Simply put, self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Although it’s a simple concept in theory, it’s something we very often overlook (and our fearful mind tends to overthink). Good self-care is key to improved mood and reduced anxiety, as well as a good relationship with oneself and others.
It's also important to note what self-care is not. If it does not refuel you and is not something you enjoy, it is not self-care. Self-care isn't selfish. It's an act of self-growth and self-preservation that we must actively learn to prioritize.
Here are 20 inspirational self-care quotes that will help change 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
“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.