Why is it so hard to look out for and take care of ourselves before we do anything else? We go out of our way to take care of the problems of the world, make everyone else happy and see that other’s needs are taken care of. In doing those things we seem to find unlimited time and internal resources. Yet, when it comes to taking care of our own body and souls there just does not seem to be the time.

There is within all of us this innate desire to ensure others well being. We don’t like to see people unhappy, hurting or struggling in their own lives. We often feel if we can make them feel better then ultimately that will take care of our own needs or at least distract us from them. That may work for a certain amount of time, but in the long run the neglect of our own needs starts a chain of events that affects us not only mentally, but physically as well.

In one of my previous posts I mentioned that I recently started doing some meditation with the Headspace app. I find it very hard to meditate and just stop for a few minutes. When I do I feel like there is something else that I should be doing and am easily distracted. However, I made up my mind that I was going to start with the five or ten minutes as they suggest and devote only those minutes to me. It was amazing to find out what just ten minutes did for my psyche and soul. Giving those minutes to no one but myself did not feel selfish, it felt rejuvenating. It created a little bit of space in my head that I was able to access throughout the day when I needed it most.

We all know that life is often difficult and has only gotten more complex and complicated over the years. Advances in technology, travel, and the “need it now” attitude we seemed to have developed have only added to the previous stresses that life offered. The 24 hour news cycle, state of our world, not to mention the constant barrage of not so great news, has created a level of anxiety that is unprecedented. That has only made it more important that we seek sources of refreshment for our bodies and souls.

If you are experiencing this struggle, know that you are not in the minority. In fact, I would venture to say that you are in the majority. Find a balance in caring for others and yourself. Know that you can not solve all the issues of others or the world. You can only offer the level of support and guidance for which you are capable. Just ensure that when you are offering that support you are also making that space needed to take care of you.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

Mornings with Ron is available as a podcast at anchor.fm/morningswithron or on iHeartRadio, Apple or Google Podcast, Spotify or most podcast sites.