We’ve all heard of the importance of general self care. What I want to address today is the idea of SELF care. This is different from how we typically think of self care ie: showering, brushing teeth, eating. It also varies from other traditional ideas of self care ie: read a book, go for a walk, paint.
My idea with SELF care is to go deeper than that. So let’s take it back to psych 101. We have three basic components of self… this according to Freud. The three components are the id, ego, and superego. Basically, the id is this infantile version of ourselves that is only looking out for instinctual desires, or what we want in this instant. The superego is this version of ourselves that is morally driven. The ego basically navigates between the two.
For the sake of this post we’re using the id as metaphor for that little voice in ourselves that tells us what we want in a certain moment. Much of the time, we are forced to mute that voice. We disconnect in ways from this part for a multitude of reasons; we’re busy, there are other things that need our attention, etc. When we talk about SELF care, I am referring to the active practice of tapping back into that little voice. Taking a step back and actually asking, what do I want? What does my body need right now? How do I feel right now? This feels selfish a lot of the time.
When we are able to tap into that little voice, we are able to fulfill what our actual needs are. As long as these choices aren’t hurting anyone or anything, this could classify as SELF care. Again, it’s me tapping into what do I need or want right now and following through on this.
Try it out, and see how it can help rejuvenate your spirit. Happy coping :)