Three Common Scenarios
There are many reasons for choosing not to invest in self care; here are three popular ones:
"I don't have time" - About 40% of the people that I work with perceive themselves as already scheduled to the maximum, so finding the time to invest in self care is akin to squeezing water out of a rock.
"It's selfish" - I hear this comment about 50% of the time. When a person shares this with me, it is usually accompanied with a meek voice and a shy look. Often, they are looking for someone to say "It's OK. You are not a selfish person. Go and have some fun!".
"I don't deserve it" - 10% of the people that I see in my coaching practice carry this belief with them. It is often a sign of something deeper.
If you find yourself in one (or more) of these categories, you might want to consider a great exercise called Shake-Your-Own-Hand-First! It comes in handy whenever you are tempted to put self care at the bottom of your To Do List.
Shake-Your-Own-Hand-First!
Picture this. You are in a room full of people. There are hundreds of hands just waiting to be clasped, and the line is endless. But wait; before you extend your reach, your hand presents itself. You clasp your hand securely and feel a sense of calm, clarity, and connection with yourself and the Universe. From this place of self-to-self alignment, you are able to decide which hands to shake and when; knowing full well that if you don't shake someone's hand, the Universe will provide another hand for them to shake, if it is in their highest interest. All of a sudden, you relax, take a deep breath, and start enjoying you and your life!
Shake-Your-Own-Hand-First means flipping "I don't have time" to "I have all the time that I need"; "I am selfish" to "I invest in self care so I can be the best for myself and others"; and "I don't deserve it" to "I am equally worthy."
If you are ready to live your most fulfilling, vibrant life possible--take a deep breath, step forward, and Shake-Your-Own-Hand First. You are worth it 100%!
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