Self Care Quotes

This life is not about getting it right
It's about taking the steps that will
show who you are
There is no prescribed formula
Just try and figure it out with every step ~ Malebo Sephodi

For me, recovery and self-care are inextricably connected. My recovery from abuse, addiction, and a suicide attempt required dumptruck loads of self-care. ~ Steve Austin

Self-care refers to a meaningful 
self-investment. ~ Melissa Steginus

Boundaries are a part of self-care. They are healthy, normal and necessary ~ Doreen Virtue

Stop allowing people to disrespect your right to say no and enforce boundaries as a form of self-care. Make your yes valued by saying no when you don't want to say yes and make your no mean no without any explanation because you have the power to do so. ~ Tasha McCray

Love is in your heart. ~ Lailah Gifty Akita

We may find ourselves in a role similar to that of a gardener as we cultivate a space in which healing can naturally unfold.

In terms of neurobiology, this stance encourages us to lean into the reassuring awareness that our systems already contain seeds awaiting our attention.

For some examples, we humans are always seeking the warmest possible attachments we can imagine (Cozolino, Siegel), our brains are continuously yearning for the arrival of a co-organizing other (Badenoch, Cozolino, Schore), emotional regulation flows naturally from being in the presence of someone we trust (Beckes & Coan) and even our nervous systems have a preference for the social engagement circuitry that sustains connection (Porges).

With this kind of support from the biology inherent in both practitioner and patient, our bodies may begin to open into a welcoming state as others come towards us, with a sense of partnership being established rather than someone doing something to us.

However this also means letting go of the potential certainty that comes from feeling we are in charge. ~ Bonnie Badenoch

You are responsible to yourself, to love yourself, to care for yourself, and to help yourself. ~ Akiroq Brost

Doing something nice for myself is not selfish. ~ Christine Morgan

In Workaholics Anonymous, one the exercises involves a simple reminder. We must, they say, "catch ourselves before we relapse into ego and self-will." That is: Rest before you get tired. Check your impulses before they take over. Avoid the idiot lights - stop before there is a problem. ~ Ryan Holiday

Acknowledge, accept, and honor that you deserve your own deepest compassion and love. ~ Nanette Mathews

Relax and be refreshed! ~ Lailah Gifty Akita

Apathy is, too often, a result of overexposure to stressful, highly emotional situations. To rekindle empathy, sometimes we need some space. It's okay to walk away so that you can feel love for someone again. Sometimes for a moment. Sometimes forever. ~ Vironika Tugaleva

How necessary Sundays have become. I reach for them like sleeping lovers on the other side of my earth or my mattress. ~ Darnell Lamont Walker

Burnout is the result of too much energy output and not enough energy self-invested. In other words, it's burning too much fuel than you've put in your tank. ~ Melissa Steginus

Make time daily to nurture your physical, mental and emotional health. ~ Lailah Gifty Akita

If we are able to take responsibility for our own mind, then we can work with whatever life throws at us without resentment or blame, and with the curiosity and self-care that are necessary for mindfulness to develop in all aspects of life. On this basis, we can also help others. ~ Ethan Nichtern

Book club meets every other month or so. Besides marriage counseling and the very occasional night out with my sister, I'm home twenty-nine nights out of thirty, and still the girls resent me. Not once have they ever complained about Adam's late meetings - which may or may not have been booty calls for amazing porno sex. Me, I go out to my stupid book club, and I'm punished for it. ~ Kristan Higgins

Be your sacred-self. ~ Lailah Gifty Akita

Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won't accept. ~ Anna Taylor

Our soul is like a soft and gentle flower, it needs to be nurtured, cared for, tended to, with sufficient sunlight, fresh air and freedom to bloom into its most precious and beautiful form. This, my friend, is self-love. ~ Miya Yamanouchi

It is not weakness to open your heart. It does not make you less of a man to to ask for help. To turn to someone when you're vulnerable. To need a shoulder to cry on. You don't have to bear the weight of anything by yourself. ~ Marie Lu

