For the past couple of weeks, I’ve felt a bit out of sorts. I have struggled to get back “on track” with my regular writing schedule, and have been skipping workouts left and right. It’s NOT been working well for me.
Essentially, the holiday madness has caused me to slip off of my journey toward personal fulfillment. I’ve found myself floating through my days mindlessly, feeling busy and harried instead of centered and peaceful.
I’ve been aware of this situation for awhile and have been working on getting my mind in the right place again, seeking solutions to my malaise.
Once again, the law of attraction has worked for me. :) I sought a solution, some inspiration…and it came.
Allow me to preface the next paragraph by telling you, in case you weren’t aware, that I think Oprah Winfrey is an absolute goddess. If you disagree with me, that’s okay, but don’t let it deter you from the message I’m trying to get across here.
Today, while my darling husband was hanging out with the kids after work, I had a few moments to relax. During that time, I happened to catch most of an episode of Oprah in which she very openly and honestly shared her personal struggles with “falling off the wagon.” And while she did discuss her struggles with weight (as the symptom), her main confession was that she’d been failing to take care of herself.
She was so busy working and taking care of everyone around her, that she forgot to make time to nurture herself. In true Oprah style, she had a plan.
One thing that she said several times when discussing her new plan really stood out for me.
“Put yourself back on your priority list.”
Who of us isn’t guilty at one time or another of forgetting to add ourselves to our ever-growing lists of responsibilities? I know that I have been on more than one occasion. Sometimes, we let life “get in the way” of taking care of ourselves.
This may seem like the right thing to do at times–especially when our jobs or loved ones require extra attention. But its then that we must make a specific effort to build a little time into our days to nurture ourselves, our souls, our individuality.
Take a moment to think about it. When was the last time you did something just for you? When was the last time you scheduled time in your life for yourself?
I’m not asking you to take an entire weekend away, or even an entire day. We all know that sometimes that isn’t possible. Instead, I’m asking you to take ten minutes, an hour, whatever you can afford in your day.
Maybe you need to get up an hour earlier, or stay up an hour later. Perhaps you can sneak it in during your lunch break or baby’s nap time.
And, you may be asking, what should you be doing to take care of yourself anyway? This completely depends on you. What makes you happy? Could you use a nap? Simple downtime? Perhaps you’ve been meaning to work out or read a good book. And who doesn’t enjoy a nice hot bath?
The point? It doesn’t matter WHAT you do, so long as it’s something only for you. As Oprah said on her show today, it’s really a love issue. We must love ourselves in order to love others–we must love ourselves in order to maintain any level of happiness and personal fulfillment in our lives.
Today, my challenge to you is to be brutally honest with yourself. Open up like Oprah did on her show today, and figure out what you can do to make yourself happy. You deserve to be happy, and you deserve to feel joy. What can you do to make that happen?
How much love can you give yourself in 2009?
September 1, 2010 at 4:51 pm
this is very good to mention sometimes we put blame on someone who doesn't deserve it, so that it is better if we don't start judging before knowing the real true.
January 14, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I am with you on that! I’m putting myself back on my own priority list in my actions and my thinking. I catch myself berating myself, then I’ll stop and reframe it. Like tonight I ordered Chinese food cuz I have a sore throat and am too sick to cook. My head started chiming about how I should be fasting blah blah blah. I stopped. Then I congratulated myself for being resourceful enough to pick up the darn phone and get what I needed to feel better! It worked.
January 11, 2009 at 12:11 am
I totally agree with you, Oprah is an absolute Goddess! She is so beautiful inside that it shines so bright outwards.
We have to be a little selfish for ourselves sometimes in order that we can effectively be there for others.
Best of luck as you recharge yourself!
January 10, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Sherrlyn of http://www.lovesimplyhappens.blogspot.com says…I love because I have been loved. And today I had a root canal because I do, I do care about me.
I care about you too!
January 10, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Hi
Lovely post. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I started to actually treat myself. It helps tremendously, with energy levels, with happiness, with fulfilment and with treating others.
Juliet
January 9, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Check my post tom. morning there will be an award for you!
January 9, 2009 at 1:05 am
I’d say a goddess who struggles with her weight is the kind of fallible, down-to-earth deity we need more of….
January 8, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Im not sure how blogger has managed to wipe me off your bloggers follow list…but im still here!
January 8, 2009 at 9:52 am
As I have experienced this myself recently, I was quick to relate to this. This is such a practical tip, to put oneself back on their priority list. I admire your writing.
Do not have an answer to how much I can give myself but certainly realize this is something I engage myself with, to emphasize it for myself. And eventually reach an answer: I like living through the process as well.
January 8, 2009 at 3:08 am
a plan … yes, but open for change, as life never goes the route we have decided! LOL a lot of twists and turns..but i agree with the concept … to forge ahead.
how much love in 09, for others all that i have.. :)
January 6, 2009 at 9:49 pm
I think I needed to hear this today. I need to put myself on my priority list. I don’t think I have ever been on it and I need to do the law of attraction thinking. Very motivated from this so thank you!
January 6, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Couldn’t agree with you more…and Oprah!! :-) Most of us can tell you what makes others happy, but finding what makes us happy, creating our very own moments of happiness, can be a little challenging. All it takes is an hour out of the day to feel rejuventated! Everyone deserves an hour! Thank you for another inspirational post!
Many Blessings….Roxanne
January 6, 2009 at 5:52 am
I would like to say that I am the perfect example of someone that is all caught in “whatever” and forgetting to take care of business (“neglecting”their duties?)
Yesterday I give you an award and then I fail to mention that to you. Geez, I’m sorry.
January 5, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I love Oprah too and I am completely in touch with this emotion. The minute I take myself off the list, everything else falls apart. It is actually part of my secret to “doing it all”. If I take care of myself first, I can do anything!
January 5, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Sometimes we forget that the only way we can take care of others is to take care of ourselves first. TRhat means in all aspects. I work out regularly and eat right. I was so proud of myself. But I ahdn’t had a vacation since 2004. Duh. The last two weeks were great and I’m already planning another one (or 2, or 3, or 23)
January 5, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Amgie, good point above. You stopped ny Laid Back Think Tank and I feel that way, falling behind, but thanks for the comments.
By the way, your post on Laid Back Think Tank is interesting as that is another side of the story. I go shopping for a woman, or my daughter, and I am a lost puppy. Everything looks so…. uselss. So I give her cash and she gets what she wants. I also can have a pocket full of cash and not find one thng I want in a mall or most stores. A marketing person’s nightmare. Unless I am in a bookstore, since I am a bibliophile.
Angie, thanks for stopping by, hope to see you around a lot more. You might also like Robot Nine, my other blog, especially the Picture Puzzle coming again on January 7. lots of fun.
Alan
January 5, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Hey, how are you doing? I would love to chat with you as, you are a freelance writer.