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How
selfish are you? Most people, women especially, are
not selfish enough. When we hear this word, we
immediately assume it is a bad thing to be. In
reality, it is the most important thing we can do
for ourselves.
When we are selfish, it
actually means that we are taking excellent care of
ourselves. It means we are nourishing, replenishing
and re-energizing our mind and body. We are getting
in touch with our inner selves and building our
personal foundation. Putting yourself first is not
the same as being self-seeking. "Self-seeking"
signifies greed, whereas "selfish" connotes taking
care. There can be a fine line between the two
concepts, usually with you feeling badly if you make
a truly self-seeking decision.
My husband, Dan, is an avid
outdoorsman. He loves nothing more than being in the
fresh air and doing anything physical. When we first
got married, he wondered if his daily outdoor
activities would bother me. He comes home from work
and engages in some form of physical activity daily,
depending on the season. Spring and summer is for
biking and winter is for skiing. Fall is perfect for
brisk walks in the majestic forests that surround
our house. I encourage this practice because, when
he gets home, he is energized and refueled. He is
being selfish in that he is taking care of himself
so he can be a better husband, father and friend. He
also understands when I put myself first. Once a
year, with Dan's blessings, my girlfriends and I
take a girls-only trip. These acts of self-care make
us better people. We become more caring spouses and
better parents. We can't be expected to take care of
anyone else if we haven't cared for ourselves first.
Are you practicing excellent
self-care? Take the self-care assessment below and
find out.
Click
HERE for
printable self-care assessment
Contact Karen Regan at 978-448-2353 or
info@coachforhappiness.com |
