How important is self care really?

How important is self care really? In the past 6 months I have personally undergone some pretty incredible personal transformations. I have experienced release and healing on every possible level: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. It's been intense, but it's also been incredible! One of the biggest realizations I've come to is how INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT self care is! As Westerners especially, it's sometimes easy to forget the intimate connection between all of the different levels that make up the totality of our being.

Our emotions effect our body, and our body effects our emotions. This is such an intimate relationship it's easy to overlook. Our spiritual connection can raise our mood and a body in health can make us calmer, more energetic, patient and accepting (think of the last time you were so hungry you got angry; "hangry". Then think of the last time your body was so relaxed and cared for, like after slipping into a hot tub, getting an amazing massage or eating something incredibly yummy ;)

I know the most difficult thing for me in my self care journey has been giving myself the permission. Self care has been mistaken as selfishness, which is and un-truth, un-kindness and un-gentleness.

The more we learn how to truly care for our selves and watch our metaphorical cup filling up, the more willingness and capacity we'll have to share and care for others with grace and ease. Not the other way around! Of course, we all know this; it makes sense, but when was the last time we really examined our relationship to self? Time has passed, experiences have been had and we are not the same as we were 10 years ago, a year ago, or yesterday. You can ask, "In what ways am I denying my mind, body and being what it needs? Would I be willing to give me and my being what I need today in order to create a more enjoyable life filled with more ease, grace and fun?"