self-care

This article by AnnaMarie Houlis first appeared on Fairygodboss and has been republished with permission.

We're the first ones to tell you that we can all use some more self-care practices in our lives. 

For many, it's impossible to turn on the news without feeling a strong response to many of the events unfolding in our world. Here's how to feel better.

As a therapist, I specialize in families dealing with trauma. My work is hard, so like any good therapist, I engage in self-care. Yet, it's not enough.

I propose going back to basics, back to what self-care is supposed to be about. Instead of this new flashy and expensive self-care movement.

As women we aren't meant to have needs as much as we are meant to fulfill needs. We fundamentally do not believe we deserve nice things. Let's change that!

That’s when I decided that Snapchat shows me how I look to other people — which is pretty damn gorgeous! And then, I felt the self-love start to flow.

Look in the corners, in the out-of-the-way spaces, in the barely muttered requests, that’s where you find the good girl. And I'm done being a good girl!