Leisurely flicking through a magazine on a weekend away I came across an article on Gisele Bundchen. One of the things that stood out about this Brazilian beauty is her commitment to putting herself first.
“People think if you look after yourself you’re being selfish, you know. But in order to be your best, you have to honour your needs first… I have to come first, because then everyone benefits,” says Gisele.
Gisele isn’t the only super-model with this life philosophy. In her book Treasure Yourself, Miranda Kerr also talks about the utmost importance of loving and nurturing one’s self both inside and out.
We may be tempted to sit back and say, “easy for them”, they have much to love about their perfect bodies and perfect lives, and they can afford a helping hand whenever they need it. This may be true, although one thing is for certain. Both have their insecurities and down moments and both no doubt, have aspects of themselves and their lives they would want to change.
Yet both have made a commitment to honour themselves, despite personal insecurities, hectic career schedules, demands of their young bubs, their relationships and many other things that could easily stand in the way. They honour themselves through their healthy diets; through their regular exercise regime; through their attitude towards themselves and their bodies; through their commitment to following their passions.
It’s very easy to sit back and say, “My job is just too hectic, I don’t have time to exercise or follow a healthy diet” or “I’m a mum now and my primary responsibility is to be a good parent to my children.” I am certainly not denying that this is of absolute importance. However to Gisele’s point, by honouring our own wellbeing, everyone benefits. Especially our children.
By paying attention to our own needs, we’re much more empowered to give our best to our children, our job, or anyone and anything else that’s important. By taking care of our bodies with nutritious foods and regular exercise we feel fitter, healthier and more energetic. We become positive role models for our children. By following our passions and doing things we enjoy, we feel more fulfilled and happy, even if it may mean a little time away from the family and/or the office. That’s not to say that spending time with family or time in the office isn’t something we enjoy; for many both can give immense satisfaction, but it’s also important to take some “me” time. We can then bring a fresh perspective back to the other aspects of our lives.
It’s very easy to cite external factors as reasons why we can’t honour ourselves. Foremost though, it begins in our own mind. Where there’s a will there’s a way, it all comes down to making it a priority, whether that be walking to work or at lunchtime, making exercise a family affair or preparing the week’s meals in advance. If we think that our companies or our families own us, they will, however over time we may start to feel unfulfilled, resentful or even unwell. With a shift in thinking we can focus on nurturing our own needs, without compromising our career or role as parent or partner. In actual fact, we can enhance all aspects of our lives.
Do you place importance on nurturing your own needs? If not, what changes can you make to take better care of your personal desires, health and wellbeing?
This blog post was written by Gabrielle Aitken, Inner Beauty Stylist and inspirer of Appreciation, Respect and Love (a.k.a. Aprelo).
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