Self Care: How to Fill Your Cup and Overcome what seems Impossible

If your cup runs empty, that's when you need to really need to stop and find a space for yourself.

A couple of years ago we went through a tough time. Our eldest child, our son, got deathly ill and for a while there, my husband and I were scared out of our minds that we would lose him. We were running around like headless chickens trying to get him the help he needed.

To add to the mayhem we had a two year old toddler at home at the same time and it was crazy. I was in and out of hospital with our son for weeks at a time and it felt like that tension, that fear of losing him, would never end.

Thankfully he's fine now, but at the time, I thought I was drowning. I got to a point where I just thought I couldn't do it anymore. I had to watch as my eleven-year-old child withered away, stopped talking, walking and eating... it was hell.

So, a friend of mine came over to the house to see how we were doing and he found us in a mess. Being the excellent gentleman that he is, he didn't judge or make empty sympathetic noises. Oh no, he took me aside and asked me a very poignant question.

He asked me: "What are you doing that's just for you?"

My jaw dropped. How could he ask me that? Couldn't he see that I had a child who was recovering from a crazy illness and another, a toddler, running around? How could he ask me what I was doing, just for me? There was no time for me.

Needless to say my answer was nothing. I was hardly finding time to wash my hair never mind anything else. I was spiraling out of control.

He didn't like my answer and I think he knew that was what I was going to say even before the words left my lips. However, instead of giving me a lecture, he spoke very kindly to me and explained what he meant. And that is what I am sharing with you today.

It's a very simple equation. In order to be able to care, to love, to serve others, you need to take care of yourself. You need to fill your cup because when it's empty, that's when you have nothing left to give and you simply fall apart. That's when the dark clouds seem to close in the tightest and you may feel hopeless and helpless.

No one ever wants to feel that way, but life nowadays seems to be geared to making us feel overwhelmed and as though no matter what we do, we're just not hitting the mark.

When those feelings are rising, and you've done all you can, that's when you need to step back and take a breath. That's when self care becomes even more important. And here's the trick.

If you've been filling your cup a little every day, then when the hard times come, you find you are better equipped to handle it.

So what puts something back?

Five minutes of quiet time. A ten minute walk in nature. Doing some yoga, or painting, dancing, a phone call with a good friend, energy healing. There are as many ways to fill your cup as you can imagine. Meditation. Listening to your favorite song. They might not put it all back, but it is a start. And that's what matters, taking that first step to caring for yourself so that you can face what you need to.

There is only so much you can do before you need to take a breath.

Back when things were falling apart, I needed to hear that it was okay to take a little time for myself. I needed someone to tell me that I wasn't being selfish or uncaring by spending a few minutes just breathing outside in my garden, or washing my hair.

Finding the things that make you smile and fill your cup. It's all self care.

That idea sparked something inside me and I have to say it has been something of a mantra for me ever since. Whenever things get crazy difficult, and I know that I have to give a lot to keep things going, I always remember that when I give from my cup, I have to remember to put something back.

Putting things back has become a daily ritual for me. I find it doesn't take long and when done regularly, it does make a big difference.

So, how do you do that? How do you put something back into a metaphorical/metaphysical cup?

It's not that difficult and can take a little as five minutes a day. In the next series of blogs. We will investigate what some of the ways are to put something back, to take care of yourself in more than just the physical, and how to make sure that you are at your best nine time out of ten at least.

See you next time where we delve into Energy Healing and what exactly it is.