Transitions Kuel Category Expert: Nancy Tepper
We give and give but sometimes forget ourselves.
As parents, we effortlessly give to our children and put ourselves last as we try to meet their every need and want. It becomes second nature to focus on others and nurture those who are depending on us.
As kids grow up, many become independent. Others require our attention, even as they transition into adulthood. Some of our children will develop issues that make us feel very depleted as we realize we can’t control their lives any longer. Simultaneously, we may also have to deal with aging parents who are needy and unable to manage on their own any longer.
Many of us sacrifice self-care, abandon good sleeping habits, nutritious eating, and other routines that keep us feeling healthy and vibrant. Eventually, this takes a toll on our own health and can lead us to a general state of malaise.
“We cannot give what we don’t have.”
We Cannot Give To Others What We Don’t Have In Ourselves, We Must Self-Care:
In giving to others, we can sometime compromise our own health and happiness and general state of well-being. We must not forget that we too are aging – just like our parents and our children!
Finding a self-care routine can improve life exponentially as we navigate through challenges. Putting yourself first can be perceived as selfish, but the basic fact is that in order to give to others, we must also nourish ourselves. We cannot give what we don’t have
“Binge-watching TV and staying up late can make you feel groggy and sluggish the next day.”
How Are You Self-Sabotaging Yourself?
Thanks to the internet and the subsequently vast array of information at our fingertips, most know how important it is to focus on self-care. For us to be there for others and find that best version of ourselves, it is incumbent on us to take time out for self-love.
We need to look inward to see what we are doing when we feel good – and conversely what we are doing when we self-sabotage these efforts. For example, not drinking enough water or consuming too much alcohol can affect how we feel. Similarly, binge-watching TV and staying up late can make us feel groggy and sluggish the next day.
Sacrifice In The Short Term For Something Better In The Long Run, That’s Self-Care:
Oftentimes, we must sacrifice something good in the short term to get something even better in the long run, but it is always worth it. Figuring out what is required for meaningful self-care isn’t difficult.
We inherently know what we need to do to find the best version of ourselves. It is important for us to prioritize what’s important. Developing habits today that are essential to self-care, will help us become the best version of our self, both in the present and the future.
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