I always say to be good to yourself first and then you can be good to others. These past two weeks my mother-in-law came to live with us. She had a knee replacement and she lives in a walk-up and it would have been impossible for her to recover in her home without being hoisted in like a piano! So, I made her recovery easier by turning my apartment into her rehab. I provided her with constant ice, medication, daily showers, home cooked meals, including arrival freshly brewed coffee, laundry service, movies on my ipad, coordination of daily therapists (OT and PT) and my own determination to get her back up on her feet (so she could go home!). Everyone, including my mother-in-law, said I was a saint. But the truth is, it came easily for me to do this for her. And in fact, I don’t think I am that unique in being able to do something nice for someone else.
Here are a few ways to practice “self-love”:
1) Focus on being someone who loves what you are doing. For example, you recently met someone. What is it you like about this person? Or you went to a meeting, what was it about the meeting that held your interest? Focusing on the positive experiences will lead you to a better place.
2) Make room for healthy habits. Start caring for yourself by eating healthy, regularly exercising, and engaging in activities that you enjoy not because you “have to,” but because you care about you. Create habits that are healthy, not just mentally but also emotionally.
3) Forgive yourself when things don’t go as planned. You may stumble, and you may fall, but that’s ok. You will be able to get up. Have compassion with yourself. Practice makes perfect.
4) Surround yourself with people you feel good with. Be with people because they inspire you and because they care about you and you feel you can be yourself.
5) By caring for yourself yout actions have a ripple effect on others.
As you start this week, “pay it forward”- you will make someone’s day as well as your own!