Dare To Live Without Limits

Take responsibility for taking care of yourself

The most important person is you. You are responsible for your well being. It’s nice if others care about you, but you are not someone else’s responsibility. If you don’t take care of yourself, you invite, if not attract, a host of mental and physical ailments.
Taking care of yourself does not mean being selfish or putting yourself first at the expense of others. It’s just the opposite. If you are not OK, you are not in a good position to help anyone else. So when you take care of yourself, you can help others as well.
You need to take care of yourself both mentally and physically. Mental components include your attitude, emotions, outlook, self-image, and disposition. Physical components include diet, exercise, weight, and health. Even if someone has physical ailments, they still owe it to themselves to care for their body.
Too many people get rundown because their well being is a low priority. They feel it’s a price they have to pay for today’s hectic lifestyle. Caring for yourself isn’t dependent on how much money you spend on yourself. Although the acquisition of material goods can provide a distraction and momentary pleasure, it doesn’t necessarily provide any solid or long-term wellness benefits.
Caring for yourself isn’t expensive nor does it require special effort. The application of some common sense principles along with an awareness of what’s going on within yourself is all that is required.
Minor issues, which alone don’t appear to be significant, have a cumulative and synergistic effect. It is for this reason that you must be vigilant about your well being. Allowing things to go uncorrected or to build up can have deleterious results.
Taking care of yourself requires a proactive approach. Without a specific strategy your well being will not receive the attention it deserves. Consider what’s required for airline safety. You wouldn’t feel comfortable flying if the planes never received any maintenance and were never inspected.
Fortunately, there are rigorous procedures to ensure the well being of each plane. Before each flight, a pilot goes through a detailed checklist to ensure that the airplane is safe to fly. Each aircraft must also undergo regular, rigorous maintenance procedures. Anything less would be unacceptable.
Just like an airplane, you should have a daily checklist and regular maintenance plan. Begin with your mindset before to go to sleep. Avoid filling your head with negative images as those seen on the late news. Write down any unresolved issues or points of stress that are on your mind before you get into bed. Then give yourself permission to relax with the understanding that you can deal with the items on your list when you wake up. A sound, restful sleep is essential for a healthy mind.
Before getting out of bed after awaking, take a few minutes to think about all you have to be thankful for. Remind yourself that you have the ability to overcome obstacles and solve problems. Review the list you wrote before going to sleep. Rank each item and note a course of action for each. You can then deal with each issue without dwelling on it.
Be cognizant of what and how much you eat. The quality and quantity of your food has a direct impact on how you feel and function. It’s easy to eat well and the effects are outstanding.
Get exercise daily. It doesn’t have to be anything exotic or extreme. Walking is one of the best exercises and it doesn’t require any special scheduling. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk instead of drive. Park at the far end of a parking lot.
Take the time and make the effort to take good care of yourself. It’s an investment that will provide you with unlimited benefits.

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper.  2022 Bryan Golden