Self Preservation.

No I'm not talking about embalming fluid with this post, but I will talk about preserving yourself in the here and now. Not only on the outside but the inside too. Yes you should take care of your whole physical body, cells and all, but you should also tend to your mind and spirit as well. 


“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”-Buddha.


Sure the whole "loving yourself" concept hasn't been something that is naturally accepted in our culture. Most people confuse those who may be a truly selfish person with someone who is only being their authentic self and looking out for their wellness. In my opinion, this does not make one selfish; merely just staying true to oneself and accepting oneself, fulfilling ones needs as long as those needs do not hurt the physicality or mentality of another. How can you truly give something or someone else  your all if you can't even give it to yourself?! 



“Find the love you seek, by first finding the love within yourself. Learn to rest in that place within you that is your true home.”
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar


I was not always one to "love thy self". Really how many of us truly are? Most children have grown up to dislike one or many things about themselves. We see it on the television. Hmm I wonder why advertising is such a booming business?


What I'm trying to get at is that just because we aren't taught very much about caring for ourselves in all aspects doesn't mean that we can't learn. Think back to when you were 8 years old, what did you like to do? What were you like at that age? 


I can imagine that a lot of the activities and interests you had then are still within you now. Take for example painting! Many children love arts and crafts, but it seems somewhere down the road we have to lose the arts and pick up some other mindless task. Like sitting on the phone with your pain in the ass insurance company for an hour. 


For me, I always loved doing gymnastics, dance, listening to music, walking to my pine tree club house and climbing high enough to watch the horses in the pasture beside our house. And let me tell you, if I could go do all of those things this minute I would. 


Work is necessary. Keeping up with the Joneses is not. Keeping up with yourself, absolutely necessary. 


“You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.”- Wayne Dyer


I love the quote above. I love doing yoga. That is the best time in the world for me to be alone with myself. Yet at the same time, I'm getting nothing but positive energy from my fellow yoga mates spending their time alone with me. Pretty contradicting huh? 


I always urge people to take up yoga. There are so many differing types of yoga, that you are bound to find something to help you. Hatha is a great class for beginners. Vinyasa is a faster pace, flow, yoga. There are restorative practices that involve lots of laying down, light stretching, unwinding type of movements. 

Anyone can do yoga. 

In yoga there is never something that you have to do, that is the wonderful thing. You focus on you. Your needs. Do what your body tells you. Don't push it. 


The fact of the matter is, we need to get back to ourselves. No longer should we ignore what we feel within our hearts and our minds. Doing things that we love are scientifically proven to improve all aspects of well-being. 


So the next time you feel overwhelmed or stressed, remember to take some of your free time and use it for YOUR self preservation. 

Namaste