Don't aim for perfection. Aim for 'better than yesterday'. ~ Izey Victoria Odiase

When someone is cruel, harsh, mean, to not take their words personally is one thing, but to hear the silent cry within those words is another. This sort of perspective can not only liberate us from crippling self-doubt in the face of criticism, it can also liberate us from automatically becoming blind participants in the interaction patterns that the cruel person has become accustomed to - a favour we do for the other person as much as for ourselves. ~ Vironika Tugaleva

...trust in what you know, be patient with yourself, and take things one step at a time. ~ Melissa Steginus

Maybe if we love ourselves healthy we will all heal? ~ Nikki Rowe

The more we uncover who we are not and discard our disempowering unconscious behaviours, the more closely we can be in sync with our true, authentic selves. ~ Christopher Dines

Taking charge of our life reinforces our self-worth. ~ Sam Owen

The body is innocent. Deeply, beautifully, fundamentally innocent. ~ Rachel Hartman

Most curable sickness can now be diagnosed and treated by laymen. People find it so difficult to accept this statement because the complexity of medical ritual has hidden from them the simplicity of its basic procedures. It took the example of
the barefoot doctor in China to show how modern practice by simple workers in their spare time could, in three years,
catapult health care in China to levels unparalleled elsewhere. In most other countries health care by laymen is considered a
crime. A seventeen-year-old friend of mine was recently tried for having treated some 130 of her high-school colleagues for
VD. She was acquitted on a technicality by the judge when expert counsel compared her performance with that of the U.S. Health Service. Nowhere in the U.S.A. can her achievement be considered "standard," because she succeeded in making retests on all her patients six weeks after their first treatment. Progress should mean growing competence in self-care rather than growing dependence. 5 ~ Ivan Illich

I think what tends to embarrass me most is how much I struggle at the little things that seem to come so easily to most people, mainly involving routine and self-care. It's hard for me to do things like cook a meal, not be in a constant apocalyptically late rush everywhere I go, to put something back when I'm finished with it. I seem to be hardwired for chaos and disorganization. ~ Alissa Nutting

The is a dark place, and bad things happen that we can't control. People we love can disappoint us, hurt us and finding forgiveness is hard... but music is there. If it disappoints you, all you have to do is change the track. ~ Alechia Dow

One day you will wake up, you will see with clear sight all that has held you back; you will feel lighter because you finally accept who you are. You will shine with flawless beauty because your happiness comes from the purity of your heart and one day I hope you realise all of this, before it's too late; because darling, if we spent our years nurturing the best of ourselves, heaven would be felt on earth. ~ Nikki Rowe

Repent, return and be restored by Jesus Christ. ~ Lailah Gifty Akita

For us to feel good emotionally, we have to look after ourselves. ~ Sam Owen

Seeking happiness is not the problem. The problem is that we often do not know where and how to find genuine happiness and so make the mistakes that cause suffering for ourselves & others. ~ Sharon Salzberg

Love your body. Exercise for 10-15 minutes daily. ~ Lailah Gifty Akita

Believe in Your Ability to Cope with Negative Feedback

Just like everyone has a vision blind spot, everyone has cognitive blond spots that can lead to making less than stellar choices. For example, you think an outfit looks good on you, and in reality it doesn't. Or you thought you understood what your boss wanted but later realize you took the instructions in an unintended direction. Since we all have blind spots, making some mistakes and getting some negative feedback is unavoidable. Therefore, unless you plan to go live in a cave, you're going to need a game plan for how you'll cognitively and emotionally cope when negative feedback happens. We'll cover behavioral strategies later in the chapter, but let's work on the thinking and emotional aspects for now.
Experiment: Think about a specific scenario in which you fear negative feedback. If your fears came true:

--How would you go about making the required changes?
--How could you be self-accepting of your sensitivity to criticism? How could you talk to yourself gently about the emotions you're feeling instead of criticizing yourself for feeling upset? How could you be patient with yourself while you're having those feelings?
--What self-care would you do while you wait for your heart and upset feelings to pass? (Yes, rewatching episodes of '90s TV is a totally acceptable answer.)
--What personal support would you access to cope with your emotions? For example, you'd talk to a frie ~ Alice Boyes

Self-love is self-care. ~ Lailah Gifty Akita

Learning to treat ourselves lovingly may at first feel like a dangerous experiment. ~ Sharon Salzberg

Many abused children cling to the hope that growing up will bring escape and freedom.

