Being Active in Your Self-Care What makes you get out of bed in the morning? Think about something that is only about you (You can be selfish here). What gives you life like a breath of fresh air? Self-care is not only about healing. An important part of your selfcare journey is nurturing your passions & fire and holding space for what makes you truly happy on the inside. WHY SELF-CARE = NURTURING YOUR PASSIONS Google the definition of self-care and you’ll see that self-care means “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.” For me and in this context, self-care means preserving my mental and emotional health by not ignoring what ignites me and gives me life. Self-care means pursuing and nurturing my interests as an opportunity to grow and learn. It’s also a chance to seek after what makes me happy.
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Can you really nurture your own mental and emotional health if you don’t acknowledge and tend to what you’re passionate about in this life? I don’t think you can. (I tried it and one day I’ll have the courage to share how and why that doesn’t work.) Perhaps your life doesn’t allow you to pursue your passion(s) full-time. I’ve learned this doesn’t mean you stop pursuing this fire altogether! Take care of you by finding time weekly (even daily, if you can) to pursue your passion(s). You might have to get creative here, too. Say you’re passionate about aquatic life. Maybe one day or week you watch a documentary about aquatic life while researching a marine wildlife rescue center near you. The next week or month, you may read a book about marine rescue.
theimanimichelle.com Not near a marine wildlife rescue? Find a local nature preserve. Most likely they have some type of conservation or volunteer opportunity available for local marine wildlife. Bone up on your swimming. Summer may be over, but there are several indoor swimming facilities, your local gym or if you’re in Knoxville- try Ski Scuba Center. They have classes for all levels learning to dive. Maybe you have to plan for a trip to pursue your passion. What training do you need to take to help? Research local classes to take or now a days you can find it online. Does fitness spike your interest? There are many fitness classes and adult sports start in the fall. Sign up for something-anything-that speaks to you, your interests and your fitness level.
