When I was younger, I never thought much about practicing self-care. Now that I am older, self-care is a necessary part of my life.
I used to think self-care meant eating good foods, getting plenty of sleep, and drinking lots of water. Of course, it is all these things and much more.
With the world in such a state, we are bombarded by all kinds of things that can disrupt our self-care. The news can be toxic, TV and movies are dark and violent, and even friends and family can disrupt our self-care.
And when do I know when I have allowed the world around me to disrupt my self-care? When I can’t sleep, when I am anxious or worried, or get sick or develop unusual pain.
Last week was a wake-up call for me.
My inner and outer worlds became disrupted to the point that I ended up in the hospital ER.
Of course, the lack of peace in my mind, heart, and body comes on slowly. It is like the story of the frog in the boiling pot: The heat gradually increases until it kills the frog. Of course, the frog doesn’t notice it until it is too late—or, in my case, until I end up in so much physical pain that it is unbearable.
Once in the ER, the medical people performed all kinds of tests, but they could not find anything physically wrong with me. They had no answer to the unbearable pain I was feeling.
After about 5 hours, doctor #2 came into the room and offered me some solutions. It was then that I realized I had neglected my self-care. I was eating healthily, taking my vitamins and medication, drinking lots of water, and getting 7-8 hours of sleep most nights! But that was not enough for me.
These are some of the things that can negatively affect my self-care and peace of mind (despite maintaining my spiritual practices):
- Not enough exercise or stretching of my essential muscles. Daily walking was not enough.
- Listening and absorbing too much negativity. I have always been careful about the TV shows and movies I watch, but I was not paying attention to the stress my neighbors, friends, and family were causing me through their trauma. I need to protect my mental and emotional well-being.
- Sitting too many hours during the day on my computer. Who would have thought that sitting for hours in front of a computer could be damaging? I needed to learn to schedule period breaks.
- Forgetting to peacefully maintain my boundaries. Most of this is accomplished through a change in mindset. If someone’s actions disturb me, I need to correct my attitude or remove myself from the situation.
I hope you are practicing the self-care you need without going to the ER like I did!