Has anyone ever told you, “be good to yourself”? Have you ever focused on being good to yourself? And, what does it mean to “be good to yourself”?
Years ago when my children were young I use to drive them to school. On the way we would listen to a Christian radio station, K-LOVE, and sing the songs we would become familiar with. My favorite was “I Can Only Imagine”, by Mercy Me. As I write this I can hear my children singing the song with me. Good times! 
I’m not sure if my children were fully aware of what the song was all about. However, my dream for my children is that someday, when it’s time, they will end up in heaven for all of eternity. This is where they can experience the love that only Our Father can give them. But, to get there you must genuinely love.
Part of being good to ourselves is loving ourselves, unselfishly. That might sound like an oxymoron, but really it isn’t. To love ourselves unselfishly, we must take care of our temple, our heart, mind, and soul. We must keep our “house” clean and pure as best we can. Though, I know I have all fallen in the mud plenty of times.
Our temple is our body which houses our soul, and keeping it clean is a tall order. It’s easy for some, but not so easy for most. We must have the right tools to be good to ourselves.
Let’s start with what’s on the surface. Some basic tools would include soap and water, washcloth and towel, toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush or comb, shampoo, and maybe some deodorant. In Matthew 6:16-17, it speaks of bathing so that no one knows your circumstances, especially when fasting.
Some of the tasks, besides being well groomed and practicing good hygiene, involve eating healthy, regular exercise, and a good night’s sleep. Be careful of what you are putting in you body and how much, such as alcohol, drugs, sugar, carbohydrates, and salts, just to name a few. Everything in moderation, and keep it healthy.
We are not just physical beings. For this reason we must be good to ourselves in a holistic fashion. We need to take care of our spiritual and emotional well being.
Healthy relationships with others are important. Spending quality, relaxing and enjoyable time with family and friends feed our heart and soul. And if there is someone you struggle with keep in mind they may be going through difficult times and may not know how to be good to themselves. Maybe you can be that friend or loved one that can help them move in that direction.You might consider sharing this article with them.
Learning about emotional intelligence and practicing it is part of being good to ourselves. When we learn how to control ourselves and handle crucial conversations with others, you can be that steady person that others can count on during a storm. Being mindful of what is going on within ourselves, helps to raise our emotional intelligence.
However, we also need to be able to take some time out alone. Meditation, prayer, and fasting are ways of tending to our spiritual selves. It helps us to focus on the important things in life. Here is a link to last week’s topic about quieting the mind and the benefits of doing so: https://peacefulcafe.com/2018/09/16/quiet_mind/.
In summary, being good to ourselves involve:
- Good hygiene – physical cleanliness
- Maintaining good health – proper diet, exercise/activity, and good rest
- Maintain healthy relationships, even those who might be difficult to be with
- Practicing emotional intelligence and mindfulness
- Meditation, prayer, and fasting
These are just a few suggestions on how to be good to ourselves. We cannot help others and love if we do not take care of the one that looks back at us in the mirror.
I pray this is helpful for you. As you practice being good to yourself, keep a journal for at least a week, two weeks, or longer. Note positive changes are you experiencing. As always, I invite you to leave a comment, concern, and/or suggestions to share with others, or questions you would like answered.
Until next time, peace to you always.