The Importance of Self Care

This, I believe, is incontrovertible. Our primary ethical imperative may be to care for others, but this imperative is meaningless, empty, if divorced from the imperative to care for oneself.

I must care for my hands, if I am to lift the fallen;

My heart, if I am to love the lonely;

My mind, if I am to cure the ill;

My eyes, if I am to find the lost;

And my soul, if I am to guide them home.

No matter how it is conceived – philosophically, theologically, psychologically – the imperative to care for others is always already an imperative to care for myself.

Craig Irvine

Caring well for others begins with caring for ourselves. To help others, one must be in a position of stability. This is an often-neglected component of those who seek to be near and care for the brokenhearted.

Brilliant minds like William Shakespear and Henri Nouwen referenced “windows into the soul”: areas of our lives which feed who we are. For some, it may be reading a good book. Others, a long hike through nature. Still others, a meaningful discussion with a close friend.

Identifying those “windows” – with an intentional introspection – is a critical skill and quality control measure, both personally and professionally. We at ARS are trying to be more intentional about this in 2025. We’ve implemented monthly mental health days for staff, as well as peer support courses for those who serve within our organization.

If you would like assistance in identifying these “windows”, or tools in self-care, our CCAR Certified Professionals and Certified Facilitators, as well as Certified Peer Counselors are here to help. Give us a call or email at rca@advocatesrecovery.org.