But the personality formed in the environment of coercive control is not well adapted to adult life. The survivor is left with fundamental problems in basic trust, autonomy, and initiative. She approaches the task of early adulthood――establishing independence and intimacy――burdened by major impairments in self-care, in cognition and in memory, in identity, and in the capacity to form stable relationships.

She is still a prisoner of her childhood; attempting to create a new life, she reencounters the trauma. ~ Judith Lewis Herman

You aren't doing "nothing" when you choose to put your wellbeing first. In fact, this is the key to having everything. ~ Brittany Burgunder

Stop what you are doing. Go outside and breathe. The world will not end if you take ten minutes for yourself. ~ Fawn Germer

Even you, the professional helper, often mistaken for the enlightened Guru or Staretz, can become lost in your thoughts that you must be competent without fault. You may become enthralled with your identity as a professional, even the pressures of the culture of mastery that expects you to heal your clients without fail. Never mind all of the variables over which you have no control, it is up to you, according to the canons of mastery, to control the health and well-being of those for whom you provide professional care. This potentiates a furthering alienation between you and your clients. You are at risk to become, if you have not already, the one who does to your clients; to be the one the active subject acting upon the passive and receptive objects, your clients; to be the one in possession of special knowledge, technique and mastery. All of this conspires to coax or coerce you into treating your client as reduced, a mere case. Unawareness to these influences gives you little chance to consider their influence on your practice in the clinical setting, much less give attentive efforts to resist or change them. ~ Scott E. Spradlin

When the topic of self-care came up, Eve, an academic, writer and visual artist said "There is no glory in a grind that literally grinds you down to dust". ~ Elaine Welteroth

Historically, rose petals were valued for their medicinal qualities than their aesthetic qualities. Rose has antidepressant properties. ~ Amy Leigh Mercree

Self Care is the secret ingredient to Soldier care in a recipe that yields many servings of effective leadership. ~ Donavan Nelson Butler

Resilience Practicing Self-Care To Avoid Burnout The Illusion of Control Patience and Perspective Resilience In The Face ~ Sharon Salzberg

Some of us ran so far away, during a period of survival, that we forgot to come back home to ourselves. Return home to yourself. You are safe now. ~ Lalah Delia

Radical self-care is what we've been longing for, desperate for, our entire lives-friendship with our own hearts. ~ Anne Lamott

Believe and love yourself. ~ Lailah Gifty Akita

When I got home, I took a bat and examined my back in detail in the bathroom mirror. This tattoo would be for myself and no-one else. It wasn't just because I was about to end my relationship with Iro, it was because I wanted to make some serious changes deep down inside me… My torso - my back and front – and my shoulders, breasts, and upper arms were decorated with a vibrantly coloured work of art. I knew it had been the right thing to do… When I looked at that beautifully crafted tattoo, I was filled with a sense of total contentment I had never experienced before. I felt as though I had been set free. ~ Shōko Tendō

In being everything for everyone, when am I anything for myself? ~ Malebo Sephodi

I choose to honor, love and respect myself. I have the power within to decide what I want, and how I want to life. ~ Maria Defillo

I can scarcely stand to have a manicure. I have to have them because you don't want to look like a disgusting human being - it's self-care and it has to happen, but I get very restless. ~ Laura Linney

Seeked of self love. ~ Nikki Rowe

Let those feelings out. Talk about it. Even if you're talking to your journal by yourself in an empty room. That still counts. That still matters.

