Self-Care as Personal Development
Self-Care as Personal Growth
Exploring the top level of the self-care pyramid
Part 5 of 5
This post is part of a five part series.
Part 1: Self-Care Defined: Introducing the Self-Care Pyramid
Part 2: Self-Care as Meeting Basic Needs
Note: The top two sections of Maslow’s Hierarchy are Esteem and Self-actualization (or self-fulfillment). Things get a bit more intangible here at the top of the pyramid and I see a lot of areas of overlap when it comes to self-care. As a result, I’m combining the two in this one level of The Self-Care Pyramid.
Learning new things and focusing on personal growth is definitely a form of self-care.
When we learn new skills or study new information, we keep our brains (and sometimes our bodies) active and agile—especially if we experience frustration as we learn. This contributes to our overall health and longevity.
Plus, if you’re going to a class, it’s also an opportunity to develop your web of friends and acquaintances, thus deepening feelings of connection.
Setting and achieving goals as well as engaging in activities for pure enjoyment help us feel nourished and fulfilled.
Personal growth looks different for all of us. Part of self-care at this level of the pyramid may be developing balance between “productivity” and “play.”
For example, I am incredibly driven toward achieving my goals and feel the push to be “productive” most of the time. It’s important for me to balance that with things that feel like play—where there’s no intended outcome or goal.
While opportunities for creativity permeate this pyramid, I think this is the place where it really shines as a part of our self-care. Creativity as self-care could be as simple as coloring or learning to cook a new dish, or it could be something more involved like learning a musical instrument or a foreign language. Depending on your intention, goals, or lack thereof, these creative pursuits could be in the realm of “play” for you as well.
One thing to keep in mind here is that self-development is not the same as self-help.
Self-help culture has a much more fixed, “conquering” mindset and says we won’t be good enough until we [lose 50 pounds, get married, buy a house, etc]. Personal development, on the other hand, recognizes that although we’re not perfect, we’re worthy of care and attention. Personal development has a nurturing growth mindset that welcomes learning because it’s good for us and we deserve it.
Self-care activities for this level of the Self-Care Pyramid:
See a counselor or therapist.
Take class you’re interested in.
Read a book on a subject you’d like to learn more about.
Journal.
Make a list of all your wins, accomplishments, and things you feel proud of.
Think about where you’re at in your life now versus 5, 10, or 15 years ago? How much have you learned and accomplished since then?
Start a garden.
Take a dance class.
Spend time coloring or making a craft.
Do nothing.
What other activities would add for this level? Let me know in the comments below!
Conclusion
There are so many things we can do to practice self-care in ways that meet our various needs. No matter your situation in life, your resources, your stress levels, or your relationships, you can always find a way to take care of yourself—no spa day required!
The bottom line here is that anything that helps you take care of yourself can be considered self-care. Just approach it with intention and presence and don’t forget to schedule it in!
When I was in more of an “auto-pilot” time of my life, I made a “yes” list—a list of things that made me feel cared for—and I made sure to choose one or two items off the list each day. It really went a long way in helping me feel human, capable, and nourished.
Obviously as a massage therapist, I still want people to keep massage in their self-care toolkit but I also recognize it’s not accessible to everyone. I hope this list of ideas inspires you to find creative ways to nourish yourself (because you’re worth it!) so that you can show up authentically for your families, friends, and communities.
If you’re looking for ways to incorporate movement and self-massage practices into your daily life, I can help! The KindBody Movement Virtual Studio has loads of videos for all levels of fitness, ranging from relaxing to challenging. In addition, there are a number of free classes on the channel to try out as well.
If you’re wanting to focus more on the Self-Care as Personal Development level and you’d like one-on-one movement sessions and movement lifestyle design help, schedule a free consult with me. Let’s make a plan to help you achieve your goals!