Exploring the 7 Pillars of Self Care

Self-care is something I struggle with because for most of my life it has been drilled into my subconscious that self-care is selfish and meant centering your own self in the world and above others. A big part of this belief I have is most likely due to being Filipino and being an immigrant. My mother and I were the first in our family to leave the Philippines and if you don't know anything about being poor and from a third world country, when YOU are the one that gets the opportunity to go to America, it suddenly falls on you to provide for the rest of your family. You're not allowed to just go and live your life, being the "lucky ones" all of a sudden is a huge burden. 

I won't delve into that much further, though I wanted to share it because it plays a really key role in my feelings of what self-care means and how I struggle often with it because of how I was raised. For me, there is the decades of undoing that belief system, but also putting into practice actual acts of self-care. This is why it's a struggle, for me.

As much of a dreamer I am, I love practicality. I like processes, order, systems. Well, I like knowing about them and eventually I like to pick them apart and adjust them to suit me. But, first and foremost, I must acquire the knowledge, otherwise, I do not know at all where to begin. 

So, for the month of July, the wellness theme that I will be exploring and sharing is learning more about the 7 Pillars of Self Care.

According to Optimumhealth.org they are as follows: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual, Recreational, Social, & Environmental.

I will not remember that but using the first letter of each word (PMESRSE) perhaps I will remember it this way: "Patience Makes Every Small Result Shine Eventually."

Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual, Recreational, Social, Environmental.

Some of these are fairly obvious to me, others not so much. So to delve a little deeper:

✣ Physical ✣ Caring for your physical body. Exercise, nutrition, movement, getting enough sleep.

✣ Mental ✣ Mindfulness, creating a healthy mindset, challenging your thinking, acquiring knowledge. Perhaps even brain health, though this could parlay into physical.

✣ Emotional ✣ Processing and acknowledging your emotions from the past and present. Setting boundaries, creating affirmations. Self beliefs.

✣ Spiritual ✣ Finding meaning in your life. Attuning to a higher power. Having the belief that something is bigger than you.

✣ Recreational ✣ Fostering creativity, relaxation, engaging in hobbies and pursuing creative interests. Books, movies, shows, music, and arts you consume.

✣ Social: Focuses on relationships with others. Family, chosen family, friendships, neighbors, colleagues, your community.

✣ Environmental ✣ Creating spaces that nourish you, places of rest & respite. Caring for your home so it reflects your inner well-being. Caring for Mother Earth.

For the month of July, I will be exploring each of these pillars a bit more. Some of them seem really easy for me as far as "Ok, I know what to do here" and others puzzle me and I don't really see them being that important, but this is what this is all about. 

I hope this journal entry resonated with you. I hope you'll learn alongside me. I've mentioned it before, my whole purpose for all of this is to do as much good as I can in the world and leave it a bit better than I found it. I am not responsible for other's actions, but I am responsible and take ownership of my own being, how I choose to show up for myself, for others, and how I walk through this lifetime. I am not here to teach or even educate, I am here to share my own lived experience and perhaps it will inspire, encourage, or enliven something within you. 

"Patience Makes Every Small Result Shine Eventually."

Cover Image: Embroidery design for a dress ,’ Bouquet de fond de la robe N°4020 ‘, watercolour on paper, ca. 1780 – 1790, E.241-1937, Victoria and Albert Museum