Self-care is a touchy topic. It's become a bit of a buzzword that has overtones of self-indulgence. Like, who has time for "self-care" with its yoga, essential oil massages, and meditation cushions?
Well, yoga, massage, and mediation are wonderful tools for building resilience. Chocolate, hot baths, and dinner dates with friends are nice too.
Why should you feel guilty about those things?
Let's imagine you spent your weekend hiking and then napping in a hammock.
Why is it that you'd be more likely to get a snarky comment from your friends and coworkers than a show of support?
We're not in a contest. No one is going to win the gold medal in toughing it out.
And what's particularly interesting to me is that those warm, restorative elements of self-care, while very nice and definitely beneficial, are only half the picture.
There's a deeper, more difficult side of self-care that requires facing uncomfortable truths and taking action on them.
All the movie dates in the world aren't going to help you if you aren't looking reality in the face and making choices that serve you.
I invited Tabitha Kucera to talk with me about self-care because she made me laugh when we had a previous conversation in which she said, "If one more person suggests I try yoga, I might scream. I've tried yoga! It's good, but it isn't enough."
Ah, an honest, forthright realist. My kinda person.
Tabitha is a registered veterinary technician who specializes in behavior and focuses on reducing fear, stress, and anxiety--in cats, dogs, and people.
You are in for a treat. Listen in as Tabitha shares hard truths, boundless compassion, and tried-and-true strategies.
Get ready to lean into both the yin and the yang of self-care.
Self-care is not selfish. You matter. It's time to make some tough choices.
Links worth clicking
- Tabitha's cat behavior site, Chirrups & Chatter and her Facebook profile.
- The Society for Veterinary Behavior Technicians. She's the president!
- Fear-Free Pets (Tabitha has a level 3 certification) and Low-Stress Handling (Tabitha is certified here too).
- The article that got me thinking about the yin and yang concepts, Why Women Need Fierce Self-Compassion, and another that helped clarify my thoughts, This is What "Self-Care" REALLY Means.
- Need some support figuring out your next steps? Let's talk.
Want to continue the discussion on self-care and colleague compassion? Check out this episode on self-injury and suicide with Sally Foote, DVM.