If you know someone who's struggling and isolated, help them talk about it. Even if they don't have the right words. Even if you sit in silence as they try to feel safe. Even if they shower you with complaints, excuses, and justifications. Even if you can see they're just playing small, being irrational, blaming circumstances. Just be there. It all counts. It all matters. ~ Vironika Tugaleva

The most profound personal growth does not happen while reading a book or meditating. It happens in the throes of conflict, when you are angry, afraid, frustrated. It happens when you are doing the same old thing and you suddenly realize that you have a choice. ~ Vironika Tugaleva

Reinvent yourself over and over and over and over and over until you find home. There is no timeline for the soul. ~ Malebo Sephodi

Each positive thought, every vibrant attitude, all purposeful activities water the seeds for success along your path. You will encounter many seeds for success today. Pay attention to these and feed them appropriately. Then maintain their beautiful growth through conscious self-care. ~ Rebecca Gordon

Self-care is taking all the pressures you are facing right now, and deciding to which you will respond, and how. ~ Imani Shola

Take the time today to love yourself. You deserve it. ~ Avina Celeste

Always count your blessings, even if you have to count them through your tears ~ Eleanor Brownn

Sleep is our recharge function and our reset button...and we all need a reset button sometimes. ~ Sam Owen

You are in a much better position to serve others when your basic needs are met and your "tank is full". ~ Michael Hyatt

Whenever you feel exhausted, take time to relax, refresh and recharge. ~ Lailah Gifty Akita

Fragility is not the antithesis of courage. There is enormous strength and power in the softest parts of your heart. In fact, right at the centre of the most unguarded part of your spirit is where you will discover a sense of courage more resilient and timeless than you thought possible. ~ Sondra Ann Turnbull

Limits aren't there to tell us "you can't." Limits are there to tell us "you shouldn't. ~ Katie Bergman

To be human is to be whole, but to fail to see this wholeness. ~ Thomas Lloyd Qualls

By honoring and responding to your natural and essential requirements for sleep, food, water and movement, you will rise out of the realm of survival into the world of fulfillment. ~ Miranda J. Barrett

I built success in business when I stopped focusing on me and started focusing on helping others. ~ Sharon Pearson

Your well-being affects (and is affected by) those waves through small ripples of self-care and the decisions you make. ~ Melissa Steginus

Once you've fixed the small things that consume your emotional and mental energy, you may be surprised to find you suddenly have time for the things you enjoy ~ Luschka Van Onselen

Sometimes when you feel like a piece of garbage, or an alien from another planet, or more like a weapon than a real person, you have to be nice to yourself to remember how to feel human again. It's like taking care of a pet. You like cats, right? If you had a cat I know you would be buying it catnip and cat toys and fancy all-meat cat food and some kind of crazy deluxe cat bed. You'd be petting it all the time, and brushing its fur out every day so it was all fluffy and everything, right? Even if you were feeling like shit you'd take care of the cat, because that's just what you have to do when you have responsibility for an innocent animal that can't take care of itself."

"I'm the c-cat?"

"Yeah, you're the cat. ~ Spitandvinegar

Self-care has become a new priority – the revelation that it's perfectly permissible to listen to your body and do what it needs. ~ Frances Ryan

Care for yourself enough to listen carefully to what you say to yourself. ~ Willis Regier

If we truly loved ourselves, we'd never harm another. That is a truly revolutionary, celebratory mode of self-care. ~ Sharon Salzberg

Writing about my illness put me into places. It was very triggering. I had to completely remove myself and practice self-care. I learned to be patient. ~ Jenny Lawson

There are moments in our lives - eras in our lives - when self-care demands more. When you're actually suffering an enormous loss or reeling, the best thing you can do is step outside of the pressure cookers of your life. One of the things I did in my own life when I found myself at that kind of bottom moment is I said, "I have got to do something that's going to remind me of my strength. I've got to do something that's going to bring me back to clarity, simplicity, humility, and strength." And so I went and hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. Remember that the only thing that's important is your well-being, your sense of "okay-ness" in the world. So go and get that. ~ Cheryl Strayed

