Soul & Spirit Maintenance

A radical approach to Self-Care

There is often this talk about self-care, what it is and what it isn’t. On a personal level, there is no single definition of self-care, but what I find beautiful and encouraging about self-care is that the name says it all. Self-care is the way we individually care for ourselves, this means that it’s all about what the Self needs.  

• What will help you show up as your best self?  

• What will bring calmness and peace into your space? 

• What will keep your energy feeling grounded?  

• What helps keep your creative energy flowing?

Over the past couple of years, the discussions around self-care have been loud. So loud to the point where self-care has been commercialized in a way that makes many feel as if they have to earn it. As if self-care is something you have to work for. Or that self-care has to be financially costly for it to “count.” But in my opinion, self-care is an umbrella term for whatever it takes or means to take care of yourself. Meaning, there is no one way of engaging in self-care, and what is considered self-care for one, maybe different for another. That doesn't mean one person is right and another is wrong, the process is simply PERSONAL.  

My hope through this article is to encourage you to decide for yourself what self-care is and allow yourself to engage in it, in a way that fills you up. The kind of self-care I advocate for is radical and a lifestyle. It is radical in the sense that it is not particularly normalized in the United States’ culture, and therefore, to practice self-care in this way is to rebel and disrupt. 

We rebel against and disrupt, overworking as a lifestyle; grind culture; others’ expectations of us; burnout; treating people like machines; or viewing self-care as selfish. 

Soul and spiritual maintenance happen through a radical self-care approach. Radical self-care is about embracing and living your truth. It’s about creating a lifestyle that centers on pouring into yourself before giving to others. It’s about discovering what you need to be your best self. And what helps you feel like you are in a natural flow. By taking care of yourself and honoring your energy, you’ll be able to show up as your best self.  

Through radical self-care, we don’t believe in earning the right to rest, relax, express, or pamper ourselves, we acknowledge that it is our birthright to rest, relax, and Be. Having a well-cared-for body and maintaining your natural energy level, can help make you feel good about yourself and your life, and conveys to others that you value yourself. It also helps keep you away from the cycle of burnout because you’re caring for yourself consistently, and not in reaction to burnout and exhaustion.

This approach to self-care is important for maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself and adding to the collective healing. It’s a way that you honor yourself without guilt or apology. Self-care is about you and for you, but it supports everyone who interacts with you. With self-care, you make choices to help care for your mind, body, and spirit by engaging or choosing not to engage, as a way to promote well-being and reduce stress. And as you care for yourself, you allow the love and care within, to be expressed in your actions and words to others. 

Self-care is a tool for healing and remembering your truth. I hope that your journey of self-care supports and guides you in remembering that you are a divine being and that you don’t have to earn rest and wellness, it’s yours; you just have to say yes to it. When you make self-care a lifestyle, you are constantly investing in yourself in a way that creates more space to do more of what you enjoy. For you to experience the life Spirit intended for you.

Whatever your relationship is with self-care at this time, I hope that you are kind to yourself. Patient with the process. And know that each moment in your life is an opportunity to say yes to you.  

When you engage in self-care, you are taking care of yourself. It is the maintenance and proactive actions that help you show up as your best self so that you have the stamina and focus to be who you are called in this lifetime to be. When you care for yourself in this way, it gives you the capacity to heal and to flow, and live with ease. In this practice and approach to self-care, it’s not about pleasing people. It’s not about keeping the peace or being a person of your word. It’s about always checking in with yourself to make sure that by showing up for others, you're not neglecting your well-being.

Friend. You are worthy of a life of ease, care, and luxury. As a Being having a human experience, you are on this earth to LOVE, LIVE, and be FREE. A lot of how we experience life is through a social construct that often does not honor the human experience as much as it does productivity. But I am here to remind you that you are a manifestation of the Divine, and taking care of yourself will support you to stay connected to the Divine and your truth.

Choose Radical Self-Care Because…

• Can improve your emotional well-being

• Can boost your physical wellness

• Can reduce stress and anxiety

• Can reduce symptoms of depression

• Can reduce cycles of burnout

• Offers’ time alone

• Clears your mind so that you can feel into your body

• Help create coping and soothing skills 

Can support you in feeling grounded

• Helps your creativity flow

• You are worthy of living with ease

• You are worthy of rest

• You are worthy of taking breaks

May this article invite you to be intentional about your approach to self-care. May you trust yourself to know what is best for you, and give yourself space to test things out.  

P.S. If you’re interested in making self-care part of your lifestyle, we recommend you get intentional. You can do this by choosing one thing each day that pours into you. It can be exercising in the morning, eating mindfully during your meals, taking a nap, not over-extending yourself, asking for an extension on a project or assignment, or turning off your phone at a specific time each night. Check-in with yourself, and ask yourself what is it that you need right now. What area of your life could you make a shift in, that will give you more of yourself? Consider starting there.  

Also, join the Light to Lead Community by signing up for our mailing list, because we’ll be sharing more tips and ideas that will help you take care of your energy and live a life that is in alignment with your unique make-up. 

I love you!!! Be well…

ALSO, I created this list for you:

Here are some self-care ideas for you (feel free to share your ideas and tips, below):

• Lay down in bed

• Intentional fashion: wearing a color that brings you joy or favorite clothing piece/outfit

• Eat at regular times (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)

• Drinkmore water

• Surround yourself with supportive people

• Take breaks from social media

• Ask for help

• Be kind to yourself

• Love yourself 

• Invest time and attention into your well-being

• Exercise, 4-5 times a week

• Listen to binaural beats

• Create a morning routine that you commit to

• Create a night routine that you commit to

• Create a schedule/routine for yourself

• Water your plants

• Take vitamins daily

• Go for a daily walk around the block

• Go to a farmer's market

• Be in nature

• Take a nap

• Get a good night sleep

• Roll a joint , setting an intention, & relaxing

• Take an Epsom salt bath

• Try a new workout class or video 

• Have a personal dance party 

• Say “no” to an invitation

• Take up space

• Exist, unapologetically

• Speak up for yourself

• Be honest with yourself

• Honor how you feel

• Do a kind deed for someone else

• Forgive yourself

• Apologize to someone

• Take a personal day off from work

• Have a day off each week for you to do “whatever”

• Have a delicious and nutritious meal

• Eat fresh fruit daily

• Take a break from responding to phone calls and emails

• Cancel plans that you’re not in the mood to engage with

• Journal

• If you need to, take a break during a disagreement

• Read or take an online course on a topic you’re interested in

• Engage in a gratitude practice

• Engage in grounding or emotional regulation techniques

• Engage in mindfulness techniques 

• Think positive thoughts about your body, life, & goals

• BELIEVE that you are worthy, always. In all ways.