A Sister Reflects - Reflexión de una Hermana

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Taking Care of Yourself | Cuidándose a sí Misma

Taking Care of Yourself

In today’s world, the phrase “self-care” often gets a bad rap, and, when so many of the self-care hacks are actually companies that want to sell a product, I can understand the bad press! Too many examples of self-care are quick fixes of taking a pill or adding powder to a shake, rather than asking us to make a commitment to real and lasting change. Despite all the problematic ways that self-care is often portrayed, taking care of yourself is an important part of the spiritual journey, and, I would argue, necessary for discernment. If we are in a place where we are tired, sick, and lonely, we will not be capable of making good decisions.

For myself, as a vowed religious woman, I look at self-care as being one way that I am called to live out my vows. For myself, taking care of my body is one way that I live out the vow of chastity, as I seek to be healthy enough to engage in relationships with others. I recently heard another sister say that for her, she thought of it as being part of the vow of poverty, where you take care of the body and life that God has given us.

The way that I live out self-care does not necessarily cost a great deal of money, although, because of the world we live in, there are inevitably expenses to take care of ourselves. For example, when I visit the doctor, I have a co-pay for my insurance, and I have to pay for my prescription medicine. However, I am also always looking for ways to care for myself that are low-cost and free.

Finally, an important part of taking care of myself is reaching out to loved ones through visits, phone calls, and messages. I make time to pray every day so that I can connect to the most important relationship in my life. These connections help me feel less alone in the world, and that is an important way to reduce stress and anxiety, as we are assured by the love and concern others have for us.

As you look at what is most important for your own self-care routine, I invite you to ask yourself the following questions:

1.   Will it help me feel energized so that I can be present for each day?
2.   Will it enable my body to do the things that I love and need to do?
3.   Will it help me feel connected and loved?

Blessings,
Sister Katherine Frazier, OP

Exciting news! A Sister Reflects is now available as a podcast. Check out the show at the links below or enjoy this English audio version of "T aking Care of Yourself" on Spotify.

Cuidándose a sí Misma

Hoy en día, la frase "autocuidado" suele tener mala fama, y cuando tantos trucos para el autocuidado son en realidad empresas que quieren vender un producto, ¡entiendo la mala prensa! Demasiados ejemplos de autocuidado son soluciones rápidas como tomar una pastilla o añadir polvo a un batido, en lugar de pedirnos que nos comprometamos con un cambio real y duradero. A pesar de todas las formas problemáticas en que muchas veces se presenta el autocuidado, cuidarse es una parte importante del camino espiritual y, diría yo, necesario para el discernimiento. Si nos sentimos cansadas, enfermas y solas, no seremos capaces de tomar buenas decisiones.

En mi caso, como mujer religiosa consagrada, considero el autocuidado como una forma de vivir mis votos. Cuidar mi cuerpo es una forma de vivir el voto de castidad, ya que busco estar lo suficientemente sana como para relacionarme con los demás. Recientemente escuché a otra hermana decir que, para ella, esto forma parte del voto de pobreza, donde se cuida el cuerpo y la vida que Dios nos ha dado.

Mi forma de cuidarme no necesariamente cuesta mucho dinero, aunque, debido al mundo en el que vivimos, inevitablemente hay gastos para cuidarnos. Por ejemplo, cuando voy al médico, tengo que pagar un co-pago por mi seguro y mis medicamentos recetados. Sin embargo, siempre busco maneras de cuidarme que sean económicas y gratuitas.

Finalmente, una parte importante de cuidarme es conectar con mis seres queridos mediante visitas, llamadas y mensajes. Dedico tiempo a orar todos los días para que yo pueda conectarme con la relación más importante en mi vida. Estas conexiones me ayudan a sentirme menos sola en el mundo, y esa una forma importante de reducir el estrés y la ansiedad, ya que nos sentimos seguras gracias al amor y la preocupación que las demás tienen por nosotras.

Al analizar lo que es más importante para su propia rutina de cuidado personal, la invito a que se haga las siguientes preguntas:

1.   ¿Me ayudará a sentirme con energía para poder estar presente cada día?
2.   ¿Permitirá que mi cuerpo haga las cosas que amo y necesito hacer?
3.   ¿Me ayudará a sentirme conectada y amada?

Bendiciones,
Hermana Katherine Frazier, OP

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