Self-care Is Deeper Than You Think
By Kyra Pinkney
When you think of self-care what comes to your mind? Many people think of facials, spa days, beauty regimens and the like. Those things while very relaxing only scratches the surface. The goal is to get the full benefit of self-care, on a deeper and long lasting level. So what exactly is the definition of self-care? Wikipedia says “Self-care refers to the actions and attitudes which contribute to the maintenance of wellbeing and personal health and promotes human development…Self-care is learned, purposeful and continuous.” Realize that self-care is a permanent way of life that involves much more than the outer shell. It’s a process of intention, purpose and change.
It’s so important to really ponder over that. Once you go home after a visit to the spa or nail shop, you are alone with yourself. Who are you once the fresh set of nails start to grow out? What type of person shows up? Are you happy with that person? A deeper display of self care can help you answer those questions. It can help you protect your energy. It can help you with toxic relationships. It can help you with getting a greater since of self introspection. You can break patterns of behavior. Affirm yourself. Learn to say no.
Yes, self-care can bring about changes that not only benefit you but your family and generations to come. It’s more than a hashtag. Like Audre Lorde a black woman civil rights activist said: “Caring for myself is not self indulgence. It is self-preservation.”
You can follow Kyra on Instagram @KyraAriana_ and listen to her podcast, The Self Care Plug, on iTunes or Spotify.
Listen to Kyra’s episode, Black Mental Health: You Can(‘t) Go To Therapy, on Imperfectly Phenomenal Woman podcast.