Can You Practice Self-Care While Still Caring About Others?

Yes, you absolutely can practice self-care while still caring about others.

Photo by Erik Brolin on Unsplash

I’d like to debunk a few myths here.

First — self-care is NOT selfish. Period, end of story. Yes, elements of self-care might appear selfish from without. Saying “no” for your mental health, refusing to participate in the drama of others, and no longer doing things that hurt you mentally and emotionally will appear selfish to others.

Note — true selfishness involves intent. Malice of forethought. An action taken knowing you’re harming another unnecessarily — i.e., taking more than your fair share and leaving someone without as such.

Second — self-care is not done to the exclusion of all else. When you practice self-care, you’re not ignoring, disregarding, or otherwise avoiding other people and their needs. It’s a matter of making certain you have sufficient energy and fuel to be the best that you can be — without unnecessarily sacrificing your health, wellness, and/or wellbeing.

Third — self-care doesn’t involve the neglect of others and their plight. It’s a matter of permitting yourself to have enough physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual presence to have more for yourself while you give more to others, too.