Guilty Your Honour!

On Facey and feeling guilty about all the other things you could be doing right now?    Never fear you are not alone!  Almost all of us seem to experience feeling guilty about taking time out…. whether it be on Facebook, delving into a novel, having an afternoon nap or just chilling on the couch for a movie… it seems that we like to beat up on ourselves for taking a few well deserved moments for “me”. 

As someone who doesn’t mind a chat I find myself talking with people from all walks of life and it appears to me that this is an epidemic.  GUILT, GUILT, AND YES MORE GUILT seems to run our lives  - in this case guilt over spending time with ourselves.  We feel the need to fill every spare moment of our days with something ‘productive’.  And ‘Oh My God’  this epidemic looks to be running rampant amongst mothers.  Maybe one of the worst groups hit even.  A mother’s guilt!  If you’re a mother reading this it’s highly likely that there is no need to describe the varied and colourful ways we mothers experience guilt, but today we’re just talking about the guilt we feel about having ME TIME!  All those other forms of mother’s guilt are a discussion for another day!

 “I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self indulgent.  Caring for myself is an act of survival”…. Audre Lorde

When we take ME TIME - an act of caring for ourselves - we improve the quality of all facets of our lives.  We are able to give our brain rest and the vital time necessary it needs to refresh and replenish, bringing about better focus, concentration and clarity of thought.  Enhancing creativity motivation and productivity.  In these times of solitude we can also provide our bodies with a recuperation space to heal and reactivate.

Alone time presents us with the opportunity to reconnect with ourselves.  Spending time doing the things that make us feel happy, rested, fulfilled and at peace.  Which inturn brings about a personal energy that is attractive and alluring.  It allows us to self reflect and listen to what our thoughts, feelings, bodies and spirit need to be validated, recognised, nurtured and inspired.  ME TIME spent in this way provides us with a pathway to more fulfilled relationships with others because we have one with ourselves.  We have the time to intuitively problem solve from a place of still and calm rather than stress and burden when we decide to give ourselves TIME. 

A car that is low on oil, water and petrol will only get us so far, and inefficiently, before it overheats, blows a head gasket and comes to a grinding halt.  We are no different!  Filling ourselves with ME TIME is just the same as filling our cars with petrol.

So next time you find yourself feeling guilty about taking time out from your hectic life remember that the time you give to yourself will actually be of more benefit to you and those around you than the time you think you are saving.

Sue Warner - Rainbow Healing Therapies 

Holistic Counselling & Meditation

The Natural Health and Wellness Clinic