The Value of Self-Care

Self-Care is a phrase that many may be familiar hearing this day and age. However, what does Self-Care really mean and how does one develop a self care practice. Self-Care is an individualized experience, of course many people can have similar self care strategies, and many others can have extremely unique self care practices. Ashley Davis Bush author of “Simple Self Care for Therapists” writes “What might be heaven for you (cooking a gourmet dinner) could easily be hell for me” (Bush, 2015, p.4) So in line with the unique aspects of human beings each self-care practice is going to be tailored to that individuals interests, needs, and wants. Ashley Davis Bush notes though that there are qualities to self care that are unified across the concept, which seems to share a common truth that there are many paths to a similar destination.

At its core, Self-Care is the attendance to ones own needs and the engagement in activities that help to develop well-being and care for oneself, “they may be preventative, protective, or curative” (Bush, 2015, p.5). Across all Self-Care practices they “involve nurturing the self and at their best are the seeds for growing self-compassion” (Bush 2015, p.5). So often in western civilization we approach ourselves from a “drill sergeant” mentality in which we give ourselves tough love. Though this can be helpful in moderation, if we approached every situation with ourselves in that way we can become overwhelmed, burnt out, and develop a negative view of our identity. When we engage in self care and offer ourselves compassion we create a loving connection with ourselves and provide the nurturing and kindness that we so often are ready to give others. By approaching ourselves from this perspective we help to fortify our tolerance for the inevitable difficulties of life and offer additional necessary support for coping with everyday challenges. The next time that you are considering engaging in self care, ask yourself what would be nourishing for you in that moment, what would be a small kindness that you can offer to yourself, because ultimately you are deserving of investing in your wellbeing.