Your best self. What does that mean? Is your life the way you want it to be? If not, what is in the way? Often the answer to that is that you are the only thing standing between the life you wish you had, and the life you are living now. The answer to happiness is within you.
Ask yourself whether you are doing the things that make you happy. What are those things? Often we lose our way in the hustle and bustle of working, raising children and being a good spouse/son/ daughter/sister/brother/grandchild/friend. It's important, though, to make time for those things which enrich you and make you feel more fulfilled, which in turn allows you to be more present and available to others in your life.
If you are not spending enough of your time doing things that make you feel happy and fulfilled, it's within your control to change that! There is nothing wrong with making taking care of yourself a priority. Often caregivers feel that it is selfish to dedicate any time to one's own needs when the person being cared for (elderly parent, ill spouse or child- sometimes all of the above!) has seemingly more urgent or important needs. However, when you aren't practicing self-care you are at risk for burnout.
The article below from Psychology Today provides information on burnout and I will follow up with a post on self-care tips. I would love to read your comments!
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/high-octane-women/201205/where-do-you-fall-the-burnout-continuum
Ask yourself whether you are doing the things that make you happy. What are those things? Often we lose our way in the hustle and bustle of working, raising children and being a good spouse/son/ daughter/sister/brother/grandchild/friend. It's important, though, to make time for those things which enrich you and make you feel more fulfilled, which in turn allows you to be more present and available to others in your life.
If you are not spending enough of your time doing things that make you feel happy and fulfilled, it's within your control to change that! There is nothing wrong with making taking care of yourself a priority. Often caregivers feel that it is selfish to dedicate any time to one's own needs when the person being cared for (elderly parent, ill spouse or child- sometimes all of the above!) has seemingly more urgent or important needs. However, when you aren't practicing self-care you are at risk for burnout.
The article below from Psychology Today provides information on burnout and I will follow up with a post on self-care tips. I would love to read your comments!
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/high-octane-women/201205/where-do-you-fall-the-burnout-continuum
