I love getting emails in response to my blogs...

...does that mean I'm still looking for that external validation? One person recently emailed me and beautifully clarified what I mean when I talk about self-care: self-care is all about self-love, self-respect, self-value, self-worth, self-compassion, and honoring who you really are!

 Yes! 

And that’s my entire message and my work in the world. It’s my honor, privilege (and secret sauce) to help you reconnect and remember the amazing, awesom…

You know how it is.

When you have something on your mind or are really focused, then things that align with what you’re thinking show up. All.The.Time. (Gee, could there be something about the Law of Attraction in this experience?)

This month I’ve been focusing on self-care and putting yourself first. So, I’ve been writing blogs, creating a new 5-day mini eCourse (email), putting together a new Self-Care Daily Planner freebie, and I plan on having a short masterclass next month. That’s been …

It seems to me that ‘self-care’ is an emotionally charged concept or buzzword.

It’s only two simple 4-letter words: self and care. Yet those two words conjure up images and emotions just by reading them (or thinking about them.) And there’s even specialty adverbs like ‘radical self-care’ or 'extreme self-care' to add even more emphasis (and possibly confusion).

I’ll admit that when I first heard the term ‘self-care’ I was turned off by it. Who had time for that? Not me! The words 'self-care'…

The idea of putting myself first was about as appealing as getting a root canal!

My internal mind chatter told me it was selfish. I was worried about how other people would react if I changed my ways and started saying no or enforced some personal boundaries. I wondered if people wouldn’t like me anymore. Or if they’d get angry (and of course, I avoided conflict at all costs!).

So with all of this fear, worry, and negative self-talk going on, it took me quite a while to even take that first …

I don’t want my life to be on hold, do you?

My life used to be on hold. I happily (or so I thought) put my own dreams and desires on hold and adopted the dreams, desires, and goals of my husband. And society. I didn’t question what success and happiness meant for me. I just assumed it was about money, career, possessions, and snazzy vacations. After all, who didn’t want to live that ‘American Dream?’

And when living the American Dream left me empty, unfulfilled, and discontent, I assumed I n…

Self-care was a loaded word for me.

The Myth

When I heard the words ‘self-care’ I immediately thought of self-pampering. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a massage (and I have one monthly) and I also look forward to my pedicure and can’t wait to sit in the massage chair at the nail salon.

To me, self-care was a luxury, a treat, or a reward. An occasional ‘something’ to look forward to. I reacted to self-care as if it were a four-letter word!

Luckily, I’m able to change my mind and when I tu…