I have a challenge for you. I would like you to commit to giving yourself a gift once a week.

Why do we give so much to others but not to ourselves? While we are so committed to our job and our family, why don’t we commit to giving ourselves something special every now and then?  The key to this assignment is that the gift is not necessarily for any purpose; it’s to give ourselves pleasure. So for instance, if you choose to take a nice walk, this won’t be a walk to bring your heart rate up to your target fat burning zone or maintain a certain stride to accomplish your caloric deficit to lose weight. Instead, this walk will be for you to simply spend some quiet time with yourself.

These types of gifts have a softer energy around them. For example, if you want to give yourself a nice afternoon at a park, bring a comfortable blanket, take the time to prepare or purchase a yummy meal for yourself, bring your favorite book or magazine, turn your phone off or don’t even bring it. Or you might simply get an ice cream cone from your favorite local creamery. The key will be in how you eat it, where you eat it, how fast you eat it and whether you are even aware of what you are doing.

I invite you to notice what you feel while you are practicing this act of self care and self love. Sometimes we might feel we aren’t worthy or there are so many other things that are more important that we should be doing. Just notice those thoughts and say kindly to yourself, “I am taking some time out for me right now because I deserve it. I will get to everything else in a little while. This is my time.”

Go ahead and start planning. I think I will go to my favorite neighborhood café and have a lovely cup of herbal tea and read a novel that I can’t ever seem to find the time to start reading. What will your gift to yourself be this week?