Being Well Cared For

November 15, 2024

Principles

We spend so much time caring for others as parents that when we have a moment to ourselves, it can be hard to know what we need. Reflecting on past experiences when you’ve been cared for—whether by friends, loved ones, or through acts of self-love—can help you identify what you need today. Memories of kindness and nurturing lay the foundation for your well-being and help you uncover what form of care can rejuvenate you, right now.

Just soaking in gratitude for moments when you’ve been cared for can warm your heart and fill you with good feels. Beyond that, reflecting on these moments can offer you clues into what you need today. Here are some practical ways you can turn these memories into self-care activities:

  • Remembering a time when someone cared for you: We face so many barriers to community care that asking for help can be revolutionary! Take care of yourself today by asking for help and/or expressing your needs to someone you trust.
  • Remembering a time when you felt like you: Honor yourself by doing something for yourself. It doesn’t have to be big. Even small acts, like reading a few pages of a book, doing a few yoga moves, or going for a short walk, can rekindle your sense of self.
  • Remembering a time when you received a meaningful gift: Recreate this gift experience for yourself. Perhaps it’s spending a few minutes holding the gift. You could also look at something that reminds you of it. Otherwise, you could call or write a letter to the person who gave it to you.

A Few Perspectives

Perinatal psychiatrist, speaker, author and mother, Pooja Lakshmin, points out that being honest about your needs is at the heart of true self-care:

Practicing real self-care means looking honestly and unflinchingly at what you need (and what you want) and giving yourself permission to have it.
from Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness

Writer, poet, editor and teacher, Warsan Shire, highlights the importance of recognizing and cherishing the moments you feel most like yourself:

Document the moments you feel most in love with yourself- what you're wearing, who you're around, what you're doing. Recreate and repeat.

Pause for Reflection

When have you felt well-cared for? How might you recreate this experience?

Continue this reflection in the Moment for Parents app