Self-care Isn't Selfish

I have writer’s block. So I decided to write about something that I know: writing. I love to write, it’s a form of self-care for me. It’s a fun way that I unwind, express myself, a way for me to create, an outlet, and also how I give glory to God.

Before I learned the truth, I thought that self-care was the same as being selfish. I thought that I was always supposed to put others first, and that if I took care of myself, then I was being selfish. But then I learned something: when you’re on an airplane and the cabin pressure drops… you’re supposed to put the oxygen mask on yourself first. If you don’t, then you can’t help others get off the plane. So… if I’m not taking care of myself… how am I supposed to help anyone else?

The truth is that if we aren’t taking care of ourselves, if we aren’t loving ourselves, then we really can’t love anyone else. After all, the second greatest commandment is to: love our neighbor as ourselves. So if we don’t love ourselves, if we don’t take care of ourselves… we not only can’t be there for others, but we don’t know how, either.

So, back to self-care. God loves us, and He wants to take care of ourselves. He wants us to love our lives, and do His will. And His will… is for us to be happy! So He wants us to have fun, and enjoy the beautiful life that He gave us. God delights in us, and He gave us this life to be enjoyed, not to suffer. Remember, suffering was born after sin entered in, it’s not what God meant for our lives to be. We were meant to keep company with God, and to love everything He gave us. The bottom line is this: When we are joyful, God is joyful!

And what makes me joyful, what helps me take care of myself, is writing. I love it, every bit of it. So, what is your self-care? What do you love to do? How do you express yourself, take care of yourself, and have fun? Maybe you think that it’d be selfish to take the time to do it. But you need to take time for you. You need your oxygen. God doesn’t expect you to be a robot, to just go-go-go all the time and never stop to take a breath except when you sleep.

It’s okay to have fun. It’s more than okay, it’s healthy, and essential for a balanced life. After all, we’re called human beings, not human doings. So go, and be. Be a writer. Be a gardener. Be a trail blazer. Be a TV-binge watcher. Be an adventurer. Be a homebody. Be a coffee drinker. Be a rock climber. Be a dog-walker. Be an artist. Be a musician. Be a YouTuber. Be silent. Be loud. Be prayerful. Be silly. Be yourself. Be a dreamer. But just be. No matter what it is, go and be that, and love every moment of it.

There will be plenty of time to be an adult. That’s all we do, right? So put your oxygen mask on first, take your breath first. You’ll be surprised just how much 30-60 minutes of self-care a day can change your outlook, help you be a better person, and help you love and appreciate just how awesome God is a little more.