Speaker 1: 0:06

Welcome, beautiful souls. You've made it. You've made it to Self-Care Saturday and this is the sweet spot. Wow. We've been really digging into contagious courage all week long and you know, as a board certified psychiatrist, somebody who specializes in performance, I'm here to guide you into living a life you love, based on your recovery, based on your ability to rest, based on your ability to take a time out, because it turns out that that requires courage. I don't know about you, but usually I have to be exhausted before I take some time to really engage in recovery, in meditation sitting, still being prayerful, just taking time for myself.

Speaker 1: 1:13

In a society that glorifies exhaustion and making moves and making everything happen all the time, it's hard to step back and just care, care for me, myself and I. That's another podcast we did, I think, last week. The three most important people are often the three that are forgotten me, myself and I. And ultimately, self-care. It can be seen as weakness, it can be seen as being soft. You're not doing enough. But guess what? Self-care is not weakness. It's a brave choice Because, let's be honest, most people don't rest because they're tired. They rest because they've crashed. They just don't have anything left. They wait until their bodies or their minds forces them to stop. But real courage, it's the courage to pause. To me, that's what real courage is is to pause before the breakdown happens, to check in with yourself, to reset yourself and tell yourself you know what Me, myself and I, we matter my well-being, it matters my peace. That's not optional. And let me tell you this taking care of your soul in a world that glorifies hustle, that's resistance. Taking care of your soul in a world that's putting out all these stressful messages to you, that's rebellion. And taking care of your soul in a world that doesn't sleep, that is ultimately the strongest thing you can do to help Be a better you, and the science will back you up.

Speaker 1: 3:11

When you rest, when you breathe, when you mindfully recover, you lower your cortisol levels and you reset your nervous system. You strengthen your immune system, you replenish your brain energy and, in short, you come back stronger. You fill your cup and, spiritually, even Jesus rested, even the creator built a rhythm of Sabbath in the design of the universe. You don't rest because you're lazy. You rest because you are worth the restoration. Author Brene Brown puts it this way it takes courage to say yes to rest in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.

Speaker 1: 4:03

So your move today is to be purposeful and conscious about your resting and your recovery. You are Dr Zoda's here. Okay, take 30 minutes just for you today. No guilt, no apologies, no excuses. I don't care if it's a stretch, a nap, a walk, praying, breathing, journaling, doing some mindful activity. It could be something pleasurable. Dance if you want to dance, whatever it is, whatever feeds your soul and restores your fire. That is what Self-Care Saturday is about.

Speaker 1: 4:45

And guess what? When you care for yourself, when you take time, if people see you caring for yourself, you know what you're doing. You're being contagious. You're giving them a chance to do it for themselves. Because often, if you're a parent, if you're the leader, you're the team captain or you're a person of influence, you're the boss, you're the loved one. Whatever role you have, you are a center of influence and if you are seen resting, recovering and putting a priority to that, it becomes contagious.

Speaker 1: 5:23

So today, you're going to tell yourself this affirmation my rest is sacred, my peace is powerful. My courage includes caring for myself. My rest is sacred, my peace is powerful, and my courage includes caring for myself. This is Dr Derek Sweet and this is the Sweet Spot and you're listening to Self-Care Saturday. Take care of you today and I'll meet you tomorrow for Slow Down Sunday, where we will stretch into the stillness and tap into the cosmic side of courage. I'm so proud of you for getting through this week of contagious courage and trust me when I tell you it takes deep courage and bravery to take care of yourself. Don't negotiate with yourself. Give yourself the 30 minutes. I'll see you tomorrow. Love and blessings. For those of you who haven't subscribed yet and you've been listening go ahead and hit that subscribe button and if you'd like to talk to me on LinkedIn or Instagram or on threads, let's get it. Take care.