It's entirely acceptable to prioritize caring for the most critical person in your life, YOU, without guilt.
Life has been busy lately, which has taken a toll on my health. Today is one of those days when I need to rest my body and allow myself time to recharge. Why do these days create an underlying feeling of guilt, a sense of letting others down, and not allowing myself the opportunity to embrace taking care of myself?
I don’t know about all of you, but as I get older, my ability to be available to everyone when required is a mental and physical drain on my resources, much more so than in my younger years. So, how do we protect our energy as we navigate life’s responsibilities and learn to say no when necessary?
When these moments present themselves, they can nudge us into realizing that we often make others more important than ourselves. This, for many of us, has been a lifelong habit of sacrificing ourselves, putting our needs second or aside for the benefit of others. This is a subconscious message telling ourselves that those around us are more important.
For me, this was a habit nurtured from childhood. It was a way of seeking love, acceptance, and recognition, a way to feel important and needed. As a mother, it was a natural response to put my children’s needs ahead of my own.
But this behavior can leave us feeling depleted and unfulfilled at any time in our lives, and we may not realize the impact it has on us. We can not be everything to everyone and exclude ourselves. There should be no shame or guilt when the time comes to say “No.” There should be no shame or guilt in putting ourselves first.
When I turned 50, I chose to live a life that I truly wanted, one that challenged me and made me happy. There was overwhelming guilt associated with that decision, emotions I still grapple with today. But when we decide to become the most important person in our lives, we make choices that align us with our true selves.
Once we make that choice, we understand that we are the only ones suffering when we make others a priority. So, let's make time for ourselves and discover what fills us up. Learn to say no when the activity or request isn’t in our best interest. Start prioritizing what makes us happy, brings us joy, and brings us peace.
And so, my Sole Sisters, as you ramble out into your week, it is time to slow down, pay attention, and invest in yourself. It’s okay just to recharge and take care of yourself.
With every act of self-care your authentic self gets stronger, and the critical, fearful mind gets weaker. Every act of self-care is a powerful declaration: I am on my side, I am on my side, and each day, I am more and more on my own side. - Susan Weiss Berry
It’s okay to take time for yourself. We give so much of ourselves to others, and we need to be fueled both physically and mentally. If we are in balance, it helps us in all our interactions.- Faith Hill
READ MORE > Jane's Mindful Musings, Rambler Cafe Blog.
Love this Jane. I’ve always felt a bit selfish because even as a wife and mom when my kids were younger, I did stuff for myself sometimes but as I get older, I’ve realized that it was probably a good thing and maybe part of the reason I’m still married, almost 40 years later and my kids still want to hang out with me….sometimes.
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