Let’s be real. We are all constantly learning, whether we are aware of it or not. Everyday we learn at least one new thing. I know for me, I learn multiple things everyday. Full disclosure, it is one of the highlights of my day. I love to learn. With that said, there are always those lessons you hated to learn, but are truly grateful for the ability to have learned them when you did. For me, the hardest lesson I have ever learned was how important it is to take care of ourselves. 

The Importance of Taking Time Out!

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Who doesn’t know to take care of themselves?” It is amazing to see that something that one would consider to be common knowledge is so commonly forgotten. My whole life I was raised to put others first. One of my favorite things that my mother ever taught me was to leave a place or person better than how I found them. To this day I apply this lesson in all aspects of my life. That is one of the biggest reasons why putting myself first seemed not only foriegn to me, it also made me feel guilty and selfish to do it. Just the thought of all the things I needed or wanted to do for myself would give me the instant sensation of guilt. As a by product I ended up pushing my needs to the end of the to do list. 

Look for The Warning Signs!

At first, it seemed as if the decision to put myself last had little to no consequences. However, as time went by I began to notice my health had been slipping. After my health started to cave, my mood was not far behind. It is often the case, there is a direct correlation between our health and our mood. I made the choice to see my doctor and try to get to the heart of the matter. Only to be met with countless prescriptions and the comforting words such as: “We don’t know what is wrong with you, so we are going to try a bunch of things at the same time and see what works.” I am all for trying multiple things. However, when you change or incorporate multiple variables simultaneously, it is hard to tell if anything is working and if so which variables are causing the changes. 

Are We There Yet?

Don’t get me wrong it is comforting to hear that your doctors are planning on trying several options to help you solve the rubix cube of your health concerns. It is also alarming to find out that we have no idea where we are going, let alone how to get there. It makes me think of that movie the Sahara with Mathew Mcconaughey. There is a line when they are in the middle of the desert on this makeshift sand sailboat. He says “I have no idea where we are going, but we are making great time”. For me that ended up being the case with my health, only the direction I was headed was not where I wanted to go.

Know Where You Are Going!

It took me well over a year to reach my breaking point and jump ship. I was at the edge of the cliff just about to go over when I finally abandoned ship. One of the worst things about this lesson was seeing all the damage I had done by not learning it sooner. On the bright side, it gave me the opportunity to not only get my health and life back, it also allowed me to truly get to know myself for the first time. I had been neglecting myself for so long, I had no idea what I even liked anymore. It was like meeting myself for the first time. Of course, this meant that I had to try tons of new things to find out if they were things that would put me one step closer to my end goals or one step further.

One Step Closer!

In the end, I am still not quite where I want to be just yet. However, everyday I get one step closer to the person I have always wanted to be, me. I now schedule my down time first when creating my weekly schedule, and make sure that I have ample time outside, with animals, reading, and all the other things I enjoy doing. I have learned that while the saying “the more you give, the more you’ll get” diffentantly rings true. You have to start at home with yourself. The more you invest in yourself the more you will be able to give back to others. 

What You Need To Know

I am so grateful to my aunt Kathy for instilling in me the importance of putting yourself first. I honestly don’t think I would be alive if I hadn’t finally started to put myself first. That doesn’t mean I don’t still devote the bulk of my time to helping others, because helping others is an important part of who I am. It just means that I am working on creating a balance that ensures I will always have more to give. I now schedule multiple standing spa nights for myself. I usually have them on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

It Isn’t Selfish It’s A Necessity!

No matter what your current health issues are, EVERYONE can benefit from a little more self-care. Now, you may not be the type of person who loves a good spa night and that’s fine. No matter what type of person you happen to be, just make sure you are taking time to care for yourself and putting your health first. That means eating healthy foods, daily exercise, a good night’s sleep, and making sure you have down time. For those of you who love a good spa night I am going to give you one of my favorite DIY recipes that I use on my spa nights. I am also going to offer this free self-care assessment survey. This way you can find out if you need to spend a little more time on you!

DIY Aloe Face Mask

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp Aloe Vera Gel
• 5 Drops Doterra Melaleuca Oil
• 4 Drops Doterra Lavender Oil
• 3 Drops Doterra Frankincense Oil
• 2 Drops Doterra Geranium Oil
• ½ tsp Fractionated Coconut Oil

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a small bowl. I put mine in the fridge for 5 minutes because I like the cooling effect (it helps reduce headaches). Apply to clean face. Let sit for 5-10 minutes and wash off with warm water. You can also leave this on all night with no recourse. It helps regenerate cell development!

Need a Helping Hand?

A happy and healthy life is closer than you may think. Our health is something that we all have to deal with daily, and when we don’t feel our best, it shows. If you are tired of just making it through your day then you NEED to start investing in your health today! You are not alone on this journey. If you ever need any help I am always here to do just that. Even if it is something as small as just acting as a sounding board. Do you have any questions or concerns I can help you with? Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] or you can even book a one-on-one call with me. Be sure to subscribe to gain access to tons of free goodies and check back daily for more great recipes and information!