Previously, let alone handling it on my own, this particular concern wasn’t even on my radar. I never considered the need to take care of myself and juggle my personal well-being, family, career, and an endless to-do list.
With the presence of cancer, I came to realize that prioritizing self-care became imperative. If I neglect myself and can’t ensure my presence in this world tomorrow, how can I genuinely help others? Moreover, without taking care of myself, my work would cease to exist, and the never-ending tasks would be forgotten. I must be the priority!
It’s a straightforward thought, albeit a significant one. When illness struck, I acknowledged the limitations of my body. Yet, since I failed to establish boundaries adequately, my body had to enforce them.
Leukemia served as my body’s way of signaling me to take care of myself, pause, slow down, set limits, and say no. Recognizing this, I found myself at a genuine crossroad. If I were to continue living as before, neglecting my own needs, I would persist in pushing myself beyond my limits. I would keep saying yes to things that warranted a no. Alternatively, I could embark on a journey of caring for my body and myself. Here are my recommendations for you…
Monitor your mental consumption
Healthy eating extends beyond just food. Everything changes when you become mindful of what you consume. Consider what you read, the material you engage with, the individuals you follow, and the company you keep. If you aspire to cultivate a healthier mind, begin by eliminating the irrelevant aspects from your mental diet.
Prioritize your mental well-being
Your mental health outweighs your career, finances, others’ opinions, commitments you’ve made, your partner’s mood, and your family’s expectations. If taking care of yourself means occasionally disappointing someone, learn to be comfortable with that. Establish clear boundaries and uphold them.
You don’t lose genuine friendships, true opportunities, or authentic relationships when you start defending yourself and setting clear limits. What you lose are abusers, manipulators, narcissists, perpetual attention-seekers, and energy drainers.
Genuine self-care necessitates making trade-offs. Swap out Netflix shows and movies for quality sleep. Follow inspiring creators instead of producers who evoke negative emotions. Replace toxic friends with supportive individuals. Shift from complaining to practicing gratitude and taking action.
Focus on the future, not the past
If you continue seeking happiness in the same toxic relationships and the places where you lost yourself, your mental well-being will not improve. That person remains toxic, the relationship remains detrimental, that job still sucks, and the past is behind you. To progress, you must direct your gaze forward.
Enhance the quality of your social circle
Social media consumes up to nine hours of our daily lives. Consider it as your personal library. Social media significantly influences your thoughts and emotions. Follow more individuals who educate, inspire, and motivate you. Enhance the content of your library by unfollowing negative, shallow, and pretentious people.
Let’s be honest, self-care is somewhat like being present in the moment—an overused, almost uncomfortable, inconspicuous perspective on a subject. A fulfilling life is actually quite simple, despite commercial portrayals suggesting otherwise.
If you’ve been advised to practice self-care in the past, it probably never truly motivated you or made you feel good, did it? Because if someone has to tell you, it’s quite evident that you weren’t interested. „You should practice self-love a little more.”
Well-intentioned comments like these can be infuriating but ultimately pointless. It’s akin to telling a person with depression to just cheer up or asking someone with a broken leg to get up and dance—it simply doesn’t work!