How much do you really care for yourself? And no, I’m not talking about getting a massage or a mani-pedi. I’m talking about figuring out what it is you want in life and going for it – no matter how mentally drained and physically exhausted it makes you. I’m talking about facing what you don’t like about who you are and making some serious changes. Sometimes these changes will (let’s be honest) suck. Like hitting the gym at 5 am because it’s the only hour you have to yourself. Or facing your worst fears head on instead of eating, drinking or procrastinating them away. Yes, caring for yourself can get quite messy – especially when you realize that it’s not simply about functioning. It’s about flourishing.
As women, we can can multi-task like you wouldn’t believe — juggling work, kids, our spouses, cleaning, grocery shopping and more. We’ve become pros at holding things together. We’ve also become pros at fooling ourselves. Just because we’re getting stuff done, doesn’t mean we’re living fulfilling lives. Stop for one minute today and ask yourself, “What makes me happy?” I’m willing to bet it isn’t checking off one more thing on your “To Do” list.
Caring for yourself needs to start from within. It means taking a good look at yourself naked in the mirror and starting to love yourself without judgement. It’s about being your own best friend. Oh, it’s definitely not easy. In fact, it can be downright rough. But if you want to learn self love and self esteem, it’s one of the first steps you need to take.
Right now, it’s almost the weekend. Maybe that means you’ll treat yourself to some wine, a dessert or an hour or two of shopping. And these things might make you really happy… for a little while. But in order to really care for yourself, you need to find a connection with yourself and in turn, the world around you.
As a boudoir photographer, one of my main goals is helping women to see how unique and amazing they are – inside and out. It’s also helping to teach them to love themselves and to feel positive about their bodies. I think of boudoir as a stepping stone on the path to self care. If you book a boudoir session with me, you may just hear me asking, “What makes you happy?” Think about it: What will you be ready to tell me? If you’d like, share your thoughts in the comments or in my private Facebook group.
Until next week!
xoxo,
Evgenia
