamboozled into thinking some self care will make your problems go away.

4. Self care is always easy

A lot of self care tips involve indulging yourself or finding the positive side of things. I'm a HUGE fan of positive thinking. I'm staunchly glass is half full BUT self care isn't always about the sunny side. Sometimes what you really need is to stretch yourself. To give yourself some tough love. Stretching always hurts a little. Perhaps the best thing to do for yourself is to challenge, to take risks that are scary, to tell yourself I know this is scary, uncomfortable and hard BUT HERE WE GO. Trusting yourself to get you through that stuff? What a great way to tell yourself you're worthy.

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When it comes down to it, It's important to know that self care gives you exactly what you put into it. If you're just in it for the insta pic, the likes that result can only go so far. If you're willing to dive into what you really and truly need, and not let shallow, surface area tactics take the place of true self work, you're going to get a more enriching experience out of self care.

Remember- We're all in this together

XOXO,

Coralou