Why Loving And Caring For Ourselves Is Loving And Caring For Others

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“Live simply, give much. Fill your life with love. Do as you would be done. Thousands of candles are lighted from a single candle” -Buddha

What will happen to me as I age? Who will care for me? How can I not be a burden to others? How can I get the most out of my life each day?

It is our personal responsibility to love and care for ourselves. As we love and care for ourselves, we gracefully reciprocate to others. Our human society is interdependent and as humans, we cannot live and act in isolation. Healthy and complementary relationships help us thrive and enhance the quality of our lives. Life circumstances are unpredictable, and we never know when we may need the support of others or be in a position to give support to others. Caregiving can be stressful due to emotional, mental, and physical strain. If we complain and regard ourselves as a burden, it causes difficulty and hardship. If we are neglectful of our own self-care, we set up a challenge for those who have to care for us in the event we cannot care for ourselves.

Within the realm of our capacity to care for ourselves, it is essential to practice a healthy lifestyle to maximize personal well-being throughout our lives. This means reframing from destructive habits detrimental to our physical well-being, changing negative self-defeating thoughts that inhibit quality living and managing our emotions to maintain satisfying relationships. As we age, it is hoped that we become wiser and more thoughtful of ourselves and others.

When we are compassionate, considerate, and cultivate loving qualities, we become beautiful people to be around. Whether we are the recipient or the receiver of support, we must take care of ourselves in order to take care of others. Loving and caring for ourselves are mutually reciprocal and complementary acts achieved by: Being healthy, peaceful, generous, and grateful for challenges.

SEE ALSO: 5 Ways To Balance Your Energy

Be healthy

“Be good to yourself first -then to others” -Buddha

Your entire attention should be devoted to improving and developing yourself. In order to achieve and maintain a sense of well-being, you must learn to coordinate mind, body, and spirit. In this unity, you will find harmony. Feed yourself and continue to grow. Be open to new ideas and experiences. Continue learning while stimulating and challenging your mind. Monitor your feelings and manage your emotions. Be positive and enthusiastic about life. Honor yourself and make self-care a priority. Realize your potential and give yourself the freedom to take advantage of opportunities.

Be peaceful

“To find peace, sometimes you have to be willing to lose your connection with people, places, and things that create all the noise in your life” -Buddha

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When we are at peace, we have a better relationship with ourselves and others. Ways to be peaceful include being spiritual and mindful. Pay attention to yourself, your environment, and people that feed negativity and disturb your peace. Be alert and set healthy boundaries. Spend time alone to find solace within. Whether it’s short respites or extended periods of time, find your sanctuary for inner peace. This is a point of power and strength. As we maintain peace with ourselves, we create memorable moments with others.

Be generous

“Generosity brings happiness at every stage of its expression” -Buddha

Generosity is an ingredient of love. Show genuine interest and support for others without expectations. Be generous with your attention, time, and resources; and balance giving and receiving. Examine your motive for being generous. It is important to be aware that you cannot give and be depleted. Generosity and kindness come from the law of reciprocity. What goes around comes around and what you give you get. Sometimes people are hesitant to give because they think they will lose or that a deficiency will be created. Be concerned about the well-being of others. Give wholeheartedly and with an open heart.

Be grateful for the challenges

“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you loved, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you” -Buddha

Many live each day in a place of “I wish” with feelings of remorse and sorrow over something done or undone. We can become clouded by life’s trials and are so busy trying to fix, manage, and curse what has happened.  When we behave this way by not letting go of the past, perceived mistakes, and missed opportunities, we are not taking care of ourselves. This takes the life out of living in the present moment. Give yourself permission to be free of the energy of regret by being forgiving and finding joy. Be unapologetically you and live with no regrets. A person free of regret is happier, and happiness is contagious. Regard transformational life experiences and events as turning points for self-growth and self-renewal. Be grateful for what life has brought you and will bring you throughout your life and look for the hidden gifts. When we live with greater freedom, we experience more of the beauty of life.

Conclusion

Loving and caring for yourself is an art of living to achieve inner peace, harmony, and concern for optimal health. Our individual wellness operates within the context of our family, community, and relationship with others.  Be gracefully reciprocal and complementary.  See yourself in the light of love and live a spiritually burden-free life.  As we live a more fulfilling, purposeful, and higher quality life, others are inspired to do the same. We are only here for a short time to experience this awesome journey of life.  Live each moment as if it were your last and see your life change.

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