Self-Nurture: Learning To Care For Yourself
According to psychotherapist Leon F. Seltzer, PhD. self-nurture requires us to treat ourselves with love and respect. This is something we usually find it easier to do for others than for ourselves. However, it is vital that we allow ourselves some self-nurture
It is important that we not confuse self-nurture with self-indulgence as indulgence can be a very selfish thing. This is not about allowing ourselves to have frivolous things because we want them.
Nurture is about giving ourselves the support and respect we need to be healthy, happy, and well balanced. How do we learn to nurture ourselves?
According to Dr Jeremy Sutton, PhD. there are six aspects of our wellbeing that we need to attend to using self-nurture.
These are: physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, personal, and professional.
Physical Self-Nurture
Physical self-nurture pertains to taking care of our bodies in order to maintain a feeling of good health. The key components to this, obviously, are maintaining a healthy diet and ensuring we get plenty of exercise.
The Mayo Clinic suggests that regular exercise can help combat illness, enhance mood, boost energy, promote sleep and improve social life.
Other aspects of physical self-nurture include working on intimate relationships, relaxation, stress management, healthy diet and overall lifestyle and finding quiet time to reset.
Psychological Self-Nurture
According to the University of Michigan there are a number of things we can do to help maintain good mental health.
These self-nurture methods include reflecting on our self-value, keeping our bodies healthy, creating a supportive social circle, and practicing stress relief.
Emotional Self-Nurture
According to Dr Jeremy Sutton, PhD. we can boost our emotional wellbeing in a number of ways. We should embrace our emotions whether they make us laugh or cry.
It is also important to find enjoyable hobbies and cement social connections.
Self-affirmation is a very important self-nurturing tool because we must be able to forgive ourselves and respect our own abilities.
It is important to fight the urge to self-criticize and instead focus on what we have and can achieve.
Spiritual Self-Nurture
The spiritual aspect of our wellbeing is very dependent on our own personal beliefs. If we have a deep sense of religion this may just mean practicing our faith and abiding by our values.
Those who do not ascribe to an organized religion can still achieve spiritual self-nurture through other means.
Practices such as yoga and meditation which are more about self-awareness can be helpful in boosting the wellbeing of the spirit.
Personal Self-Nurture
Personal self-nurture is connected to our ability to get to know ourselves more in depth. It requires us to explore our abilities and desires in life.
It also includes elements of personal development and personal growth. When we understand ourselves, we can be better prepared for our future.
Professional Self-Nurture
Our professional self-nurture is rooted in our ability to create a balance between our careers and our personal lives.
It requires us to set boundaries regarding our free time, that we constantly try to learn and that we plan for our future success.
If possible, we should seek out a mentor who can help guide us. It is important to remember that there is no shame in asking for help.
We should try and envisage our next career step and if we find ourselves unhappy decide how we can change the situation.
Final Thoughts
In order to fully nurture ourselves we have to make sure we give attention to all the aspects of our lives.
Self-nurture is important in order to make us happier and more rounded individuals.
Just as we must work on our relationships with others, we must also invest ample time to maintain a positive relationship with ourselves.
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