As we enter not only a new year but also a new decade are you in a reflective mood today? Taking some time to think about the year ahead, what you would like to do, how you would like to be? If you are setting some intentions here’s a question for you – is increasing your focus on your own self-care on the list? If so great but how hard are you prepared to fight to make sure it happens. Does the juxtaposition of the words ‘fight’ and ‘self-care’ grate a little. It’s meant to because for many women stepping into self-care requires a degree of ferocity. We are called to become fierce about our intention.
The reality for many of the women I coach is that their life is crammed full with meeting the needs of other people. They know that they need to make more time for themselves, when pushed they understand that their needs are as important as everyone else and yet they constantly put themselves at the bottom of the list in all aspects of their lives.
Think back over the last few weeks in the run up to Christmas. How often did you give up your time and energy to make sure everyone had a great Christmas? How often did you put your plans on hold, give up that quiet moment you had planned or take time out for yourself to do something just for you?
Are you the kind of person who, when something needs doing, finds themselves volunteering whilst everyone else is avoiding eye contact? If you are asked directly to take something on do you find it hard to say ‘no’ and then wonder why you are working evenings and weekends?
If this sounds familiar what does it say about the value you place on your wellbeing? Are you prepared to sacrifice them, to push them down and ignore them until you burn yourself out? As we enter a new year I thought I’d leave you with this quote:
When we practice fierce self-care, we feel it powerfully, deeply and intensely. We grow closer to our passions and our calling, and to the frailties, strengths and the surprising resilience of our physical selves.
We become ardent, enthusiastic, eager, and committed because we know in our core that this fierce caring is needed not only for ourselves but also for those we love and for the world.
Nancy G Shapiro. The Book of Calm, clarity, compassion and choice in a turbulent world.
To truly engage in self-care there are times when we need to become ferocious in asserting I matter as much as everyone else. To truly value and prioritise ourselves, our needs, our health. As we enter a few year what would it look like if you were to become fierce in your self-care. What would be different in the coming year and how would that feel?