Self-Care Sunday: What does self-care really mean?

Welcome to Self-Care Sunday ??

In our fast-paced world, self-care has become a buzzword that is often associated with spa days, massages, and bubble baths. However, true self-care goes beyond these surface-level activities.

Join us as we explore the true meaning of self-care and learn how to prioritize our well-being in a meaningful and fulfilling way.

At first glance, it may seem like self-care is all about physical rest and relaxation. However, Mel Robbins's quote highlights the importance of taking care of our mental and emotional well-being.

This means taking a step back when we feel overwhelmed, learning to say no, being vulnerable and seeking support, and engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment.

Incorporating these practices into our daily routines can help reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall mental and emotional well-being.

So, the next time you hear the phrase "self-care", remember that it's not just about drinking water and getting enough sleep - it's about taking care of ourselves in all aspects.

Take some time this week to reflect on your own self-care practices. Are there any areas where you can make improvements? ??

Try incorporating these:

???? Asking for help shows that we understand our limitations and are not afraid to reach out to others for support.

???? Speaking kindly to ourselves helps us build a positive relationship with our inner selves and promote self-confidence.

???? Setting boundaries ensures that we are not overburdened and that our time and energy are being directed toward what is truly important.

???? Avoiding gossip protects our mental state and surrounds us with people positive people who uplift our spirits and encourage us to be our best selves.

Remember, self-care is not selfish. Take the time to discover your true meaning of self-care and make it a priority.

Recommended Reading ??

Closer to Love by Vex King

Beloved spiritual teacher Vex King follows up his international bestseller?Good Vibes, Good Life?with this essential guide to building meaningful, mindful, and loving relationships.

It is nearly impossible to build healthy, sustainable bonds with others without first having a good relationship with yourself. To get along with others, we often alter our habits or subsume our unique personalities. By trying to transform or suppress our true selves, we erode our self-worth and self-knowledge. We begin to lose sight of who we really are and what we truly want. When are self-understanding and self-confidence are damaged, it ultimately hurts our relationships.

Humans are social animals. In this wise and transformative book, Vex King helps us find and sustain the connections we want with ourselves and others. Good relationships begin with loving ourselves and recognizing our own desires and needs. This self-discovery allows our best selves to radiate with confidence and to attract and choose partners—romantic and platonic—who are truly compatible. When we feel comfortable in our own skin, we are able to give and receive love without being blocked by the destructive emotions and past trauma that previously held us back and prevented us from forming fulfilling and lasting relationships.

Filled with Vex King’s profound wisdom, thoughtful self-practices, and easy-to adopt-habit builders, this guide opens you up to the love you deserve and shows you how to bring it into your life.

Whole Brain Living by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

The?New York Times?best-selling author of?My Stroke of Insight?blends neuroanatomy with psychology to show how we can short-circuit emotional reactivity and find our way to peace.

For half a century we have been trained to believe that our right brain hemisphere is our emotional brain, while our left brain houses our rational thinking. Now neuroscience shows that it's not that simple: in fact, our emotional limbic tissue is evenly divided between our two hemispheres. Consequently, each hemisphere has both an emotional brain?and?a thinking brain. In this groundbreaking new book, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor presents these four distinct modules of cells as four?characters?that make up who we are: Character 1, Left Thinking; Character 2, Left Emotion; Character 3, Right Emotion; and Character 4, Right Thinking.

Everything we think, feel, or do is dependent upon brain cells to perform that function. Since each of the Four Characters stems from specific groups of cells that feel unique inside of our body, they each display particular skills, feel specific emotions, or think distinctive thoughts. In?Whole Brain Living,?Dr. Taylor shows us how to get acquainted with our own Four Characters, observe how they show up in our daily life, and learn to identify and relate to them in others as well. And she introduces a practice called the Brain Huddle--a tool for bringing our Four Characters into conversation with one another so we can tap their respective strengths and choose which one to embody in any situation.

The more we become familiar with each of the characters in ourselves and others, the more power we gain over our thoughts, our feelings, our relationships, and our lives. Indeed, we discover that we have the power to choose?who?and?how?we want to be in every moment. And when our Four Characters work together and balance one another as a whole brain, we gain a radical new road map to deep inner peace.

The Body Keeps Score Bessel van der Kolk, MD

“Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.” —Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies

A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing in this?New York Times?bestseller.

Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In?The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists,?The Body Keeps the Score?exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.

"Surround yourself with people who illuminate your path" - Kristen Butler

We hope that this week's focus on self-care has inspired you to prioritize your well-being and incorporate self-care "activities" into your routine. Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish, but necessary to lead a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.

So as the weekend comes to a close, we encourage you to reflect on the self-care you've engaged in this week and to continue to prioritize your well-being moving forward. Treat yourself with kindness, compassion, and love, and remember that self-care is a lifelong journey. ??

Here's to a happy, healthy, and relaxing Sunday, and a fantastic week ahead!