The practice of "self-care" has been around since the ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures, when a mother took care of her child by taking care of herself physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. The importance of self-love and self-care has increased as our society becomes busier, moms are in shorter hours and drive more, and caregivers are in short supply. It's no wonder that women are more stressed out, have lower self-esteem and are at higher risk for depression. The stress of everyday life can lead to serious illnesses, high blood pressure, fatigue and even obesity. It's up to all of us to take care of ourselves to make sure we can feel happy, healthy and well-rounded.
What does it mean to be self-sufficient? Is it having the ability to take care of yourself, financially, physically and mentally? Does it mean having creative control over your relationships, health and well-being? Being self-sufficient is having control of your life and your future. Women who have creative control over themselves, are happier, healthier and more able to help their families and communities.
What makes a person more creative than another? Self-care doesn't mean selfishness; it's about creativity, sharing and finding joy in doing the things we love. Self-improvement doesn't mean working fewer hours. Self-actualization doesn't have to be a path blocked by perfectionism; it can be a path toward empowerment and fulfillment.
Women who have high self esteem, high levels of social competence and high levels of creativeness have no difficulty making and developing creative dreams and goals. They know what they want and how to get it. They face no obstacles or roadblocks along the way. They are not threatened by stage fright, they don't fit in crowds or they don't fear criticism. These women have mastered the art of self-care.
Self-care does not mean procrastinating, it does not mean depression or irritability. It does not mean loneliness or isolation. Instead, self-care means centering your thinking and feelings on the here and now, on your strengths, on the creative aspects of your character and your gifts. Recognizing and celebrating your creative genius, your strengths and your gifts allow you to focus your efforts on creating and appreciating the good that comes from being a highly effective and successful woman.
What does it mean to be a self-sufficient woman? Self-improvement and self-care are vital components to this definition. Successful and creative women realize their full potential and use every single talent and gift to achieve their goals and dreams. They learn to rely on themselves for the love and appreciation they deserve from everyone around them. Instead of receiving adoration and adulation from others, they recognize and honor the fact that they do come with the uniqueness that makes them uniquely qualified to contribute to the world.
The arts-and-entertainment community is a prime example of a group that takes great pride in the success and creative genius of its members. Its members embrace and promote positive self-improvement and self-confidence skills. As a result, its members have fewer encounters with performance anxiety and they are much more successful in their lives and relationships. This is not to say that the members are less capable of achieving great things or that the arts-and-entertainment industry is somehow lacking in creativity or in goal-setting and goal achievement.
On the contrary, it is undeniable that the arts-and-entertainment industry is one of the most innovative, creative and technologically advanced fields of our time. It attracts some of the best and brightest young people from all over the world, many of whom are very ambitious and ready to take massive personal and professional leaps of faith. This is a critical point and should be considered: when young people take these gigantic leaps of faith and go on to redefine themselves and achieve tremendous success, the results can not only be extraordinary but genuinely incredible. Just say YES to self-improvement and creativity and you will live a life full of creativity and self-love.
