Self-care: what does it mean?
Are you a care giver?
What I mean by that is, do you care for and take care of all those around you? Are you often burnt out; your energy stores completely depleted?
On the spiritual journey there is a lot of guidance towards putting others first, to be selfless vs. selfish. Even the Dalai Lama spoke about the root cause of anxiety being a state of constantly thinking of yourself, the cure, he stated, altruism. To put the welfare and need of others ahead of your own.
In the Gita, this is also a reoccurring teaching put forth as Karma Yoga or the path of selfless service. To be in service to all those around you, starting in the home first, then working your way out to friends, work, community, and so forth.
This got me thinking, what about your self though? At what point do you put yourself first? When do you fill your own cup?
The thing is, if we are all doing this, you never have to because everyone else is putting you first. I realized that one of the reasons my cup is rarely empty (brain injury aside) is because I am surrounded by people that live this way. I wasn’t always, but just as I have grown and healed so have those around me. Some have left and others have come into my life. I have learned to be more nurturing by osmosis of those I surround myself with.
What is selfcare then?
It is when we care for the Self, our spirit or soul. When we nurture and nourish it, our cup is always full. How do we do that? We listen to its whispers. It craves connection and anything that brings you closer to love. Maybe it is a bubble bath or a walk with a friend, only you know. But more often it is helping someone, supporting, and loving those around you. It is surrounding yourself with others who want the same and are willing to put the effort in.
It is also accepting all of this from others!
To all the nurturers, mothers, healers, and care givers, thank you. But please don’t forget to let others fill their cups by nurturing and supporting you.
My wish today is to embrace the natural, spiritual law of giving and receiving. For it is in both, giving and receiving, that we truly thrive.
How will you Self-care today?
Brightest of blessings,
Dawn xo
Dawn Elgin | Conscious Empowerment Coach & Awakening Light