Treating Yourself As Well As You Treat That Homeless Guy Downtown

About two weeks ago I read another issue of Redbook at work. While initially I was beating myself up for purchasing yet another magazine and not saving the few bucks in my depleting savings account, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of positive and inspiring articles I read. It has led me to reevaluate the quality time I have for myself and what I am currently doing to live a fulfilled life.

It brought me back to a conversation I, quite frankly, have on a regular basis with a good friend about our toxic habit of sabotaging our lives as women while simultaneously motivating and helping everyone else. Isn't that shear madness?!?! What makes us want to neglect and hurt ourselves yet take good care of everyone else? I want to say that it is just as easy as saying we won't do it anymore but, honestly, so many of us can't seem to break this vicious cycle of neglect and abuse toward our lovely selves. What will it take? How do we get to the place where we can see our true value and treat ourselves as well as we usually treat our loved ones and those in need?

I know the story of a woman who goes out of her way to help the needy. She bends over backwards to help the homeless, the hungry, the ill, you name the plight, she's there to rub feet if necessary! BUT she won't go to the spa to relax or buy herself a new pair of shoes to replace her worn and torn sneaks. When asked about it she simply says that it's a waste to spend money at the spa or on a pair of shoes. While most women aren't crazy enough to think that spending money on cute shoes are a waste, most of us are guilty of similar thinking. When it comes to spending money on ourselves or relieving our stress, it's a waste. But if our husbands, children, or even frenemies need something, it's an emergency.

I'm not saying not to help others but we need to start thinking of ways to take good care of ourselves too. What are some easy ways we can do exactly that?