The Annoying Topic of Self-Care

Self-care seems to be a major priority in our culture these days, and that’s probably because we are collectively stressed the BLEEP out.

With the wrong algorithm, it’s easy to eat stress like rats hitting a pellet bar in some sort of terrible lab experiment, gobbling negative content up because it feels like the only option. What does self-care even really mean in a cage of negativity, self-doubt, or fear about the future? Why would we even want to take care of ourselves under those conditions?

One thing I have found particularly interesting over the course of my evolving relationship with faith is that I care about myself more and more. But, that kind of makes sense, right?

I believe that hardships are either God (or Good) preventing me from harm or an opportunity to learn, rather than the result of my failure or someone else’s. I believe that if I focus on Good (or God), Good things turn up in my life. In the scant time I have been testing that theory, my faith has been reinforced over and over again. I am looking forward to the future for the first time EVER. 

Now that I like myself and I like my life, it makes sense that I would make different choices and prioritize myself more. Duh. Who knew it could be this easy?

And one strange and important outcome is now I have the energy and motivation to regularly exercise. I get bummed out when I don’t get enough of it. I look forward to working out.  

Relatively recently, I prayed for the motivation to lose weight and be healthier, because my weight has been creeping up for a few years into a range that is uncomfortable for me. I also started saying affirmations such as “it’s easy for me to be healthy” and “I feel better and lighter at my goal weight of X.”

I have no intention of fat shaming here - my body is my body, and I feel better and healthier and more capable within a certain weight range, therefore I have a goal to return to it for my own well being. Other people are welcome to have their own goals when it comes to wellness, and my argument here is that faith serves that purpose, too, whatever your intentions are. 

There is something about belief in positive outcomes (i.e. faith) that just makes things easier. I am here to report that within a few days of prayer and affirmations, I felt highly motivated to exercise and keep exercising in ways I had not before.

I consider this annoying because of all the pain and agony and self-flagellation I have been through in my life trying to motivate myself without faith in the future. Now that I believe in Good (or God), everything just seems easier, which has always been the goal. My life felt long, dark, and exhausting, and it just doesn’t anymore. 

Now that the life I aim to live feels light, invigorating, and hopefully still long, I feel much more inclined to care for the vessel that carries me, mind, body, and soul. I hope with a little faith, this might be an outcome for you, too.