The Anatomy of Self-Care

Article by Neil McGuffog

Originally Published in the Holistic Living Magazine

Mention the term “self-care” to any number of people and you’ll receive a wide variety of responses. Input varies based on age, demographic, health status, ideology, lifestyle and much more. No wonder the concept can be confusing while simultaneously receiving a lot of attention.

“Old-school” self-care meant an annual checkup with your physician, teeth cleaning twice a year, eating your green beans, taking a multivitamin daily, and so on. Today we can experience a growing number of selfcare modalities generally landing under the categories of physical well-being – mental acuity, emotional resilience and spirituality.

Offerings are far ranging, including (to name a few) supplementation, high intensity interval training, hot/cold therapy, energy healing, sound baths, sleep hygiene, intermittent fasting, meditation, and breathing practices Thankfully, our society is slowly moving away from the notion that self-care is selfcentered.

Our roles in the context of the stages of life we are in benefit greatly from understanding which self-care avenues best suit our needs. Perhaps we focus on a particular component of our lives we perceive as needing a tune-up: social engagement, financial health, relationship enhancement, civic involvement, career development, etcetera.

Identifying one or two of these areas may help identify which self-care pursuits will have the most impact. Yet there may be a sense of being overwhelmed or intimidated by the vast array of offerings available. Time and budget constraints come into play. Even the uncertainty of whether a program will work and what others will think can derail our best intentions. However, it doesn’t
need to be complicated or scary, according to Colette Pellissier, chief evolution officer of Illuminated Leadership, an organization dedicated to developing extraordinary leaders with the framework of exceptional places to work.

“With the right intention, anything can be self-care,” says Pellissier. “It’s not really useful to tell ourselves we’ll just do less other stuff to make time for self care. If it were easy to drop commitments, we would have already done it, right? How, then, can we honor the call to greater self-care without piling even more ‘stuff’ to our to-do list? I suggest developing a practice of giving ourselves much earned credit for what we already do in the self-care department.”

Navigating the anatomy of self-care begins with a thorough review – an inventory – of what physical, emotional, mental and spiritual tools are working (or not working) along life’s path. Am I moving my body enough? Do I fly off the handle at the smallest of provocations? How much time do I dwell on the negative, or focus on the positive? What is my relationship with Source, God, Higher Power, Creative Intelligence, etcetera?

This approach of inventory taking can come from various outlets such as a substance abuse counselor, life coach, therapist or other practitioner. Taking inventory can provide a straightforward roadmap to identifying which areas of self-care need the most attention. Keep it simple by focusing on one or two aspects, without the need or justification to tackle multiple areas at once.

Be open to investigating a new practice or modality that aligns with an area that’s most challenging. For instance, if anger and resentment consistently come up as a thought form or an awareness, consider a breathing practice to help lower reaction time to a stimulus that historically generates bitterness. Try mindful cooking and eating  consciously preparing food with the intention to enjoy the preparation then purposefully slowing down to consume.

These, and many other suggestions you’ve no doubt heard and read about, may seem so simple and elementary. And they are, yet they get overlooked or taken for granted because of their simplicity. Please give something meaningful and simple a try.

What if a relationship at home, work or play is struggling due to poor communication and connection? Finding quiet time to meditate and be still can translate into better listening skills. Practice being present with a loved one, colleague or friend. Tending to our own self-care and relationship with self can strengthen and fortify our outer relationships.

By now, one may be compelled to google “what is self-care?” Good luck! The number of entries, as may be predicted, is more than three billion! While doing this search may turn up some valuable data, focus on what feels best in the body, mind and soul. This leads back to a willingness to explore which aspect of self-care lands best physically, mentally, emotionally and/or spiritually. Blending elements of mindfulness and yoga, for example, can help to lower blood pressure and improve cognitive function.

Energy work such as Pranic healing and reiki may help in enhancing how the body responds to trauma. Movement combined with nutrition can improve weight management issues. Self-care options are nearly limitless.

Here are some key points to remember when contemplating the growing number of self-care options available:

• Keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate the process.
• Be kind to yourself. All the answers do not need to come at one time.
• Ask for assistance.
• Try using a triage approach to self-care. Identify what is most needed and achievable, and work backwards from there.
• Consider a different angle to a familiar activity – rock-climbing versus weightlifting, indoor cycling versus outdoor, organic cooking versus supplementation, etcetera

Self-care will continue to evolve as new offerings come to market and new revelations come to light about benefits. Trusting in an “inner-knowing” that incorporates one or more self-care elements will work to improve overall holistic wellbeing. Be curious. Be patient. All is well.