Note: this piece first appeared in the August 2005 issue of Clark Wellness ForkBytes.
Do you remember the story of the golden goose? This is the fable of the poor farmer who was amazed to discover that his goose had laid a golden egg. To his further amazement, the goose continued to lay golden eggs, and the man grew richer and richer. Unfortunately, he also grew greedier and greedier, and one day, in his impatience, he decided to kill the goose to remove all the eggs at once. Of course, that plan backfired, and the man and his magical goose were both ruined.
After the last gasp of vacation on Labor Day, September signifies that it’s time to get back to the “grind” of normal life—back to school, back to hard work. It’s time to stop goofing off and get down to business. This is a natural swing of the pendulum after a few months of relaxation, but it’s important to remember that the products of your hard work are like golden eggs, and you are like the goose. You require (and deserve!) lots of care to be able to do the things you do in your life.
In a recent lecture on self-compassion, I spoke about four “levels” of self-care that I’d like to share now with you.
PHYSICAL This area refers to the care and feeding of your physical body. Getting appropriate food, exercise, and sleep are all essential for keeping your body healthy and happy.
MENTAL This area refers to the care and feeding of your brain. The brain craves challenges and problems to solve. Are you being challenged—in both your workday and in your free time?
EMOTIONAL This area refers to the care and feeding of your heart. Are you in supportive, fulfilling relationships with others? What about your relationship with yourself?
SPIRITUAL This area refers to the care and feeding of your spirit. Do you include activities in your life that make you feel alive and connected to your best self?
As you shift into “work mode” this month, I encourage you to check in with yourself in each of these areas and evaluate how you can improve them. Thinking of things in these terms can help you determine what’s missing when you start feeling a little out of whack—and carefully tending to all four areas can help you achieve greater balance in your life.
