Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love. – Brené Brown
And do the same when it comes to taking care of yourself...
Because we often neglect our own health, whether it be mental or physical, but we would never wish it upon someone else; especially when it comes to a loved one. We will always want the best for them.
So, do we not love ourselves? Should we not take care of ourselves as much as we'd love to take care of someone else? Why is it that when we're trying to take care of someone else, it's being selfless and loving, but when we take some time to take care of ourselves, it's often considered selfish and sometimes even taken to the point of being called self-absorbed?
It's funny this world, its people, society, and all that we consider acceptable and what we don't consider acceptable.
For instance, here I am, always giving people health tips, about diet, fitness, and so on; yet, I've been neglecting my health for almost half a decade now. I left the gym back in mid-2019 due to studies, and now I'm still not able to manage the time and energy to go workout. My diet is sloppy and random, and every step I take to fix it, sooner or later is squandered; either due to mental tension or physical work.
ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵒᵛᵉʳᵃˡˡ ᶜᵒⁿᵗᵉⁿᵗ ᵃʳᵉ ᵐʸ ᵒʷⁿ ᵘⁿˡᵉˢˢ ᶦᵗ'ˢ ᵐᵉⁿᵗᶦᵒⁿᵉᵈ
Now, I don't know what it takes to maintain good health and well-being during the 40s because I still have a decade left to go. Yet, whatever it takes now, should very well be viable for a 40-year-old as well. I can only speak from experience, and from my experience, to be healthy and happy, you need three things.
The first two are exercises, for both the mind and body. Reading a book you like or find interesting for 30 minutes a day, and working out for at least an hour to two hours a day. Of course, diet goes hand in hand here. You need a healthy brain to read and write, for which you must get your daily dose of brain foods. And for your body, you must keep it balanced, with protein, carbs, fibers, and healthy fats.
However, the third thing is tricky; unfortunately, not many find the answer to the third point. And what is the third necessary thing that makes a person healthy, happy, and wise?
It is purpose.
To find your purpose in this world. To find purpose in work, and from that to add value to your surroundings and the world. If you live a life of purpose, if you've discovered your purpose, then you never want your days to end. And when you do wake up the next day, you set out on another challenge. Effortlessly!
When your life has a purpose, when you're making a living doing what you love, you start loving yourself more, and that is when you start taking care of yourself. At that point, eating healthy, working out, and hobbies that give you joy don't feel forced, and you make sure you give the time and effort to complete these tasks daily. Simply because you love this purposeful version of yourself, and you never want to go back to the person you once were. So, you put in the effort to take care of this version because taking care of this version of yourself, gives you the ability to take care of others; especially your loved ones.
So, purpose is healthy. Purpose is key.
The only time I really had any purpose in life was back in 2016. Because the only purpose I needed back then was to stay alive. After evading the grasp of death from a deadly disease back in 2015, the only task I had was to stay alive and in the game. I was also preparing to leave the country for my higher studies, but soon after because of some family and financial issues, it had to be abandoned. I had waited years preparing myself to live abroad, study, work, and possibly provide for my family from there. But I guess destiny had something else planned for me. And to this day, I'm trying to figure out what it is.
Soon after I joined my family business, and things were going well. However, destiny showed up at our doorsteps once more, and this time it was a worldwide crisis, COVID. And even though COVID is long gone, the scars it left are still quite visible. In a matter of a few years, things went from finding purpose and taking care of myself to trying to provide for the family and working as many hours as humanly possible; while neglecting my physical and mental health. Also having to give up on certain healthy habits and a few hobbies.
And I've been living like this for half a decade now. Yet, I'm still out here in pursuit of purpose.
However, I do wish that I had the time and energy to take care of myself again. And it's not like the lack of time is the only issue, costs have gone up 2x since COVID, but my earnings haven't; in fact, my income has been disrupted in the past few years. Nonetheless, I'm still alive and I have a fully functioning mind and body. So, I'll keep doing my thing, and keep on searching, and hopefully, one day I will stumble upon true purpose once more; everlasting purpose.
