What is true self-care? Self-care is a term that is thrown around all the time in this generation.
I think it is because we’ve made life so very busy for ourselves that we’re now really finding out what the repercussions are.
However, self-care is so often misdefined. Self-care isn’t going for a manicure or getting pampered, although those can be part of it.
I would even venture as far as to say that self-care isn’t ‘me-time.’
There is so much more to self-care than getting a massage or taking a break for a cup of tea.
I want to talk about the true meaning of self-care and how to effectively sustain it as both a woman and a mother.
What is True Self-Care?
Being Mindful
The first aspect of self-care is being mindful. If you are not mindful in knowing what you need and when you need it, then you cannot care for yourself properly.
So often burnout comes as a result of never properly stopping to rest and actually think about how we’re feeling and what we might need.
Mindfulness will go a long way in helping you prevent burnout from occurring. And then there’s the mental health aspect of it as well.
Feeding Your Soul
This is something that I feel very strongly about as someone who has faith in Christ.
There is a huge movement out there that is all about self-motivation, self-help, and ‘gettin’ your hustle on.’
I get it.
We are all capable of achieving great things if we only put our mind to it.
However, our minds are only as strong as what we put into them. Our mind needs to be fed. You need to be fed.
As a Christian, I believe that the most powerful way to feed your mind is from the Word of God.
It can be so easy to fill our spare minutes with inspirational Instagram feeds full of motivational quotes. But, as much as they can be encouraging, God’s Word is far more powerful.
He was the first one to truly show us our worth.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
He showed us that we are loved and valuable by sacrificing His very life for us.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” – Matthew 10:29-31
The truth about what we are capable of doing through His power is written down in his Word for us to glean from.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:13
And He also teaches us to show ourselves grace because that is the example that He gives us.
“For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” – Psalm 103:14
Can I just make something very clear? No amount of pampering is going to help you if you’re not feeding your soul. Self-care…true self-care starts from the inside.
