As the age old proverb goes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” All too often, modern society is all about pushing people to become their most productive selves, and this comes at the risk of personal well-being. Our culture rewards and celebrates hustlers, powerhouses and overachievers who do it all, but this pursuit of success is often overshadowed by overwhelm and a lack of nourishment. However, what truly separates successful people from everyone else is the practice of mindful self-care -- taking a few moments each day to check in and fill one’s own cup first before they seek to fill others.
Practicing mindful self-care means rolling up our sleeves and getting real with ourselves -- what do we need right now? What do our minds, bodies, souls, and spirits need in order to flourish? Self-care can fill many different forms, but when considering it in the context of success, an overall strategy might look like this:
1. Recognize that ‘every day is an opportunity to start again’
Living with a goal-oriented mindset can mean that we’re sacrificing the present moment to focus on the future. Rewarding ourselves for making progress sets us up for self-compassion and understanding when setbacks occur. Every day is a new opportunity to recommit to our goals and strategies for getting there.
2. Follow your intuition
Listen to yourself and carve out quiet time for self-reflection and growth. Our intuition is a deep source of insight and wisdom that leads us to uncover what truly brings us a deeper sense of fulfillment in life.
3. Aim for balance (instead of perfection)
Striving for balance with boundaries and intuitive choices creates an achievable balance between work and leisure, social and alone time. We need to create space for our passions, learnings, creativity, and joy while also making room for our imperfections.
4. Take care of your body
Our physical needs are connected directly to our mental and emotional health. Taking care of our bodies, such as getting quality sleep, hydration, healthy nutrition, exercise, and restorative activities are key to prevent burnout and set limits when needed.
5. Connect with others
Connecting to loved ones, coworkers or peers can provide us with crucial emotional support and connection that can help us develop our self-worth naturally.
True success is achieved through self-care rather than hustle, because it keeps us grounded in the present moment and connected to our deeper desires and values. While many believe success is for people with a superhuman capacity for hard work, what really separates successful people from everyone else is their ability and dedication to caring for themselves. By taking the time for mindful self-care, we can better fulfill our dreams and rise to the practical challenges life throws at us.
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