Why Self-love is NOT a dirty concept!
“Fill your own cup so you can give from the overflow”
Filling your cup may be referred to as self-love, nourishing your soul, or nurturing the self: whatever label you give it, it relates to looking after number one – YOU! Yet for many of us, it’s far easier to focus on other’s needs rather than doing something that serves our own happiness and wellbeing. But consider this: how are you able to best serve others if you’re run down and exhausted? Filling your cup not only benefits you; it allows you to be the best version of yourself as you interact with the people around you.
You may be experienced with filling your cup with coffee (or wine). While there’s nothing wrong with either of these, this won’t create the overflow that we’re talking about! There is no one size fits all when it comes to nourishing yourself: your self-care menu may provide many options to choose from. Perhaps you fill your cup by taking a candlelit bath, infused with some essential oils. Or maybe you find nourishment in a long beach walk, inhaling the salty air and listening to the waves crashing into the shore. It could be curling up with your favorite magazine, a good book, and a cup of tea in bed. Or you might love to whip up a culinary storm in the kitchen, with some Al Green playing, and the delicious smells wafting through the house. Think of the activities that leave you feeling centered, grounded, peaceful and positive.
Getting myself to a good yoga class is at the top of my self-care list. It’s here that I can tune in to what’s needed, and weed out any negativity that may have crept in. My family has coined the term ‘yoga high’ to describe my state after a class and they note that I’m a much nicer person afterward! In addition to yoga, I’m a big fan of sharing a meal, and intimate chats with close friends, or going for a long stroll in nature. Tap into your intuition and experiment with different activities to find out what suits you.
One of the biggest obstacles to healthy self-care is guilt; the feeling that it’s selfish or self-indulgent to nourish yourself. But when we feel centered, nourished and energized, we are able to give more freely and life becomes lighter and juicier! Who wouldn’t want that?!
It doesn’t matter what filling your cup looks like: what matters is that you’re doing it, regularly enough that your cup doesn’t get near empty! Aim to create your own overflow so that your life becomes sweeter, richer and more joyful. And your loved ones will thank you!
To find your own “yoga high”, click here for class options.
Written by Kerryn Godfrey & Blair Phillips
