Being “Selfish” Is Not Necessarily A Bad Thing.

If you asked the average person is if was wrong to be selfish, the most likely answer that you would receive would be a resounding “Yes”! The word Selfish conjures up visions of people who only think of themselves, who would walk over others for personal gain, people who are takers, not givers.

Webster’s Dictionary defines the prefix “self” as the “identity, character, etc of any person or thing”….”Ones own welfare or interest” and the suffix “ish” as “of (a specified people…Irish), somewhat “tallish”, or approximate (thirtyish). Literally taken, this could mean that “selfish” might mean “somewhat interested in ones own welfare”…rather than the definition given to selfish as being “overly concerned with ones own interests and having little concern for others”.

Every day I have people who come into my office who would likely be described by their friends as the total opposite of selfish. These people are the givers… the caretakers, volunteers, soccer moms, and the guy who stays after work every night to make sure that his work is completed so that a deadline is met. These people often put everyone else first. They get up and get their kids on the bus, arrive to work early, spend their lunch hour consoling a friend, pick up the kids off the bus right after work, prepare dinner or attend a play or an athletic event, and then go to a Kiwanis meeting in the evening to plan their next fundraising event. They come in to see me only when their body screams “STOP”! By this time they may have a chronic condition including Diabetes, Heart Disease, or Chronic Fatigue. These people could have used a lesson on how to be selfish long ago.

I want to suggest to you that you begin to practice “selfishness”….or becoming interested in your own health and well-being. Why? Because everything in life needs balance. It’s the whole Ying/Yang thing. When you give and give and give, at some point you will run out of steam. Your vessel will be empty. Your body, which has probably been sending you signals that you need to slow down and recharge, may just do it for you in the form of a heart attack, migraine headache, or chronic pain.

If necessary, schedule in several “dates” with yourself every week. This way, you will force yourself to set aside time for yourself. It might be time to get a massage (shameless plug here!), take a hike in the woods, attend a yoga class, or spend an hour in Barnes and Noble with a book. Just like a doctors appointment, look at this as a time that cannot be changed when someone else suddenly “needs” you. It is not selfish to honor yourself with a few hours of down-time a week. In fact, it is totally the opposite - by giving yourself that time, you will likely be healthier, more refreshed, and able to devote your energies to those you love.

Yours in Health,

Pam
New Awakenings Massage