Deliberate Self-Care

You may not always know when, or where you might need some self-care, which is why we need to be a little more deliberate about it.

We do need to make sure we're taking care of ourselves, and that can include making regular, scheduled appointments with yourself, or with others that provide care services.

Are you taking care of yourself?

Are you taking care of yourself?

There are so many different aspect of yourself, for each one of you reading (or listening to) this, you'll interpret it differently.

If your body is stretched, you'll be thinking this has to do with taking care of your body.

If your relationships are testing you, you'll be thinking this has to do with boundaries, or speaking your truth, in general about taking yourself in your relationships.

If your business or work are burning you out, you'll be wondering if it's time for some time out, some space back, some distance from what you're doing so that you can gain a higher perspective.

And of course, if you've been lacking in your spiritual connection, you'll be wondering if you're meditating, doing yoga, or journaling enough.

The thing is, it's all of these things. And you might be thinking, "But Suzanne! I can't be thinking of all of these things all the time! I'd never get anything done!"

Oh yes, you would.

In fact, you'd get more done than you ever thought imaginable.

What is 'deliberate self-care'?

Deliberate self-care simply means that it is constantly at the forefront of your mind.

That no matter what comes up, you're thinking about how to take care of yourself, first.

I know this sounds selfish, but it's not. Selfishness would mean that in any situation, you'd be thinking of how you could get the most out of it, or out of someone, without regard to them.

Self-care is about making sure that you're not being stomped on, making sure that your body's needs are being taken care of, and that your not overextending yourself in an effort to win favor, get too much done than is really needed, and generally keep all of your own needs aside.

But, your own needs are what really matter.

Do you know how often we simply ignore our body's request for more water? Or how often do you keep agreeing to do more, when you know you're exhausted and just need a break right now?

When you're living in Divine Flow - all the time -  none of these things happen.

You know exactly that it's time for some water, and you stop and drink some. You know exactly when it's a time for a mind shift, and take a break and do something else for a while.

You pay attention to your body's needs.

And when relationships start getting testy, or strange in a way you can't understand in the moment, you ask yourself by default, "What do I need right now?"

There's simply no qualms about it.

And when the opportunity is given you to take on more, to do more, to broaden your responsibilities and commitments in any way, you take a moment to reflect before committing.

A few good questions to ask would be:
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• How is this serving me? 
  • Does it fulfill your dreams, taking forward steps on what you've been wanting to manifest for a while?
• Is this something I really want to do, or am I doing it because I think I have to?
  • ​This can stump a few people, because they're not sure. Which is why you need a few minutes to reflect, or even a few days. There's nothing wrong with saying, "I'll get back to you on that." You might just find the answer coming if you sit on it over night.
  • If you're doing something out of obligation, it's time to stop that. Pretty soon you'll find yourself back to being exhausted, depleted, not having time for the things you really want to be doing, and eventually, resentment sets in.
• How are my other obligations and responsibilities doing right now?
  • ​If you're over extended, chances are your other obligations and responsibilities are suffering already. Is it time to take stock of what you've got, make sure it's all OK, then decide if you want to take on more?
  • Relationships like to have time to be enriched and to grow. Without time, they tend to wither. Don't ignore them, and then expect them to be there when you want them to be.
• Have I been taking well enough care of my body lately.
  • ​You know those late nights when you're indulging in things you know you don't want to be indulging in? It's a pretty sure sign you're overextended, not taking care of yourself and could be headed down a slippery slope. Let's head that off before it gets too out of hand.

With these thoughts in mind, Deliberate Self-Care can and should be at the forefront of your mind, every moment of the day.

In this way, you can stay in the game for the long-haul, accomplish a great deal more, and never, ever experience any burnout.

You'll have healthy relationships, a healthy body, and with all three of these things in tip-top shape, success just becomes a habit. People see it in you, trust you to be steady and reliable, and will come to you for greater opportunities that will serve the whole better.

Wishing all the greatest self-care you can deliberate over in the coming week!

Much love,