The word “grace” has been showing up for me a lot lately, so much so that I feel a need to pay more attention. Webster defines grace as elegance or beauty, favor or goodwill, the influence or spirit of God, moral strength, to favor or honor.

This sounds like foundational power to me.

After a bit of thought, I do think I know why it’s in my face as of late; I have a tendency to beat myself up pretty well. This is something I haven’t really put much thought into, but I’m feeling I should.

We hear the term “self-care” a lot, and it’s obvious the way we are currently living is taking a large personal toll on mental and physical health. But the term self-care to me doesn’t feel quite right though, it feels too passive & reactive; like convalescing after surgery… It feels powerless to me, a bit of a victim mindset.

The term “personal grace” has been rolling around a lot in my mind lately.

If you think about all the attention we pay to how others see us; how we are perceived by status, wealth, social circles, etc. it seems we have forgotten where everything we do starts – with us, in our own heads, our own thoughts, experiences and how we live them. I keep thinking of the flight attendant talking about when in an emergency situation on a plane. Grab the oxygen mask, and put it on your own face first because otherwise, you’re worthless to anyone you want to help.

Why don’t we approach life like that?

There is such a strong social stigma surrounding taking care of yourself before others, and I really think this is part of the problem we see with mental health and personal happiness. I’m paying more attention to how I speak to myself, how I treat myself, and not beating myself up so much. “I” am where everything I do starts, it’s all me and if I’m so critical of myself then I’m already doomed to fail before I even start!

I love the term “Personal Grace”, to me this says it perfectly. Give yourself a bit of grace, be easy on yourself, put the oxygen mask on first, then go out into the world and do your thing.

It sure wouldn’t hurt, right?