A New Way to Think About Self Care
“Self care is a divine responsibility”
Have you seen this little quote as you searched the term self care?
I don’t know who coined it, but for me, it's a big truth.
But, what does it mean?
I actually have that statement posted on an information board in my office. The other day, a patient stood peering at it.
"Hummmph," he boomed. "Self care is a divine responsibility. Why?"
Why, indeed? The first time I read that phrase, I got it. It’s one of my core beliefs. It just is. But, how does one explain why to someone who doesn’t see it?
I found myself stuck for an answer. There must be a way to translate the concept of self care as something sacred, something we do with a higher purpose, to those who haven’t thought of it that way.
So, I did yet another internet search, looking at the concept of self care from a broad perspective and from different angles, to try to find a way to put it all together.
And I started to see a pattern...
Self care is about connectedness
It’s about slowing down and connecting with our selves, attending to our own needs. It’s also about our connection to other beings, our planet and our universe.
Wow! Think about it. When we look after ourselves, and do it with intention, we can’t help but connect with our higher selves.
We snap out of our busy heads and shift our attention to our hearts, and our breath and our muscles. We come to own our selves and take responsibility for the way we feel on a day-to-day basis.
Part of that awakening is to look outwardly too, to nurture the healthy connections we have with the people and animals in our lives (plants, too!) and, eventually to feel a oneness with our planet and all of creation.
Well...that was my takeaway, and it’s definitely got a divine ring to it.
Connection to The Self
When we stop our frantic pace and take a break for exercise or to prepare a healthy meal or sit quietly in meditation, we’re actually creating a sacred space.
We’re giving ourselves the opportunity to connect with our inner world, our higher self. It’s a time to show gratitude for the gift of our bodies, our minds and our amazing existence.
You may be really good at looking after everyone else in your life - your kids, your parents, your partner, your neighbours. It’s the way our generation was raised, and it comes naturally to us.
But if you don’t turn your attention inward at some point, you’ll wear yourself out. You’ll risk becoming fatigued, joyless and cynical. That, by the way, is the definition of burn-out.
The special attention you give to your body, your mind, and your spirit, and how you nourish, respect, and care for yourself is the only way to fill your energy coffers so that you’ll have extra in reserve to care for others - with love - while loving yourself.
My personal belief that self care is a divine responsibility stems from a lifetime (almost) of study of the workings of the human body - the awesome structure of anatomy, the dizzying complexity of physiology, how structure and function are intricately intertwined and harmoniously work together.
We are living, breathing miracles. And for me, high quality nutrition, physical activity, restful sleep, quiet time - often in nature, and spiritual development, to name a few aspects of my self care program, are without doubt a divine prescription.
Connection to each other
"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Marianne Williamson
Your self care activities will set an example for those around you. Once you start to model healthy behaviours, your family and friends, neighbours and co-workers, will see what you’re doing and be inspired to start their own self care programs, and that will influence the people in their lives.
And on it goes, potentially starting a wellness movement that could positively affect the future of health care in our society. And that’s without even joining a group!
What about the time we spend volunteering, giving back? It’s time well spent. Volunteering, helping friends, even donating funds have all been shown to improve our sense of belonging and feelings of well-being and happiness. And that translates to better health.
Being of service to others is a win-win situation.
Connection to the rest of the universe
Of course we all know and love Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock lyrics “We are stardust, we are golden". But, when we were singing along back in 1968, did we realize that we really ARE stardust?
OK, my friends, this is huge. Self care is a divine responsibility...why? Because we actually are made of stardust. We ARE the universe.
The human body is made mostly of oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, phosphorus, and calcium. All are necessary for life, and all are star elements!
The atoms in our bodies were ALL made inside stars - stars that exploded billions of years ago, collided with our Earth, and eventually, made us and every other living thing. And, by the way, the diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other jewels that we consider so precious.
New studies are continually being released confirming these revelations – most recently a mapping of the elements in the stars in the Milky Way and how similar they are to our Earthly elements, the very same minerals that are critical for the healthy functioning of our bodies and minds. Mind-blowing, isn't it?
Ask me now
So, if a skeptical patient asked me now, Why is self care a divine responsibility?
...this is what I would say...
Self care is a divine responsibility because you really are a ‘child of the universe,’ because we are all connected, your health is our health, and our health affects the health of the planet and the future for all living beings.
Your attention to self care reflects your profound respect for the miracle that is life, that is YOU. You are divinely charged to protect it, and take care of it.
Like you would a diamond.
I'd love to hear your ideas, and if there are topics you'd like to know more about, please leave a comment below. Thanks!
Take care of your self,
