Self-Generosity

Let’s face it; life can be demanding. We have busy schedules, maintain many relationships, and manage loads of responsibilities, so it’s no wonder our stress levels tend to get high. And while being in relationships and staying active can enrich our lives, it can also deplete our time and energy.

It can be easy to give so much and move so quickly that we lose ourselves in the process. But this doesn’t have to be the case. If we can remember to practice generosity with ourselves, we create the potential for finding ways to stay active and connected to others without getting drained. Self-generosity can come in many forms: some people might dedicate five minutes of every day to prayer or meditation; others might try a new activity or get reacquainted with a hobby they used to enjoy but stopped making time for; and some people might reconsider their hectic schedules, giving themselves more time to breathe.

I recently worked with a client on practicing the same kind of generosity with herself that she so frequently practices with others. She devised a wellness package for herself, which included attending therapy once a week, making time to exercise, and giving herself permission to sometimes say no to others as a way of saying yes to herself. How do you practice self-generosity? If you struggle to answer the question, consider finding new ways to take care of yourself—because the kinder you are to yourself, the richer your life can be!