Busting the Myth that Self-Care is Selfish

10-Week Self-Care Challenge

Week # 1

Join me, Coach Judith, every Saturday for the next ten weeks. I will post a new challenge each week and at the end of that time we will look back and see if any of us still believe self-care is selfish. Let’s bust that old myth once and for all.

Remember when your mother said things like, “You need to play nice and not be selfish.” You heard this or more…over…and over…and over. Many factors growing up, from religion to sibling rivalry, made up who you are today. Unfortunately for some of us, we have developed a huge bucket of guilt whenever we even think we would like to do something wonderful for ourselves. Not because we deserve it, but just because we want to. Wow, I don’t know about you but that sounds like freedom to me. Do you want freedom? Do you want to treat yourself with care and respect? If yes, then please join me on my 10–week journey. It will open up your world to new adventures and it might even send that guilt packing. Now wouldn’t that be nice?

Our first week’s adventure begins today with a very simple exercise. For the next week, if you are willing to take on the self-care challenge, we are going to explore gratitude and what being grateful, on a very deep level, will do to prepare you for the bigger self-care challenges ahead.

Exercise week one:

Spend 5-10 minutes each day writing down what you are grateful for. You can do this at any time of the day but I find it most powerful either in the early morning or just before bed. Take your time to get into a reflective mood. One very important part of this exercise is that you cannot write the same thing twice for a full week. Write at least 10 things each day. As the week goes on you are going to have to dig deeper and deeper. By the end of the week you will have 70 things you are grateful for. Sound impossible? Get creative or ask your loved ones for ideas. Look not only in your environment but also inside of you! Most of all…have fun. 

You can use a special Journal for your gratitude list or simply a notepad. However you do it just remember once you start, you might not want to stop. Make the journal big enough to keep going. Filling the pages with what you are grateful for will be the beginning of your own self-care journey to fill your own cup. When it is full to the top, you will have more to give others.

"There is a calmness to a life lived in Gratitude, a quiet joy."

Author: Ralph H. Blum

 

Please leave comments here or email me with any thoughts or challenges. I always love to hear from you.

Watch this wonderful video by Deepak Chopra for inspiration. You might want to watch it each day to get into your reflective mood.

I will post your next challenge on Saturday Feb. 6^th, so please check back.

 

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Copyright 2009
Judith Geiger
Certified Personal Success and Relationship Coach
Flying Change Coaching, LLC

All rights reserved.

 

Coach Judith inspires women starting over to let go of stress, to build self-esteem and be proactive in creating loving relationships by developing a strong sense of self. When you are ready to take on the adventure of finding the partner of your dreams, Judith has the tools and resources to allow you to move forward with confidence and ease.

Call or email Coach Judith for a free 30-minute coaching consultation. 315 497 3059

 

Comments

[Maggie]

Judith, I love your Myth Busting Challenge and appreciate the value and benefit it will have in my life. While I fundamentally know that self-care is not being selfish, every now and then I still have to remind myself "why" it isn't: Sometimes the decision to put my needs first, or take care of myself first doesn't feel comfortable. Going through this 10 week challenge will give me a whole list or notebook full of assurance and comfort that it really is okay!

[Cheryl Gardner]

What a great idea, Self care does feel selfish most of the time. Lets change that!

[Tamara Gardner]

I must have had a good role model while growing up because I don't feel that self-care is selfish at all. Of course there needs to be a balance between focusing on oneself and others. Self-care is really about attending to your own mental, physical, emotional needs so that you are more prepared to take care of others. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Linda]

Judith: This IS a great idea. It took me the whole first half of my life to "get" it, and I've been practicing true self-care for several years now, but this is a great 10-week reminder to stay on the path, and I plan on following your challenge as a way to gauge how I'm doing.

Some of the things I've been grateful for this week: Early morning hush & the gift of words - Birdsong at dawn - Bright red cardinals - Friends - A healthy body & joyful movement - Creative flow - A sunny, blue sky day.

Thank you for this.

Anyone else care to share?