Self Care-What If It's Not About You?

Is self care selfish? Is having fun irresponsible? Or are these ways to make a positive difference in the world? I'm feeling newly inspired by a little book, Your Life is Your Message by Eknath Easwaran. (This title was inspired by the author's hero, Mahatma Ghandi.) He tackles the grand agendas of a harmonious planet, global peace or economics with a simple and profound declaration.

What matters most is how you live your own life.
This is not a brand new thought, but it's really sinking in more deeply. It feels so true. Easwaran acknowledges many of our challenges such as poverty, drug abuse, tensions among various peoples, wars and increasing threats to our environment. The punch line keeps coming back to individuals' own personal commitment to "quietly change the world by changing themselves."

"The only way to influence people for the better--your family, your friends, your club, your class, your clinic, your society, even your enemies--is through your personal example. Harmony with the environment- the alleviation of our environmental crisis- and harmony with others- the easing of our social, political and economic difficulties--both begin with a third harmony: harmony with ourselves."

He also talks about the importance of quality of life and the ripple effect beyond our self-focus that ultimately benefits others.

“People absorb something deep below the conscious level when they see a man who is at peace with himself.”

As we focus on enhancing the quality of our own lives, of becoming who we are meant to be, we are beginning to contribute to improved quality of life for all. Of course, this could be misinterpreted to give people permission to pursue hedonistic comforts and ego-driven self absorption. That’s clearly not the message. Think about it… When you authentically focus on “becoming your true self” (harmony with self) that is a spiritual revolution. That does lead to peace, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness for all.

In a recent coaching session my client Marge came to some eye-opening insights about Fun. Decades of conditioning created limiting beliefs such as "Fun should come after the significant work is done." Or "Fun is selfish and irresponsible." Marge wanted to stretch to see how making fun a higher priority could be the opposite of selfish...how filling her own well creates brighter energy and thus fuels her capacity to BE a more compassionate, generous, creative contributor to the rest of us.

Consider your personal example and the energy you radiate. The tangible choices and actions you're inspired to do (because you've evolved to be more in sync with your true spirit) are all relevant ways that you become a positive contributor.

This book is grounding me in attention to self-transformation (and not leaping over that by getting caught up in a frenzy of to-do's for websites, press releases or accidentally arrogant goals about "making a difference"). It calls me to be very awake to my personal example and fueling a great quality of life for myself in order to continue supporting others in that quest.

My invitation to you is to appreciate the importance of enhancing your own quality of life (beyond your own comfort or personal goals!) Look for ways to take good care of yourself and ENJOY LIFE. Trust that this is not merely frivolous or selfish. Actually, it makes all the difference in the world.