The majority of us seldom put ourselves in first place. We invest in the latest gadgets to organize/complicate our lives, hopeful business ventures, and other people’s dreams. We dress according to trends and style our hair from magazines. But in doing so, are we doing what we love or do we love conforming to the whims of the world?
Dr. Carmen Harra, a clinical psychologist and relationship expert, challenged readers in the Huffington Post to honestly answer these three questions:
- When was the last time I did something I loved?
- What have I done to better myself in the past month?
- To whom do I listen?
You will better understand how your energy is consumed based on your answers. If you feel you deserve more self-care, Dr. Harra recommends putting into practice the following 10 ways to invest in yourself and watch your inherent strength resurface:
- Discover your true needs. No two people have the exact same needs. Establish what’s most important for you to gain, have, and keep in your life, e.g., what you truly need as opposed to what you simply want.
- Raise your self-worth. Even if you think you already possess a healthy dose of self-esteem, work to improve your opinion of yourself.
- Never apologize for who you are. Be an unapologetic bearer of your best and worst traits, the totality of your being. What may seem like a personal defect to you may be an endearing trait to someone else.
- Never go against your intuition. Your intuition knows more than you think. Learn to trust your inner voice without hesitation; reason may tell you one thing, but your instinct tells you the right thing, always.
- Create a bigger version of yourself. Don’t settle on a self-imposed plateau; always aim a bit higher than before. Visualize your ideal life — regardless of how unattainable it may seem now — and act to manifest it one element at a time.
- Take impeccable care of yourself. If you don’t practice the art of self-care, who will do it for you? Adopt healthy habits and grow stronger each day in mental, emotional, and physical ways.
- Set an example. Setting an example for others means that you act with integrity under all circumstances, which is a sign of careful attention to your being.
- Multiply your riches. There exists greater richness in knowledge, wisdom, compassion, and tenacity than in all the money in the world. These are realizations unmatched by any amount of wealth which allow you to navigate through inevitable challenges with ease. Those who know, grow.
- Do what you love. Oftentimes it is the simplest things that deliver the most profound joy, yet we barely find time for these precious activities. Don’t postpone your simple pleasures, whether you like to read or sing or hike.
- Weigh your options. Beware of making the same mistakes due to habit or influence. Don’t be afraid to go within and weigh your options before making decisions.
Remember, you are your single greatest investment, and to put energy into your well-being is to ensure the equal well-being of those who depend on you.
