Self-discipline, Self-leadership, SELF

I recently listened to one of my books (Rachel HollisGirl Wash Your Face) that argued how do you lead others when you are having difficulty leading yourself? Granted, I am taking this slightly out of context. The focus of her self-help book is on being a mom and having a career. However, she brings up some interesting points. Most of them you probably already know. Leadership requires much of you. My point is, are you taking care of yourSELF?

As leaders, we encourage our people to be healthy (mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually) yet often forget about our health. I don’t know about all of you; I get lazy. I’ll stop what I am doing to help and take care of everyone around me. However, when it comes to doing the things that I know I need (like working out daily), I sometimes neglect it. 

Hollis argued that if you are unwilling to keep a promise to yourSELF, how can you be reliable enough to keep a promise to others? I say that I easily keep promises to others but almost always fail myself. This isn’t a proud moment. Nor is she absolutely wrong in her assessment. I just know that taking care of my people (family, friends, co-workers, and employees) is what drives me. 

Even still, if I am not in the right mind, the right mood, the right whatever, am I really able to focus and meet the expectations of those who rely on me? The true answer….no. To take care of others, a leader must carry the burdens, organizational pain, and even fear of those who look to them. If you are not healthy (again, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally), then you cannot truly take care of those around you. 

What do you do to take care of yourself? Meditate? Workout? Eat right? Ideally, you do all of these. Feed your mind, body, and soul in a way that leaves you refreshed and alive. It requires self-discipline and self-leadership.