Self-Care to Reconnect With Your True Self

Self-care goes beyond just physical rest; it’s about nurturing the connection to your true self. It’s about doing things that make you feel good and keep you sane.

There are the everyday things that everyone initially thinks about when talking about self-care (meditation, journaling, baths with candles and tea) and these are all good things, but self-care goes beyond these as well.

Why Self-Care to Reconnect With Your True Self Matters

I recently had an adventure in which I needed to enter an environment that is pretty toxic to me…my mom’s space. She fell and it was medically determined that she is having some cognitive issues (the word Alzheimer was used).

Now, I love my mother, and I wish to help her in her elder time, but I also know that she has very toxic ways of being. So, with the help of my therapist, I did some things differently this visit. I got a rental car, so I didn’t have to use hers, and I got a different place to stay, so I didn’t have to be under her roof. This gave me the ability to leave when she started in and the space to decompress and realign after being around her energy.

This simple act of creating safe spaces for myself was an act of self-care…and one that I’d never done before. It turned out to be my saving grace during that trip. I was able to put things into place for my mom during this time so that she was taken care of AND I was able to distance myself from her shenanigans with grace and compassion when they showed up.

Practical Ways to Practice Self-Care and Reconnect

Did I also use meditation, journaling, and hot drinks? YOU BET I DID! Every morning and evening there was ritual around prepping for and debriefing of the day.

Including all of the options for self-care allowed me to feel safe and supported and also extended that safety and support to my siblings. My sister, who was staying with mom, would come over to rest and recoup at times as well. By taking care of myself, I was also able to care for my sister when she needed some time away.

This is what happens when you take time for and care of yourself. You create the space to be at your best, which creates space for others and allows you to lead healthier, happier lives in community.

Take a moment to think about what would support you mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

• What would it take to implement these things into your routine?
• What objections, arguments, or fears show up when you think about implementing these things?
  • A big one that showed up for me was: “But it’s silly to get another place, when mom’s is free.”
• What’s more important, your sanity, safety, and comfort, or time, money, and their comfort?
  • I decided that my sanity was more important than the money it cost for an Airbnb!

Choosing Yourself Through Self-Care Creates Space for Others

Self-care is all about putting your oxygen mask on first. You can’t help anyone if you’re struggling. This is a moment in which “selfishness” is a good thing.

So, take that bubble bath, light those candles, do your meditations, commune with nature, get the hotel room, have your own car, go to that doctor you’ve been avoiding, brush your hair, and put on your best outfit because it makes you feel good! Watch how life shifts to support you when you do.

When you start practicing self-care to reconnect with your true self, you give yourself permission to breathe, to heal, and to show up more fully in every part of your life. The simple truth is, when you nurture yourself, you create the energy and clarity to nurture others too. 

If you’re ready to take the next step in weaving self-care into your life in a way that feels authentic and doable, download my BIG Dream Visualization. This guided meditation will help you slow down, quiet the noise, and reconnect with the part of you that’s been waiting to shine.