“Treat Yourself!” is a common phrase that is used to coerce an entitled view of self care that looks like spending a lot of time, money and effort for short term bursts of dopamine.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good spa day and I love having the opportunity to go get massages.
But these aren’t the life-sustaining forms of self-care.
I think true self-care is understanding and knowing your worth— and being discerning when presented with opportunities express it.
Last month I was caught up in a whirlwind storm of excitement that left me daydreaming about what could be. I was the closest I’ve ever been to “getting it right” in romantic relationships and yet, I was still so far away.
But in the midst of a month long short-lived journey, I am reminded that my own self worth is a good prescription to avoid self hurt. It doesn’t mean that you have standards so high that they can’t be met, but that they’re high enough so that you don’t entertain people that aren’t in alignment with where you’re going in life.
Since I’ve re-entered the dating scene after very seriously considering having a relationship with a person that didn’t work out, I was ready to explore things again.
But some of these interactions are less than stellar:
It’s messages like this that validate that what I’m looking for isn’t a man who is seeking after the low-hanging fruit of humanity.
I’m not low hanging fruit.
I prayed for the man who sent me this message last night. Because his perception of how he determines someone’s value is so warped according to the world’s standards.
It’s the self worth that I have through who God says I am that keeps me hopeful, and protects me of a world of self hurt.
God is in the business of reaffirming who you are in His eyes, and He desires nothing more than to affirm you in the truth. His standards and boundaries that He equips us with in His Word are the very parameters we use to care for ourselves.
Biblical boundaries and standards create the very self-care we need to press in to when presented with a counterfeit prince.
Cling so much to God so that when presented with a counterfeit you can spot it from a mile away, and walk away with your integrity intact.
andrea statler 