When you can't find your purpose in a day, make it to look after yourself. ~ Dodie Clark

The first Sunday after Valentine's Day is "Don't Beat Yourself Up Day." Have fun and be kinder to yourself. #DontBeatYourselfUpDay ~ Eleanor Brownn

Put one foot in front of the other, no matter what. Enjoy the hilltop views, have courage in the valleys, pay attention to the bends in the road, cry when you have to, laugh when you can, be helpful to others, share your joys as well as your sorrows, and remember that God created you for a purpose. ~ Eleanor Brownn

Saying no can be the ultimate self-care. ~ Claudia Black

It is a tremendous freedom to get rid of all self-considerat ion and learn to care about only one thing-the relationship between Christ and ourselves. ~ Oswald Chambers

I could never imagine loving myself
I could never imagine a person
behind the image I saw
when I looked into the mirror.
Who is this person? I would wonder
Who is she?
Does she have a name? ~ Mi-ran Isaacs

It is possible to stop the mental chatter, regain your emotional balance and live free of stress and anxiety when you create a new habit of daily energetic self-care using the four powerful tools in Nurturing Wellness through Radical Self-Care. ~ Janet Gallagher Nestor

By loving you more, you love the person you are caring for more. ~ Peggi Speers

When you're constantly taking care of the emotions of others, you avoid having to face your own. ~ Amy Chan

Remember there is a quiet, gentle witness inside of you lovingly watching everything you do and simply being present to your magnificence. ~ Amy Leigh Mercree

Each wave that rolls onto the shore must release back to the ocean. You are the same. Each wave of action you take must release back to the peace within you. Stress is what happens when you resist this natural process. Everyone needs breaks. Denying this necessity does not remove it. Let yourself go. Realize that, sometimes, the best thing to do is absolutely nothing. ~ Vironika Tugaleva

When we self-regulate well, we are better able to control the trajectory of our emotional lives and resulting actions based on our values and sense of purpose. ~ Amy Leigh Mercree

Influencing the world for good starts with service, self-care and specificity in time contribution to family. ~ Richie Norton

Guilt is imperative if we are to create and sustain a decent code of ethics and a sound moral compass. Guilt can help us to listen to our conscience, enhance empathy, and therefore have fulfilling relationships. Without guilt, we would live in an extremely dark world. However, misplaced guilt often triggers us to be over-apologetic and people-please. Many people repeat the word 'sorry' without needing to, while still others feel guilty for their very own existence. Emotionally wounded, shame-based people often feel that they are constantly 'getting in the way'. This stems from a sense of feeling unlovable. To ask for one's own needs to be met often results in a feeling of guilt. I call this misplaced guilt. Similarly, a person may feel guilty even if they have been abused or harmed by others. Misplaced guilt or excessive guilt stifles people's chances to live happily and peacefully. ~ Christopher Dines

don't work yourself to the point of a mental breakdown. give priority to your mental health. you are only a few steps away from completely losing your balance and breaking your mind. take one step back every time you take two steps forward. breathe. be mindful. see through life as it transpires moment by moment. learn when to rest. sleep is important. eating healthily is important. everything you do for the sake of your sanity is important. being kind to your mind is the best self-care there is. if there's anything that's lovely about you, it is your mind. ~ Juansen Dizon

X-awake. X-elegant. ~ Lailah Gifty Akita

Think of a wave: it washes onto the shore, and then it rolls back. Likewise, each of your activities has a backside of stillness. To be with people, you must be alone. To listen, you need silence. To exercise, you need rest. You do not need to inflict rest, silence, or aloneness. You can simply surrender to your existing urges for these essential actions. ~ Vironika Tugaleva

Inspire to live healthier!
Be the healthiest person you know! ~ Laura Hill

Be good to yourself. ~ Lailah Gifty Akita

Self-discipline is self-caring. ~ M. Scott Peck

Self-care is a deliberate choice to gift ourself with people, places, things, events, and opportunities that recharge our personal battery and promote whole health - body, mind, and spirit. ~ Laurie Buchanan