We were talking about a self care practice and she had just gotten done telling me how she simply didn’t have time for self care. She had literally given me every excuse under the sun. Eventually, she asked me how I fit self care into my busy life. I do not think that she anticipated the answer that I gave her, but it came from a pure and true place. It was a two part answer that felt fairly simple.

Self care has become such an integral part of my life that I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have it. Everything in my life falls apart when I don’t practice my self care. Everything gets harder, everything gets complicated, everything becomes unclear. Self care is like the glue that sticks my life together. Self care is what makes me feel whole and healthy, it is what makes me productive and relaxed all at the same time.

The second half of the answer is that while I have a ton on my plate, I have removed almost all of the things in my life that do not bring me joy. As part of my spiritual journey I healed wounds and stopped seeking external validation and approval from others. As such, things that didn’t bring me joy or support my life path started to naturally fall away in my life. It was gradual and natural, it was perfect. I am certain that it is a work in progress and that it will evolve as I do, however, in this moment I have removed almost everything that doesn’t bring joy or support my life path. So, yes I am busy. It is a different kind of busy now. I am literally doing things that bring me joy and so why wouldn’t I want to do them? When your life comes into alignment then suddenly everything fits into place because it isn’t work…… it is simple acts of happiness and joy.

We stared at each other for a couple of moments, I smiled, then she smiled.