The Art of Self-Love
Self-love is complex. Let’s explore the reality of showing up for ourselves in modern life.
Self-love has become such a ubiquitous aspiration that it has lost its meaning for some, and become a top priority for others. Marketing can convince us that self-love is a panacea for life's blunders, that acts of self-love must be grandiose, or that our journey to it is a straight line pointing upwards (with self-love achieved at the end, never having to work for it again).
We'd prefer an approach to self-love that is more realistic for daily life: one that embraces neutrality toward the self, or a spiralic experience of self-love that comes and goes, like other indicators of good health. Acts of self-love come in big, small, luxurious, and totally practical varieties. It is a practice that is unique to each person, day by day, week by week.
Let's explore some of our favorite simple acts of self-love below; these center the body and its big job of taking on our life's experiences.
Staying Hydrated
The benefits are well-known but overlooked; hydration keeps our nerves and soft tissues healthy, adaptive, and pliable. We need hydration to keep our muscles from spasming. Hydration is deepest when the water contains trace minerals and micro amounts of sugar; drinking herbal tea covers both of these bases.
Making Your Appointments
This act of self-love is a step-up in difficulty from the last, but is so important for our nervous system. Making doctor, auto, or bodywork appointments while we’re already at the office means we don’t have that spike of cortisol every time it comes to mind. Its’ already taken care of, one less thing our tired minds need to keep a leash on. All you have to do is arrive!
Caring for your Muscles
For one that feels like a treat, try self-massage. Even five minutes of applying muscle oil to your shoulders, or stretching the neck by tilting the head side-to-side, go a long way in bringing the body back to a parasympathetic state.
Your favorite practitioners are always here to guide you on tailored ways to care for your musculature at home. These recommendations may include practices, tools, or exercises that are uniquely helpful to your tension patterns.
And when the tension is difficult to keep up with, we’ll always be here for you at House Nine.
