I struggled with self-care for a long time. It wasn’t an easy task for me. I was in too much pain and too ashamed of what had happened to me. In the process, I had completely disconnected from myself and my needs.
Back then, my self-care mostly consisted of numbing the pain. It just hurt too much to think about it.
Adding self-care to my life was difficult because I couldn’t figure out what I wanted and needed. I was really hard on myself about this, too. It was embarrassing. I was a grown woman, but I didn’t know how to care for myself in a loving way.
However, I was very skilled at taking care of family and friends. I knew what they needed, and I would go out of my way to make sure those needs were met. I always put them first, often at the expense of my own self-care.
Does this sound like you? If so, here’s how to stop neglecting yourself.
Self-care begins with awareness. Pay attention to what works, what doesn’t work, and what needs to be tweaked in your life.
The best way to do this is to make a list:
Seems like a tall order, doesn’t it? It did to me. With a busy work life and a family of five, I had no time in my day for taking care of “me.”
But I was determined to do this, so I kept trying.
Then an amazing thing happened. I began to feel better about myself. I was shocked to discover self-care was helping me heal.
Slowly, I started to treat myself with the respect and love I deserved. Wow. Imagine that? It felt good. Really good.
You can do this, too. Make today the day you take those first steps toward your own self-care. It won’t feel comfortable at first, but keep trying. You’ll be glad you did!
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Were you sexually abused as a child? Is your life stuck as an adult, and you can’t seem to move forward? I offer private coaching sessions by phone or skype ($55.00 per hour) for child sexual abuse survivors just like you. To set up an appointment, call 619 889 6366 or email svava@educate4change.com today. Take the time to invest in yourself. You’re worth it!
Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/ or find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/educate4change
Back then, my self-care mostly consisted of numbing the pain. It just hurt too much to think about it.
Adding self-care to my life was difficult because I couldn’t figure out what I wanted and needed. I was really hard on myself about this, too. It was embarrassing. I was a grown woman, but I didn’t know how to care for myself in a loving way.
However, I was very skilled at taking care of family and friends. I knew what they needed, and I would go out of my way to make sure those needs were met. I always put them first, often at the expense of my own self-care.
Does this sound like you? If so, here’s how to stop neglecting yourself.
Self-care begins with awareness. Pay attention to what works, what doesn’t work, and what needs to be tweaked in your life.
The best way to do this is to make a list:
- What healthy foods did you eat today?
- Did you exercise today?
- How much water did you drink today?
- Did you do something today that gave you joy, something just for you like reading a good book or getting a manicure or window shopping?
Seems like a tall order, doesn’t it? It did to me. With a busy work life and a family of five, I had no time in my day for taking care of “me.”
But I was determined to do this, so I kept trying.
Then an amazing thing happened. I began to feel better about myself. I was shocked to discover self-care was helping me heal.
Slowly, I started to treat myself with the respect and love I deserved. Wow. Imagine that? It felt good. Really good.
You can do this, too. Make today the day you take those first steps toward your own self-care. It won’t feel comfortable at first, but keep trying. You’ll be glad you did!
********
Were you sexually abused as a child? Is your life stuck as an adult, and you can’t seem to move forward? I offer private coaching sessions by phone or skype ($55.00 per hour) for child sexual abuse survivors just like you. To set up an appointment, call 619 889 6366 or email svava@educate4change.com today. Take the time to invest in yourself. You’re worth it!
Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/ or find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/educate4change
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