Self-care is a strategy to help you deal with stress proactively. It is caring for your whole self – physical, mental, and emotional – and ultimately moves you closer to your goals.
Self-comfort is more about easing discomfort than about moving towards your goals – and will likely keep you right where you are. If you keep doing what you have been doing, you will keep getting the same results. Self-indulgent choices, when done often enough, will move you backwards.
Unfortunately, this life is not meant to be easy. There will always be discomfort. Embrace it. The more you choose comfort, the less likely you will be to make progress toward your goals.
When you get out of your comfort zone and accept the challenges, you start to progress and make change happen.
While everyone chooses self-comfort once in a while, it’s important to know that if you choose self-comfort often enough, it will keep you right where you are.
For example, if your self-care choice is going to bed at 9:30 pm because you are tired and need the rest, your self-comfort choice might be to stay up and watch tv until 11 pm because you “want to.”
Examples of self-care:
- Choosing nutritious food more often than not.
- Drinking enough water.
- Turning down a social invitation because you need alone time.
- Going for a walk.
- Opting for an early bedtime instead of another night out.
- Pursuing personal development.
- Taking a bath or a walk.
- Seeking help from a friend, family member or a professional.
Let me know if you choose self-care more often than self-comfort and see if you can try one of the stress-release activities mentioned above.
Healthy Habits for a Good Life 