Commit to YOU
Raise your hand if this sounds familiar:
You are alway there for family and friends, even at your own inconvenience.
You sacrifice your own comfort or routine to help others.
You will do anything in your power to see those you love succeed
Okay, here’s the hard part.
Keep your hand raised… if you do all of those same things… for yourself.
I don’t know about you, but my hand is not quite so high anymore.
Why is it so much easier to honor our commitments to others - family, friends, employers, coworkers, neighbors - even strangers! - than to truly commit to ourselves?
Making a commitment to ourselves - to wake up earlier, to make it to 3 classes at VIBE each week, to read a new book each month - whatever it may be, is the ultimate act of self care. It is an act of not only putting ourselves on our own priority list, but of understanding that sometimes, we will be at the top of that list. And we live in a society that has taught us that self care is selfish and that putting others’ needs before our own is the only way to prove your “worth.”
I’m here to tell you that not only is that not true, but that that is a truly harmful ideal. We cannot be constantly giving to others without restoring ourselves. If we burn ourselves out trying to keep others warm, we are doing a disservice to everyone in the equation.
Self care doesn’t only mean bubble baths and candles, spas and vacations. Self care means understanding that you have inherent value as a person and that your needs are just as important as those of everyone around you.
And the biggest act of self care is allowing yourself to make - and KEEP - commitments to yourself.
So where do we start? Here are some reminders and tips for increasing your own personal commitment:
Get Honest with Yourself. Be honest about what it is you need, what it is you want, and why it is important to you. Until you can acknowledge where you are, where you want to be and why it matters, it’s hard to create a plan, much less commit to it.
Write Down Your Intention. Don’t just keep it in your head - it’s too easy to forget it, let it slip on your priority list, allow the idea to shift or change until it isn’t what you’d originally intended. Write it down. On paper. Be specific about it. And put it somewhere that you will see it regularly.
Find Support and Resources. We are not meant to exist alone, and neither are we meant to grow alone. Change and growth are hard. Find a community, accountability partner, friend, family member to talk to - your Vibe Tribe is a great place to start! It is especially helpful if you are able to find others who have made commitments to themselves - who understand how difficult it is and who can encourage you through the process!
Commit to Kindness.This process is hard. Creating new habits is hard. Change is hard. You don’t need to make it harder by being mean to yourself along the way. Show yourself the same love, kindness and grace that you would a friend trying to do something so very challenging. No matter what your goal, no matter what your new commitment to yourself is - start by committing to treating yourself kindly as you fumble along the new path.
Do Something Even If It Is Small. Baby steps. We can’t all jump right into the deep end. No one has ever run a marathon without first struggling through running a single mile. No one has ever changed career paths without first having to learn the ropes. Learning and growth take time. Every step, no matter how small, is progress and can be celebrated. Baby steps feel insignificant in the moment, but after a while, you’ll be amazed at how far they’ve taken you.
I get it - it is hard.
But it is also worth it.
Honoring commitments to yourself will make it both easier and more fulfilling to honor your commitments to others. By refilling your own pitcher, you are refreshing your ability to pour into the cups of those you love.
So join us, Vibe Tribe. Put yourself on your list. Make time for YOU. Make a commitment to you. We are your biggest cheerleaders. We can’t wait to watch you thrive!