“Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.” —Parker Palmer
The term “self-care” has been used and abused, and seems to be generally misunderstood. It’s become a buzzword, directly related to the retail side of the wellness industry. The marketing leads us to believe self-care means regular spa days, wine in the bathtub, expensive vacations, retail therapy, and basically anything involving gratuitous “self(ish)” indulgence. 
Genuine self-care isn’t selfish. It’s healthy. It’s necessary for a thriving self and, therefore, life.
Self-care helps us refuel and recharge so we can be there for others. If we are not showing up for ourselves, it becomes harder and harder to show up for the people in our lives. It is no less true for women as it is for men.
We hash it out on this week’s podcast episode from the Big Self School. Shelley offers up some unconventional ideas and approaches to self-care, and Chad now feels free to go mountain biking every day. Maybe they’re still figuring a few things out too. Tune in to see what you think.
Timestamps
1:14 We're talking about self-care today and starting off the podcast by discussing some of the ideas and misconceptions around self-care and touch on how men approach self-care vs. how women approach it.
7:11 Shelley shares her definition of self-care, and we talk about how our own self-care is not only about ourselves.
10:00 Okay, let's get more specific about the kind of self-care practices we're talking about here. Avoid leap-frogging over the inner self-care with the band-aid approach
12:57 One way to understand the right inner self-care practice for you is to look at the Enneagram. We talk about the different triads within the Enneagram and the kind of self-care that can be really helpful for each type.
20:57 How self-care connects with our four pillars of awareness, connection, action, and wellness, and how you can hone in on those things with us at The Big Self School
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