Hey! How are you all? How was your week? Mine? Better! For those of you who follow my blog or at least had the opportunity to read it last week, we are definitely on the mend. What a difference a week makes. If you are a bit lost, please go back and read my last post, “The definition of a challenge; Not the post you may be expecting…”
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| Flowers from my sister-in-law. Partially eaten by my cat! (non-poisonous, I checked) |
Today I am addressing the word SELFISH. I often tell my students, clients and friends that SELFISH is not a bad word, in fact, it’s a necessity.
According to Merriam-Wester (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selfish), the simple definition of selfish is “having or showing concern only for yourself and not for the needs or feelings of other people”. But there is nothing simple about this word and I took a deeper look at the meaning.
Among the synonyms found for the word selfish are self-lovingand self-interested. Related words include self-directed, self-important and self-satisfied. This is the definition I’m referring to when I talk about this word.
What does this definition (my definition) really mean and how do we give it perspective?
- It means give to yourself as much as you give to others.
- Carve out time for you.
- Love yourself (a hard one for many).
- Get rid of the guilty feelings of not being there for someone else in order to re-fuel yourself.
Do this, not at the expense of others, but for the benefit of you so you can be there for others. Think about the example you will be setting for your children, loved ones and friends. Know you are worthy. Self-love is non-negotiable.
Here’s a quick analogy that you may have heard: If you’ve been on a flight you’ve witnessed the flight attendant going through the safety precautions. She or he tells us that if there is a drop in cabin pressure to be sure to fasten the oxygen mask around ourselves before helping others…it’s that simple…take care of yourself so you can take care of others.
Of course this is easier said than done depending on what is going on in our lives, but fortunately, we get to make the choice most of the time. I truly believe this. I live it.
Till next week,
Be healthy, be well,
Meredith
www.primalwellnesscoach.com
Be healthy, be well,
Meredith
www.primalwellnesscoach.com
