A time for self-devotion: The importance of developing a daily personal practice.

Self-care. A dedicated action to nourish yourself.

We hear the term “self-care” coined so often now in the world of wellness, mental health and physical health. It’s the habits we do to take care of ourselves. But, why do we take care of ourselves and are we doing it correctly?

In the past few weeks, my mentor encouraged me to download an app called “Habit Share”. In the app you add in daily habits, and everytime you complete the habit, you tick it off, like a checklist. This app is great for accountability in terms of showing up for yourself. But I’ve found it’s so easy to tick off a habit with the mindset of productivity; doing something because I have to do it.

This held a mirror up to me. I realised the ego playing its part in a simple act of ticking something off. Am I taking care of myself for the right reasons? Are my intentions true to self-care?

No, that’s not self-care. Instead, it’s a means of adding value to myself through productivity. Using the app only surfaced a programming within that I didn’t realise was so powerful in my patterns, behaviours and mindset.

In a society where productivity is so highly regarded, it’s hard to not do things with this mindset. However, productivity clouds a power, an action, an intention that is so much greater… Devotion.

To do things, to act, with devotion, to me, makes life feel more whole, more loving, more fulfilling. Everything we do, we must do with intention. And that intention must be devotional for self-care to really make a positive impact on our wellbeing.

I highly encourage all those who are looking for a dedicated time of self-devotion to create a daily Yoga practice. Asana (postures), Pranayama (breathing techniques) and Dhyana (meditation) combined to create a container in which you can be in a space of devotion, introspection, and true self-care.

Even 15 minutes a day is enough to feel the difference, however I recommend at least 30 minutes to give you space to truly taste the nectar of your self-care practice.

Consistency is crucial. Show up for yourself everyday to develop the discipline required to hold a strong, healthy relationship with yourself. Show up for yourself everyday to build a healthy vessel (body) in which you can enjoy the richness of life. Show up for yourself everyday to express intimacy with yourself, to create a deep, open, loving connection to yourself. Show up for yourself everyday to understand the places within you that are in need of healing, nurture and love. Show up for yourself everyday to grow, to expand, to evolve.

I totally understand it’s difficult to create time for yourself daily, especially if you live a busy lifestyle. But that’s exactly why you need to create and incorporate a daily practice of Yoga, or at least mindfulness.

We can become so disconnected from ourselves when we’re constantly doing. This practice you create is an investment into yourself, which is the most important investment you’ll ever make in your life.

Show up for yourself. Invest in yourself. And stay accountable for that.

Habit Share isn’t so bad when you shift your mindset. It’s allowed me to look deeper within and find the resistance I was facing against the app, and then to work beyond that and realise something more important; to be accountable and consistent in showing up for myself daily through practice as a habit with the intention of connection, love, understanding, compassion, and development of myself.

If you’re ready to create a daily practice but don’t know where to start, we can help! Send us an email at flowstatebm@gmail.com to set up a consultation and construct a sustainable daily practice.