Where is the balance between care of self and care of
others?
Via | Sid Jordan | March 26th 2020
Many people who attend our Meditation and Wellness seminars share that their
motivation for participating is related to hitting the reset button and taking better
care of themselves. Many often relate that they are overworked and overwhelmed
with caring for others. Some are going through relationship changes that require
grieving losses and then finding new sources of relatedness. Upon a closer look
many reveal that they have been in denial of their own needs, physically,
emotionally, socially and spiritually.
When we examine where to begin, we realize that first we must slow down and
listen to our bodies and inner dialogue. Our silent meditation programs with yoga
and meditation create a space for an introspective process that enhances self-
awareness on many levels. The self-knowledge acquired reconnects us with our
intuition, which reveals what simultaneously best serves others and us. The decision
to attend a retreat for self-care is often supported by a friend or family member.
This is a gift we can offer others and ourselves.
Many of us may not have yet fully embraced a program of self-care. Our busy
culture may not support talking care of ourselves and in many instances views self
care as selfishly motivated. Where is the balance between care of self and care of
others? The analogies of balancing care of self and others need a more expansive
metaphor. Perhaps first “know thy self”.
The golden rule, “treat others as we would have them treat us“ benevolently
presumes we know what we and others need. Henry David Thoreau once said that,
“If people are coming to help me, let me know in advance so that I can hide behind
my wood shed.” If we are first clearer about our own needs, then we might be
better able to discern what others need.
This is a first in a series of blogs on self-care. The next article will continue with
expanding on recommendations for physical, mental, social and spiritual practices
that enhance balancing care of self and others.
Namaskar,
Sid Jordan, Staff
In 1994 he moved to Asheville NC to develop an eco-village to support the service community of Ananda Girisuta (Blissful Daughter of the Mountain) on the French Broad River near Marshall, NC. In 1997 he trained to be an Ananda Marga Family Acarya (Yoga Teacher) in India committed to giving personal instructions in meditation and yoga. He currently serves as president of the Ananda Marga Gurukula Inc. Board in the US, supporting Neohumanist Education k-colleges worldwide. He is Director of the Prama Institute on the Ananda Girisuta property where he helps direct programing and teaches yoga psychology and spiritual practices. At the Prama Wellness Center he teaches yoga therapy and stress management to individuals and groups. He continues to offer his 40 years of experience and teaching of yoga psychology, philosophy and practices to audiences worldwide.
Additional Blogs!
Water Fasting vs. Juice Fasting: What 1,422 People Taught Us
Occasionally, a guest arrives at the Prama Institute and Wellness Center, convinced that “real” fasting means water only. Nothing but water, for a week or more, and the deeper the deprivation, the deeper the healing. It is an appealing story. The research, however, points to a gentler way of fasting—one we have practiced for years.
Food and Fasting for Healing and Health
If the body naturally detoxes every day, even while we sleep, why is it still important to detox with a juice cleanse or alkaline superfoods? Because the food we eat is not always healthy or alkaline; it may contain too much acid-producing processed flour, sugar, animal fat, and dairy. When we overeat, too many toxins are left in the body. Stress is another reason; too much work and too little sleep will create imbalances in the body’s digestive ecology.
What’s Really Behind Your Toxic Load?
Scientists have found that microbiomes are essential in shaping the development of innate and adaptive immunity and, in turn, the immune system shapes the microbiome.
So how can we improve our microbiome, which is primarily located in the gut, and thus improve our immune system?
Other Blogs Posts
The Benefits of a 10-Day Juice Cleanse and Yoga Retreat
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It’s a New Year and the Perfect Time to Start Fasting!
When the feasting is over, it’s time for fasting. Especially if you feel a bit heavy and sluggish from all the food and drinks you enjoyed during the holidays. People tend to eat heavier food during the cold season. But even if you eat and drink in moderation, fasting...
RFK Jr.’s Food Pyramid: More Meat, Less Sense
The new food pyramid, reflecting a radical policy shift under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., flips the traditional model on its head, prioritizing proteins, dairy, and “healthy” fats. It gets one important thing right, though: it eliminates processed foods...
Are Herbs Enough to Heal Inflammation?
Almost every day, I receive articles in my inbox claiming how various herbs can heal us, especially herbs that can cure inflammation. Herbs can support the healing of inflammation, but in my work, I have learned that they are secondary to more profound lifestyle...
