It was one of those days when I signed up for a yoga class but wasn’t feeling like myself with a low-grade headache. My sister and I typically attend the same yoga classes, so when I checked in with her about it, she admitted to not feeling 100 percent either, but was still going to “show up for herself.”
I wound up skipping the class and used the time to take my dog on an easy walk. Although I was bummed about missing class, I felt like I showed up for myself as well by not self-shaming and doing something that brought a different type of gratification.
What does it mean to show up for yourself?
Two people in the same situation showed up for themselves in different ways. Life can be fast, mes…
It was one of those days when I signed up for a yoga class but wasn’t feeling like myself with a low-grade headache. My sister and I typically attend the same yoga classes, so when I checked in with her about it, she admitted to not feeling 100 percent either, but was still going to “show up for herself.”
I wound up skipping the class and used the time to take my dog on an easy walk. Although I was bummed about missing class, I felt like I showed up for myself as well by not self-shaming and doing something that brought a different type of gratification.
What does it mean to show up for yourself?
Two people in the same situation showed up for themselves in different ways. Life can be fast, messy, and difficult. We have roles, responsibilities, relationships, and stuff getting in the way of what we need to do for ourselves. *Showing up for yourself means to do what you need to do to honor your authentic self without judgment. *
How to show up for yourself
Being your own best friend goes beyond self-care. It is nurturing yourself daily by giving yourself love, attention, and grace like you would your favorite people.
1. Show up for yourself by giving what you need in that moment.
People are neither programmed nor predictable like robots. Today’s needs might be drastically different from tomorrow’s, so be flexible enough to switch gears. Sometimes showing up for yourself might look like saying “no,” while other times it involves saying “yes.”
2. Show up for yourself by keeping it simple.
Why wait for that big moment? It’s the daily little things that ensure your practice is sustainable and consistent. Taking 15 minutes out of the day for a power nap goes a long way.
3. Show up for yourself by saying no.
We can’t pour from an empty cup, so we need to prioritize our needs before we can help others. A couple of weeks ago, I was supposed to have a regularly scheduled Zoom call with a friend. The day before, he sent me an email, “Would you mind if we rescheduled? I could really use the time to catch up.” I completely understood and respected that.
4. Show up for yourself by being who you need to be.
Who dictates how we express ourselves? Ideally, we are expressing ourselves on our own terms. Thankfully, this era encourages us to authentically dress and style ourselves, rather than follow societal norms.
5. Show up for yourself by not beating yourself up.
Be gentle with yourself when you have to say no. We understand when friends break plans when things come up, so we need to be just as forgiving with ourselves.
6. Show up for yourself by setting boundaries.
Boundaries are necessary for maintaining inner peace and healthy relationships. Otherwise, do you want to be a people-pleaser with unconscious resentment? For additional guidance, check out my post, “What Are Boundaries? (And How to Not Violate Them).”
How do you show up for yourself?