What would it take….? Returning to Self-Care

What would it take to drop the idea that you need to be something more than you are now?

What would it take to let go of the nagging doubt that if you were prettier…

Slimmer. Smarter.

Richer. Kinder.

Just a little more perfect….

Then everything would be ok?

How would life look if you treated yourself with tenderness?

With gentleness?

If you recognised the loving intention in everything you did or said?

If your well-being was the most precious jewel, to be treasured and enjoyed?

Yesterday I was sick. I knew I was sick the day before, but I kept going.

The notion of taking a day off and resting hit me like a bolt out of the blue, about an hour after I woke up with razor blades in my throat!

Self-care is one of my most cherished values, and yet I forget.

Often.

Somehow getting stuff done seems more important than drinking hot lemon, ginger and manuka honey and tending to my body.

Besides, perfect people don’t get sick!

The drive to be a better version of myself is much less powerful than it used to be but it is still there….

I need to keep giving myself permission to give up the struggle. To be imperfect. To know that I am enough as I am.

I gently and sweetly invite myself to relax. Take it easy. Trust that what I want to do and how I want to be, and even that what I want to express, is just fine as it is.

This is self-compassion. It is a life long practice! It’s the opposite of trying to be perfect.

Yesterday my practice involved juice, a hot bath with salts, some journalling, making a new goddess alter and rest.

Today I try to carry this energy of gentleness with me as I move about.

Putting compassionate self-care in front of all my appointments, tasks and plans.

What would it take for you to do the same?