Welcome to the first issue of Taking Care of YOU! If you know me personally, you’ve heard me speak at a conference or retreat, or you’ve read one of my books, you know I’m a firm believer in always having a PLAN if you want to make positive changes in your life. That’s what we’ll create together as I share ideas you can think about… and implement if you choose to do so.

Self-care is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. It’s not selfish… and it’s not optional. It’s not about escaping to a spa (although that can be a welcome treat). Self-care isn’t always as easy – or as complicated – as we often make it out to be. It includes more than eating healthy food and getting enough sleep and exercise, although that’s extremely important. It’s ALL about choosing how you deal with Life.

For the past two years we’ve all experienced varying levels of worry and stress, uncertainty and fear. It’s taken a toll on our well-being, and we’re not through it yet. Sometimes it creeps up on us and we’re not aware of the damage it’s doing. Or we don’t want to admit it. So, we choose to ignore it. Your body is an amazing instrument, programmed to give you clues when something is wrong. But it needs your help to stay on track. Learn to recognize those clues. When your body talks to you, make sure you pay very close attention. Then decide what to do about it.

While taking care of your body is important, true self-care also means taking time to focus on your thoughts and emotions, and on the people, experiences and moments in your life that bring you joy and fulfillment, encourage you to believe in yourself, keep you healthy and fit, reduce your stress, increase your patience, allow you to grow, and give you a sense of peace and well-being. Self-care involves choosing to bring more of those positive people, experiences and moments into your life. It also means examining any unhealthy relationships that are causing you stress and anxiety and choosing to do something about them.

We’ve all made choices that have shaped our lives and made us who we are today. We choose our careers, our friends, our volunteer work, the organizations we join, the books we read, the food we eat – and much more. We choose our words, our thoughts, and how we respond to the people and situations around us. We also choose how we respond to LIFE – which attitudes, beliefs and behaviors will define who we are and how we live our lives. Self-care is a choice. Taking care of YOU is a choice. Always remember that you have the power to choose wisely.

Until next week…Take good care,
Jean

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