Looking back on my life, I've been a master of giving, yet, I faced serious obstacles in receiving. I was always doing my best to please others and to make sure that they stayed happy and comfortable. I was so focused on making everything oh-so perfect for everyone else that I had completely forgotten about myself.
I feel extremely thankful that the female role-models in my life taught me how to serve, nourish, and nurture from the heart. However, there was one more thing for me to learn as a grown-up woman: that self-care and attentiom was not selfish, but fair. Like many, I am also a person worthy of love, care, and attention.
So here’s what worked well for me and helped with self - TLC:
1. Do more things for my heart and soul.
If I can’t find time for myself, I will force everything to the side and make it happen. I have started to spend a higher number of hours, sometimes days, all by myself. I take breaks between working hours and spending too much time online; I am not a robot. Sometimes, I go out for a nice walk in nature to pick flowers, or to sit by the lake, or to the book store, or to a museum.
2. Take good care of my mind.
It is the only one I’ve got, so I make sure to exercise it at every chance I get. I read books - not just on my Kindle - but also, the paper kind, too. In addition, I abstain from mind-altering drugs and from drinking alcohol. So many people talk about taking care of their body - and so few about taking care of their mind!
3. Set healthy boundaries with the outer world.
One of the most difficult things I had to learn was how to say NO to things I didn’t really want to do without feeling selfish, guilty, or overly worried that I might hurt or upset someone else. I decided to find my voice and speak up for myself and see what happened. Surprisingly, everything was just great when I started telling people exactly what I needed and wanted.
Once I began to pay kind, HEALTHY attention to myself—I started to feel more balanced and alive. Investing in self-care is the best decision you will ever make, and a life changing one.
Find your voice; It is okay to give yourself TLC.
It is perfectly super - fantastic to show yourself love, care and attention!