How can you align your self-care practices with your values?

Remember that our values change over time, and that's ok. Your values will be different for every stage of your life and it's important to flow with them. Getting stuck in our "old" value systems can create a lot of disharmony, frustration and self sabotage. Sometimes saying goodbye to our old values can feel like mourning. It's not always easy, but it is important. Be patient with yourself through the process and lean in rather than shy away, even if it hurts.

Our core values are our hearts deepest desires, they help drive and foster our desired behaviours, mindsets and attitudes - whether we're conscious of our values or not. When we live in alignment to our values we are supporting our ability to give to ourself, to show up as the person we want to be and live life as we want to. In my opinion this is what self care is about. When we can view our values as a contributor to our holistic health we then start to make decisions that are supportive to our energy levels, to our relationships, our work. Self care goes beyond a spa treatment, its about giving to yourself as you desire and nurturing your whole self so that you can be who you want to be.

Defining your core values is a fundamental step in self-discovery, but it's crucial that these values authentically resonate with you.Often, we unintentionally adopt values from our social circle to maintain harmony, even if they don't deeply resonate with us. Your core values are unique to you. The "I Am Statement" exercise, where you list your beliefs about yourself for 10 minutes, uncovers recurring themes, guiding you towards genuine values. Aligning your life with these values fosters authenticity and personal growth.

I like to think of our values as our non-negotiables. Yes, it can based on your faith and beliefs but what it comes down to, is what are the things in your life that you're not willing to negotiate on? Whether that be your faith, finances, health, family or something else entirely. Only you can define them. And often what we want to be non-negotiable is not how we live our lives. Once you know your non-negotiables, put them in order of priority and then assess how much time you spend dedicated to them - often what we want and our reality aren't aligned. When we make changes and steps in the direction to align with our values we'll find true harmony in our life.

I used to think of self-care as little treats like mani/pedis and massages, and while those things are nice, I've learned there is so much more to self-care! Self-care can be anything that restores your soul, lights you up, refreshes you and gives you energy! For some of us that might be connection with others, a night out with girlfriends or your significant other, while for others it might be time alone to quietly reflect and recharge. I find I need a bit of both depending on the season but having a daily practice for my mental and physical health is the foundation of my self-care. I start each day by renewing my mind, nourishing and moving my body. If you're not sure where to start, reflect on what makes you happy and restores your soul.

Self-care itself should be a non-negotiable. It is directly related to your health and if we don't make our health a priority, well nothing else will really matter. There are so many resources when it comes to getting started that a common excuse is not knowing where to start. Tip: It doesn't matter - just start! Experiment to find what works and what doesn't. Find a partner or coach to walk with you on this journey, but go on the journey. It's always worth it!