Self Sabotaging Lessons from the Airlines

This is an original post written by contributing writer Kristy.

The Oxygen Mask Metaphor

Those of us who have flown know the whole oxygen mask performance performed by the airline attendants at the beginning of a flight.  You know the teaching: take care of yourself before assisting those around, even if you have children.  Yeah, that one.  If we are to help ourselves breathe before we help others, what does that say about life in general?

I am by definition what most people would consider a health guru.  I love to study nutrition.  I cook healthy meals for our family.  I shop at farmers markets, health food stores and avoid those “middle aisles” of convenience food at the grocery store.  Yes, I am one of those.

I Am The First Person I Neglect

I believe deeply in the power of nutrition.  I have experienced the difference between healthy and not healthy.  I also believe in the power of optimism, or rather for many like me the opposite of optimism – the effects of self-sabotage.  I am my own worst critic.  I am so hard on myself about everything.  I can never please me!

So, it really is not a coincidence that I also neglect myself so often. While I whole-heartedly believe in the power of health, I am the first person I neglect!  I put all my efforts into those around me; I can diagnose most anyone’s complaints; but I fail to care for me.

My self-sabotaging ways begin by my neglecting myself, then feeling tired from lack of care, then feeling worse about myself and the downwards spiral continues.  I do not take my liquid B vitamins as often as I should; I run to the freezer for that carton of ice cream at nap time; I break off just one more piece of chocolate after looking at the balance in the checkbook; I stay up way too late and drag through the next day; I sit instead of walk or dance or run with my kids.  I do all the things that I shouldn’t do!

Giving Myself a Good Kick

So recently, I gave myself a good kick.  For 5 days straight, I have been diligently taking my vitamins – ALL of them –  and I have been avoiding the freezer where my chocolate frozen vices are stored.  I have been having a great time being active and have even seen a pound disappear from scale!  While I still stay awake at night way too late for a mom of five, I know that I do need some time to unwind when the noise and activity has finally ceased for the day.  I am also telling myself that staying up late gives me a great excuse for napping with my kids in the afternoon because napping is part of self care, too!

Struggling with Self Care

I am sure that I am not the first mother in the world to struggle with caring for myself.  We moms often put everyone else’s needs ahead of our own.  When I do this, even if all my children’s needs are being met, I feel depressed, like I am missing the mark somehow on Mothering.  But I realize that often it is not in the area of mothering my children that I am falling short.  It is in caring for myself that I am falling short.  We Moms are like an ultimate Renewable Energy Source!  But in order to generate enough energy to sustain others, we have to have enough energy for ourselves first.  When I take care of myself, I feel better about myself as a mother, too.

As we move forward this year, let’s renew our commitment to ourselves.  We can only continue to care for others if we take care of ourselves.  It isn’t selfish to take care of ourselves. It is essential.  By putting effort into caring for ourselves, we can be more effective in the lives of our family and world.

Kristy is a homeschooling mom to 5 and lives in New Mexico where she studies nutrition & holistic/natural living. She blogs at Mothering Meditations where she shares her journey to a pure, calm, more meditative mothering experience.