The Best Question for Self-Care: What Do You Really Need Today?
Every day, every week, every season of life brings different needs, desires, and requests. To truly care for ourselves, we need to pay attention to honour them.
The How: Check-In All of the Time—Regularly, Actively, and Consistently
Ask yourself, what do I need right now? What do I desire? What’s true for me today? Only then can we address the shifts inside us and show them the respect they deserve.
If you feel more tired than usual today, you may need to take a nap or at least take it easy. If you feel emotionally overwhelmed, you may need to carve out time for journaling. If you feel physically sore, you may need some gentle stretching. Or, if you feel disconnected from yourself, you may need a little meditation or some mirror work.
There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to self-care—only what’s right for you in a given moment based on what you’re feeling and what you need. So, create a judgment-free space for yourself. Be kind, loving, and compassionate to yourself, and honour your varied needs.
And remember: It’s not lazy to rest or switch an active practice for a gentle one if that’s what your body and mind are cravings. In fact, this is the key energizing yourself.
We are always changing, so what we need tomorrow, next week, and next month will be different. Whether the differences are subtle or obvious, it’s undeniably true. Believing that we are stagnant in life or permanently stuck in what is presenting today serves no value.
When sat down and meditated so easily and effortlessly, I was finally answering some subconscious call. It made me curious to know for just how many weeks or months prior to starting meditations again my being had been requesting the practice.
If I had been tuned in then and started meditating again when my body/mind/soul was asking for it, I could have given myself the medicine, the sweetness, that it was requesting and felt healthier and more aligned much sooner, instead of struggling through imbalance.
Now as a daily practice, upon waking, ask yourself:
What does my body need today?
What does my mind need today?
What does my soul need today?
What is my intention keyword for today?
I write down whatever answers come and then figure out how I am going to fit those responses into my schedule.
For example:
Today my body wants nurturing and sweetness, which might mean a short morning self-message or a bath with essential oils in the evening.
Today my mind wants relaxation, which could mean going to sleep thirty minutes earlier than usual, doing a yoga nidra practice, or watching something that makes me laugh.
Today my soul wants peace and joy, which might mean calling a friend to laugh together or reading a spiritual book that makes me happy.
My intention keyword today is peace. And, moving with the intention of peace throughout my day means being content with what I have, appreciating all the components of day that, continuing to come back to conscious breathing, and smiling.
The Key: Follow-Through
Follow-through is as important as tuning in and asking questions, because only when we give ourselves what we truly desire can we thrive and be the best version of ourselves.
When we give ourselves exactly what we want and need, it’s surprising just how different our day is. We care for ourselves in a deeper way, we show up for other people and our work with more presence and with a better attitude and kinder heart, and we live on purpose in the truth of what is really important in life.
The body, mind, and soul are constantly in flux, in growth, in evolution. When we don’t check in at least once a day about what is different and how our needs and wants have changed, we often do what we have done previously. We stick to our last best routine and end up giving ourselves something that might have worked two weeks ago or two months ago, but doesn’t necessarily benefit us today.
Prioritise your mind as well as your body, and make a resolution for better mental health. Being resilient is something that’s always been very important to us at In Bloom. We believe that a strong mindset is what allows you to stay focused on your intentions, instead of negative thoughts. It's what helps you understand that struggle is impermanent and won't derail your success. It keeps you from making self-destructive decisions which is an area we explore in our Resilience & Equanimity Workshop.
Reference:
https://tinybuddha.com/blog/the-best-question-for-self-care-what-do-you-really-need-today/