Embrace Self Care As Your Primary Health Care!

Embrace Self Care As Your Primary Health Care!
"2007 was the best year I can remember!" These words--
music to my ears!-- were spoken last week by my client,
called Robert for this article, who has dealt for many
years with severe chronic pain.

This last year was a turning point for Robert. As he and I
worked together in regular wellness coaching sessions, he
began to have hope that he could feel significantly better
by taking back control over his health.

This feeling of hope grew into conviction as he made many
little, and some not so little changes, that added up to
big healing. He attended a gentle water exercise class,
started practicing mind-body relaxation techniques, met
regularly with a support group, learned easy, delicious
ways to cook vegetables and generally began treating
himself with a greater sense of kindness.

Every aspect of his life is improving because he is
practicing the most important form of health care: Self
Care. He is creating, by his attitudes, habits and daily
choices, improved health and well-being that no medicine or
surgery or medical system or expert could provide.

Although we live in a time of remarkable medical services
there is no health care as important as the care you give
yourself. Modern medicine is so miraculous that it is easy
to believe that doctors and other experts are responsible
for our health. It is easy to believe that our health comes
because of something someone does to us. We often go to
medical providers to get fixed.

And yet, the very most important type of health care is the
one that you and I practice daily, often without even
knowing we are practicing health care.

Your most important form of Health Care is Self Care!
Self care is your primary and most important form of health
care.
It is the form of health care you are in charge of.
It is your birthright. It is your responsibility.
Self Care is daily, lifelong, vital, irreplaceable and
deeply enjoyable.

Eleven Reasons to Claim Self Care As Your Primary Health
Care

1. Self Care is your most effective form of health care.
How you care for yourself is the biggest determinant of
your health, happiness, quality of life and
the way you will age.

2. Self Care is a joyful way of living.
Self care is a way of saying yes to your life on a daily
basis.

3. Self Care is empowering!
When you claim self care as your primary form of health
care you take back control over your life
and your health.

4. Self Care is cost effective.
You will save money and time by practicing self care.

5. Self Care is your response-ability.
Response-ability for self care is an opportunity only you
can take. Only you have the ability to
respond to your body, mind, heart and soul from the inside
out.

6. Self Care is the best gift you can give your family and
closest friends.
Do you ever find yourself thinking it is selfish to put
self care high on the priority list? Taking great care of
your needs is actually one of the most generous things you
can do.

7. Self Care has no substitute.
Whether you prefer to use conventional western medical
care, alternative practices, or as I
recommend, a combination of the two, there is no medical
care that substitutes for self care. No
surgery, medical procedure, medicine or expert can
compensate for lack of self care.

8. Self Care complements and enhances every other form of
health care you utilize.
When you commit to daily, positive self care, whatever form
of health care you use is enhanced and
the benefits are increased.

9. Self Care is holistic.
Self care includes and improves every aspect of your life
including physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual health, relationships, play and work.

10. Self Care starts right where you are, right now.
Whatever the state of your health, whatever your life
circumstances, there are many things you can do
on a daily basis that will help you enjoy your best health,
wellbeing and vitality.

11. Self Care is made up of many little steps and many
small changes.
Easy, small enjoyable steps take you to the tipping point
away from disease and pain and toward
health and happiness.

If you want to live with your best health and vitality, if
you want to create the best year possible, commit now to
embracing self care as your primary health care!

Imagine: What if...?
Take a few moments to imagine yourself a year from now.
Imagine that you are at the beginning of 2009, looking back
at 2008 and consider: How might your life and health be
different having taken on self care as your primary form of
health care?

Envision: One step at a time.
Coming back to this present moment, ask yourself:
What one self care step would I enjoy taking now?
Keep it enjoyable and do-able and make sure it's something
you want to do rather than something you think you should
do.

May 2008 be your best year!

----------------------------------------------------
Transformational wellness coach, Lea Houston, MA, helps
people of all ages create lives of health, vitality and
well-being. Get her Free Special Report, Let it Be Easy,
and a free subscription to her popular ezine, Self Care
Celebration! rich with soulful and practical resources,
tips and inspiration at
http://www.SelfCareCelebration.com