The Exhilarating Challenge of
Extreme Self Care

For the past twelve years, I have devoured anything to do with the practice of self-care. In 2002, my commitment extended to providing workshops and personal coaching on this topic that is so dear to my heart. Only recently, however, did the phrase “extreme self care” fully resonate with me.

As spring arrives and leads me to examine how I spent long winter evenings, I realize just how often I surfed our television channels. As you know, reality shows were popular this winter and while I faithfully watched only one, I spent more than a few moments being dazzled by human feats of bravery or what appeared to be potentially very painful acts.

Since I loved watching Bodie Miller and his competition during 2002’s Winter Olympics, I decided one evening that Extreme Winter Sports might be interesting. If you’ve ever watched the show, you know that daring contestants simply don’t ski rapidly down a snowy hillside making sure to stay within the flags. These competitors defy death by slaloming down frozen handrails at incredible speed. Now that’s “extreme”!

On another occasion, with remote in hand, I discovered another program, Extreme Make-over. Participants on this show weren’t merely choosing a new color of eye shadow or getting advice about a new hairstyle. They craved a whole new look and the procedures often included rhinoplasty, liposuction, and cosmetic dentistry. Individuals appeared so rewarded by the results of their new exterior that I wondered if viewers fully appreciated the measures taken for this extreme makeover.

So what is extreme self-care?

In my mind, extreme self-care is the practice of fully committing to a nurturing regimen. It’s more than a “just enough” practice of self-care. Extreme self-care requires connecting with yourself on a daily basis, deciding what you need (serenity, exercise, support, rest, creativity, etc.), and then following through to make it happen.

Too often I see women leave workshops with the best of intentions to incorporate regular self-care into their routines. We meet again only to discover that they still are not practicing what we so neatly outlined in the session. They have allowed themselves to fall back to the bottom of their to-do lists, getting caught up in guilt and the perceived lack of time.

This concept of extreme self-care requires a radical – or extreme - shift in one’s attitude. Like the Extreme Makeover participant, we must acknowledge, “I am worth it.” And, like the Extreme Sports competitor, we must proclaim, “I am going to achieve this!”

What would it take for you to practice extreme self-care regularly?
What do you know that you need more of in your life today?

Are you ready to make that radical shift in your thinking? Are you ready to begin a ritual that will initially challenge you, but will change the way you see yourself?

Perhaps May will be the month you decide to shower as much loving kindness on yourself as you do everyone else in your life. I hope so…because you are worth it!