Self-care is fundamental to healthy living on so many levels. It helps us to become the best version of ourselves. Our actions and attitudes are core components of self-care, and having the right mental outlook is a key to regulating wellness. Cultivating a positive mindset for self-care requires commitment and practice, but the rewards are well worth the effort.

Realize that Self-Care is a Right and a Responsibility

So many of the women I talk to these days have been conditioned to believe that putting themselves first is selfish. Maybe you’ve heard the term “buyer’s remorse”? Buyer’s remorse is that feeling of guilt and remorse we may experience after buying something for ourselves, especially if we consider it extravagant or unnecessary. It’s a sad reality that some of us experience feelings akin to buyer’s remorse when it comes to investing in our own self-care.

A positive mindset accepts that self-care is a right. You are worthy of the time and effort it takes to create fulfillment. You have the right to be mentally and physically well. No one is entitled to diminish your need for self-care.

Furthermore, personal wellness is a responsibility. A good mindset means accepting responsibility for the path of your life. It’s all too common these days for people to lay blame when it comes to their own challenges. When you blame others, you give your power away. When you take responsibility, you take back your power to transform your life. Taking responsibility empowers you. There’s great comfort that comes from knowing that, to a certain extent, you are in control.

Create a New Mental Narrative

We spend our whole lives telling ourselves a mental story. That story frames how we perceive the world and our reactions to life’s twists and turns. Close your eyes for just a second and listen to the story your mind is telling. Is it filled with empowering phrases and images, or is it polluted by a negative outlook?

I want to challenge you to rewrite the mental script that’s so often on auto play. A great way to do this can be to simply slow the endless procession of thoughts and noise. Meditation is a great way to quiet the mind and refocus on positive thoughts. This, too, takes effort, but in time the flow and substance of your own mental narrative can change for the better.

Stop Consuming Mental Junk Food

We live in the social media era. These platforms can be useful for communicating with distant friends and relatives or even finding a story to lift our spirits. Unfortunately, they can also be toxic. There’s far too much junk food for the brain on social media.

Just like your heart or your lungs, your brain is a body organ that requires sustenance and nutrition. It needs to be nourished with good stuff. Consider if that hour you spend perusing a news feed that is filled with controversy, self-pitying posts, and mind-numbing videos would be better spent doing yoga or reading a book about wellness. Allow yourself scheduled breaks to detach from social media and notice the results.

The mind can sometimes be unruly and must be disciplined. Mental discipline is like a muscle, it must be exercised just like the body is conditioned. In the beginning the work will be challenging, but with each passing day you’ll find that your mindset is working on your behalf to promote self-care.

Affirmations for Cultivating a Positive Mindset for Self-Care

My daily commitment to my self-care isn’t selfish.

I choose to let go of negative mental self-chatter.

I am strong, empowered, and capable of anything.

I am deserving of all the good things in my life.

~ http://www.melanintherapy.com

The rewards of committing to a regular self-care practice are well worth the effort. Self-care is a way to ground yourself and find peace in your life. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be made a priority. Self-care can help you relieve stress and take care of yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It helps you to become the very best version of yourself.