Self Care vs Soul Care.. What’s the Difference?
Self care is a popular and trendy topic, rightfully so. An excuse to pamper, treat, and do things for myself? I’m in!
Hold up one sec.. forewarning, this article isn’t going to be a popular one and I acknowledge that but it’s something we need to mull over.
I believe the movement started with good intentions to avoid burnout but seems to be defined as putting oneself first in the name of “caring” for oneself in terms of health and wellness. Self care isn’t inherently bad and we do need to take an honest look at our health mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and put things into play to optimize our health.. in fact, we are called to as believers.
Well then, what is the difference between self care and soul care?
The notion that, that we need to serve ourselves first in order to serve others better places emphasis on self before others and that directly goes against what Scripture says specifically in Philipians 2:4, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” As Matthew Henry puts it, a selfish spirit is destructive of Christian love. I’m not telling you that if you call a baby sitter so you can get your nails done or if you tell a friend you can’t hangout because you want to watch Netflix by yourself that you’re selfish. My husband watches the girls for me a few days a week so I can get work done, rest, or recharge and I have zero guilt about that. What I am saying is that if we aren’t careful, we can buy into a movement with selfish tendencies and roots in the name of filling our own cup first when what we actually desperately need to fill our cup is Jesus.
Ever heard of the quote, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”? I’m here to tell you that we’ve got that quote all wrong. We can pour from an empty cup, not by our own strength but by Gods.
The difference between self care and soul care seems to come down to the motive behind the actions. When we are caring for our soul we have the ability to simultaneously care for our physical, emotional, and spiritual, needs recognizing our human limitations while still having the capability to carry our cross and serve if God says serve. Jesus prioritized rest and went off to places alone to pray so we should do that too but it’s the heart shift from self care to soul care that we can’t miss here.
“When we recognize our physical limitations, we acknowledge the supremacy of God and our dependence on him. Caring for our bodies and minds should not come from a pursuit of our own comfort and pleasure, but from an act of worship and submission to God.”
Are you burnt out, overwhelmed, feeling depleted?
If I don’t go to the gym in a few days or so due to busy-ness of SAHM life or work from home mom life I find myself blaming my emotions on the fact that “I just need to go to the gym, I get like this when I can’t make time for it.” The gym is a good thing but the notion that I need it in order to operate from rest or a with a peaceful, positive stature is a lie from the enemy.
Before turning to the new gym membership, spa day, mommy night out to supply for your needs, sit at the feet of Jesus as Mary did. Jesus knows your every need and desire even more than you do. Find your rest by sitting at the feet of Jesus, casting your burdens on him and let go of the idol of the need for “me” time in order to operate from a posture of rest.
