“From a young age women are bombarded with messaging about the need for clear smooth skin, luscious hair, slim physiques, yet just the right curves, to fit into all the latest fashions. Sadly we’re not exactly bombarded with messaging about how to REALLY look after our health. Sure there’s plenty of advice to push fad diets, fad/unsustainable workouts, pills and potions, quick fixes, skin procedures and a plethora of pricey products to make us LOOK better, but how much of this really helps us FEEL and BE better on a deeper level?”
Instead we are moulded to trust in labels, brands, spokesmodels and the modern medicine which will most likely not equip us with the right tools to exercise self care on a deeper level.
Real self care
Real self requires learning, it requires asking questions, it requires not taking things at face value.
Real self care isn’t necessarily treating yourself to fancy and costly indulgences. It is doing the work you need to do to ensure you are happy and healthy on the inside.
In fact, all of the things that we’re told that we need to exhibit as women actually come from within.
They come from nourishing your mind and body, instead of starving it. They come from teaching your body and your brain to become stronger, so that you can be more confident, more resilient and more capable.
Good health is an inside job
Our mental and physical health affects the way we look and perform on the outside, and how we represent ourselves to the world. As we age, we lose bone density, muscle, collagen, vitality, our hormones and posture change but the healthier we become the longer we can retain these things.
Negative self thoughts, an inactive body, chronic stress and inflammation, an unhealthy gut, imbalanced or difficult hormonal symptoms, a poorly hydrated and nourished body – these are only a few of the things we often just accept without contest.
Simple steps to greater health
- Awareness
The first step to greater health, is creating awareness of where you are at. Do you sleep poorly? Do you have a poor relationship with food? Do you know how to correctly nourish and hydrate yourself? Do you move daily? Do you regularly have negative self thoughts? Do you suffer from digestive issues? Are your hair/skin/nails dry? If you still have a cycle, what is it like? These are just an example to help you identify the areas you feel are most in need of attention.
- Questioning
Ask yourself the questions, dig deeper, journal it. If sleep is poor, why? If you have digestive issues does it correlate to hormonal changes or ingestion of foods or medications? If you have negative thoughts, what are the triggers that you can start to identify, and why do they trigger you?
- Seek answers
Do your homework, seek reputable sources to help you answer these questions. Is there information out there online, scientific sources, in a podcast, in a course? Look at different alternatives, and question these also.
- Get the right support
A supportive environment is important to help you improve yourself and your health. Seek the support of family and friends, and if they aren’t open to this or are openly unsupportive, limit your exposure. Seek out professionals who can help you. Mentors, counsellors, open-minded medical professionals, coaches, trainers, nutritionists, dieticians, and support groups are just some of the people you may need to help you tackle your own individual challenges.
- Do the work
This is the most important part. Accept that making changes to live a healthier, longer and more capable life takes some sacrifices. You will need to do the work. You will need to get the sleep, manage the stress, learn to eat and move in the best way for your body, to make time for yourself and your health.
- Continue this cycle
Self mastery is an ongoing process. It doesn’t stop when you fit into an outfit, start feeling better or start to see positive change. It is a lifelong task, but is important to your future well-being and longevity. Don’t just accept what life hands you, want better and actually do better for yourself and our future generations.
And this is where it’s come down to personal responsibility, no one can do this for you.
Educate yourself, take responsibility for your own health, and do the things that you need to do to live a long, strong life. A rich and full life that makes you feel great to wake up in the morning and to look in the mirror, knowing who you REALLY are and what you are TRULY capable of.
Katie Masters.
Aging. Body Health. Lifestyle. Menopause. Mental Wellbeing.
