HOW TO HAVE GREAT SELF-CARE

"If I’d known I was going to live so long, I’d have taken better care of myself." James Blake

Believe it or not, you are your most valuable asset. And the only asset that will be with you for the entire length of your life. No one else, no friend, family member or loved one can promise that. Just you.

Let’s pretend for a moment that I gave you a car. But there’s one caveat. This car will be your only vehicle for the rest of your life. If this were true, I think you’d take very good care of that car. Doing all that was necessary for that car’s continued functioning.

So, why is it so hard to give ourselves the same care? For most of us, we simply haven’t been taught. We live in a culture that does not value self-care. Think how many dozens of commercials you have seen that tell you to take a pill for pain. Taking a pill for pain is like telling your body to shut up. I know sometimes it’s necessary to quieten symptoms, but our culture does little to teach us about listening to ourselves and responding with deep care. (Think of how we deal with cancer─toxic chemotherapy and radiation!)

Many of us have been taught that taking care of ourselves is selfish, but in my experience, the more you give to yourself, the more you have to give to others. It’s that simple. Think of a fountain. The more water a fountain takes in, the more it can flow out. In order to give abundantly to others, you have to give abundantly to yourself.

Here are some ways to take care of yourself more fully:

1) Intend it. Intention is powerful and will set a course for a new destination.

2) Brainstorm 10 small things you can do right away to up your self-care. Things like going to bed early one night, having a salad for lunch, walking around the block before bedtime. Small things are powerful, don’t underestimate them.

3) Grow micro greens. YouTube has tons of videos on how to do this, but it’s so easy. All you need is a tray, soil and some raw hulled or unhulled sunflower seeds. Soak the seeds overnight, then cover them with soil and water. In about 7 days, you’ll have a tray of luscious tasty greens that are 50 times more alive and nutritious than anything you’ll find at the grocery store.

4) Buddy Up. I’m always ranting about this one, but it’s SO powerful. Make a deal with a buddy, to walk, do yoga, meditate. It works to have someone else to do these things with.

5) Be choiceful about media. Sure if there’s a program you want to watch, a magazine/paper you want to read, do it, but don’t do it because you’re bored. Media usually doesn’t nourish.

6) Make health appointments in advance. Every time you leave the dentist, chiropractor, or other health professional, make your next appointment, even it’s months away and you don’t know if you can make it. It’s good to just have the appointment. You can change it if you need to.

7) Buy organic for these highly pesticided foods: Apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, grapes, potatoes, spinach, strawberries, kale and zucchini.

8) Use power questions. Here’s a great one for self-care. "What would be the most nourishing thing I could do for myself right now?"

9) Meditate. This can be as simple as breathing in the word peace as you stand in line or sit in a traffic jam. Calming your mind will calm your body and being calm is hugely self-healing and self-caring.

10) Get support. The combined aspects of accountability and encouragement is what makes coaching so effective for creating change. Try it and see for yourself.