How important are you to yourself? When you call for help- do you answer the call?
Love is more than duty.
- Sleep, food, even self-care are duties to our body.
When we choose to commit to ourselves. We answer the call of our soul.
No matter the road we travel.
- Clear and straight.
- Or clouded in shadows.
It will always lead us to the same place. Us.
Even when we choose to run, to hide, to busy ourselves within the mundane world- the road will always lead us back to our soul. To the inner most part of who we are.
You will find that despite our blind ears and deaf eyes- our soul has been speaking to us. Calling out to us.
It is when we answer this call- that we commit.
Now what do I mean?
Commitment is when we step past the duty and responsibility we have for ourselves and step into love.
How do we love:
- We slow down.
Duty is eating.
Love is eating with intention.
We choose to eat, rather than slip food in as we work/distract ourselves (phone/tv/etc.)
In order to be successful we need to de-clutter our day, slowing down.
When was the last time you sat and enjoyed a meal? Maybe in good company or alone. But the worry of the clock or mundane responsibilities never entered your mind?
- Commit.
Rather than slipping in your needs and maybe your desires into your life- you commit yourself to loving yourself. Your soul.
This means you will shape your life around love-
- Your needs.
- Your desires.
- & the part you play within this world.
How we can commit:
- Ask yourself-
- What is love?
- What does it look like?
- What does it feel like?
When we aren’t naturally or consciously committing to ourselves, our soul will use our body, mind, and emotions to navigate you into caring for yourself.
- Injuries.
- Lack of sleep/Needing rest.
- Illness.
- Allergies.
- Self-harm.
Think- when was the last time you spent time caring for yourself? (Past duty- food/sleep/etc.)
- Commit.
Loving yourself is a way of life. You get to determine what that looks like- because you are the one who knows what love your soul needs. This is commitment, not slipping your needs or caring for yourself while your mind and focus is somewhere else.
Examples of Committing to Yourself:
- Wake-up in a way that is gentle for yourself-
- Alarm- beeps or music?
- Snooze?
- Self-care-
- Do you look out for yourself? (Six Safety Tools)
- Do you honor what you think and feel?
- Do you honor your needs as well as your desires?
- If you’re a morning person-
- Alone time- for self-care?
- Morning routine or ritual?
(Are you communicating your needs? Enforcing your boundaries? Standing up for yourself? The same could be said, if you’re like me, and are a night owl.)
- Breakfast-
- Is the food easy or does the smell alone bring a smile to your face?
- Family-
- Is the family you have built for yourself, loving and supportive?
- Have you created a community that is good for you?
- Are some communication and changes needed?
- Work-
The reality is we live on Earth. To thrive here, we have certain rules, laws, and expectations.
- Does
your work happen in a safe and healthy environment?
- Are you doing what you love or what you need to do?
Sometimes, before we can live our dream job, we must work elsewhere. This need- for thriving on Earth, for the lessons of our soul, or as preparation might mean working a job that is not the best fir for us.
We also have a calling to this world and others. As a community, we create the reality we live. This means that, little-by-little we are healing ourselves and the world. Ending the perpetuation of intentional harm and pain. Each of us, each day we live a different way, a new way, a way of love- it send a ripple through the Universe.
- Lunch-
- Do you intentionally honor the needs of your body?
- Breaks & Relaxation-
Our body does much. Some of which we are not even consciously aware of. There are times, moments, and days where we might need a nap, break, or snack. This simple act of demonstrating love to ourselves- commits us to ourselves.
- Hobbies-
- Have you answered the tug of curiosity and interest?
- Have you tried new things?
- Do you have “me” time?
- Health-
We are human beings. All of us. As such, our bodies carry our souls. Duty- means we care for our bodies because of the important job they have. Love and commitment- means we care for our bodies because they are a part of us.
- Dinner-
- Do you eat what you’re told/manipulated into eating? Or what feels right and good for you?
- Do you take the time to cook and prepare the food that brings you a smile?
- Sleep-
- Do you rest so you have energy and so your body may heal (duty)?
- Or do you rest because you care? You care if you heal. If you feel good.
Committing to yourself-
It takes the knowledge we have learned and builds upon it. For me- love and commitment are things I have searched for and discovered.
Take how you care for your loved ones and apply it to yourself.