What is Self-Care?
Simply put, self-care is any activity we do deliberately to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Although it is a simple concept in theory, it is something we often overlook. Good self-care can help improve mood, reduce anxiety, and support a healthier relationship with yourself and others.
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It is also important to recognize what self-care is not. If it does not refuel you and is not something you enjoy, it is not self-care. Self-care is not selfish. It is an act of self-growth and self-preservation that we must actively learn to prioritize.
Here are 20 inspirational self-care quotes to help shift your perspective on taking care of yourself and your health:
"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."
- Oprah Winfrey
"It is so important to take time for yourself and find clarity. The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself."
- Diane Von Furstenberg
"As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others."
- Maya Angelou
“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”
- Brené Brown
"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."
- Dolly Parton
"If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete."
- Jack Kornfield
"It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary."
- Mandy Hale
"Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel."
- Eleanor Brown
"Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation."
- Audre Lorde
"To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life."
- Jill Bolte Taylor
"How we care for ourselves gives our brain messages that shape our self-worth so we must care for ourselves in every way, every day.”
- Sam Owen
“Learning to love yourself is like learning to walk—essential, life-changing, and the only way to stand tall.”
- Vironika Tugaleva
“You owe yourself the love that you so freely give others.”
- Unknown
“Our soul is like a soft and gentle flower, it needs to be nurtured, cared for, tended to, with sufficient sunlight, fresh air, and freedom to bloom into its most precious and beautiful form. This, my friend, is self-love.”
- Miya Yamanouchi
“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.”
- Katie Reed
“When you say ‘yes’ to others make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.”
- Paulo Coelho
“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms”
- Unknown
“For those of you who struggle with guilt regarding self-care, answer this question: What greater gift can you give to those you love than your own wholeness?”
- Shannon Tanner
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."
- Maya Angelou
“When admiring other people’s gardens, don’t forget to tend to your own flowers.”
- Sanober Khan
Sources:
Raphailia Michael, MA. “What Self-Care Is -- and What It Isn't.” Psych Central, Psych Central, 10 Aug. 2016, psychcentral.com/blog/what-self-care-is-and-what-it-isnt-2#1.
