My lack of self confidence and genuinely not feeling good about my appearance started years before 2006, the year I started ScrubzBody.
By then I had finally realized that taking care of myself was not a selfish thing, but a selfless thing. It is something we all need to do. Who else besides ourselves is going to love us and care for us more than ourselves?
No one. That’s who.
Seriously think about that for a minute. I am not saying that our loved ones don’t show up. I am not saying that others will not love and care for us too. But in the long run and in the big picture, who will it be? You! So taking care of yourself should be a priority and not a chore. I absolutely love this quote in particular—Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.—Marianne Williamson. How true, right?
Everyone does it, but it has been my personal experience that women and moms in particular, make more sacrifices for their family and friends than do their male counterparts.
The “selfless” mind set being passed down and reinforced. The “do for others before you do for yourself” mentality. I was guilty of thinking this way for a very long time and never made time for “frivolous” things like skin care or manicures or a good haircut, even. How silly I was. The older I got, the more I realized that if I did not take care of myself by eating well, exercising, getting hair cuts and taking care of my skin better, I was actually setting a tone for the rest of my life. And I didn’t like it. Why wasn’t I as important as my family and friends? Aren’t you worth it? Aren’t I? As soon as I embraced that mindset, everything, and I mean everything changed. It didn’t become all rainbows and unicorns. It is life, you know. But my attitude and how I took care of things changed. How I took care of myself changed. And it was awesome.
When you take care of yourself, you are better able to take care of others.
This is total truth. Let that thought marinate with you a minute. If you want to help your kids, your significant other, your parents, your work, etc, but you are totally spent, how will this be possible. Now think how amazing you will feel, and how much energy and time you will have for others, if you first take care of yourself. You need to give all the love to yourself that you give to other people. It will be transformative! Again, remember that you are worth it!
Include great skin care in there, too.
Taking care of your skin is not only good for your skin itself, but good for your health. Skin is an entry way into our entire body. Tears, nicks and irritations on the skin surface can create a breeding ground for infection. When skin is hydrated, clean, nourished and moisturized it feels better, looks better and more importantly, protects better, too. All great reasons and you’ll be glowing with gorgeousness too!
So remember to take care of yourself with as much love, gusto and joy as you help take care of others. Your life, your health and your skin will forever thank you for it!