There are a lot of worn-out people who can find time for everyone and everything else in their lives, but somehow never seem to find time for themselves. Are you one of them?
Many of us were raised by busy parents who simply did not have the “nurturing gene”. Exhausted themselves, they rarely had time to praise us, or perhaps even notice us, unless we did something that caught their eye. THEN they smiled, and all was right with the world. Or was it?
Hold on! What message does that send to a child? That WHAT you do matters more than WHO you are. And then we grow up and do the same thing, and the pattern continues on to a new generation.
So here we are, grownups, working like crazy, DOING STUFF for other people, believing we have value only when we are doing – and that we have little or no value when we are just BEING.
That means before you can start to take time for yourself, you have to believe that you’re worth it. You deserve a little slack, a little fun. A little time off.
Then you can allocate time for yourself, and it won’t feel forbidden. It will feel right. And a funny side effect will occur – you’ll be calmer and less anxious. You have nothing left to prove. You are absolutely fine as you are.
Suddenly the world will be full of opportunities to be nice to yourself. Books, bubble baths, walks, soothing music, cups of tea, new shower heads, cooking healthy meals, learning things you’ve always meant to – but couldn’t get around to – it’s all there. A giant smorgasbord of treats, large and small – and they’re all for you.
Go ahead. Dig in.
You have all the time in the world.