As I stood beneath the rushing water at Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica, letting it flow freely over my shoulders, I felt something I hadn’t realized I needed so deeply. I felt release. No striving. No fixing. No performing. Just standing still and allowing the water to do what it naturally does. In that moment, I was reminded that self-care is not always about doing more; sometimes it’s about trusting enough to pause, to receive, and to let go.
That moment stayed with me.
As I begin this new chapter, which includes launching this blog as the home of Self-Care Saturday; I have been reflecting deeply on what self-care truly means to me…. And so too have the ladies of the LBI Women’s mentorship community. For us, it is not the trendy version. Not the perfectly curated version. But the kind of self-care that actually sustains us through real life.
I’m currently reading Start With Why by Simon Sinek, and a line from the preface of the book really resonated with me:
“That’s what we do when we find something of value, we share it with the people we love.”
That sentence perfectly captures why I am here – why Self-Care Saturday exists, why I coach, why I write, and why I share my journey so openly. Self-care, at its core, is not selfish. It’s relational. It’s an act of love – first toward ourselves, and then outward toward the people we are called to serve.
And for me, self-care rests on three deeply held values: love, fun, and balance.
Love is often the first thing we give away and the last thing we offer ourselves. Yet true self-care begins with love – compassion for who we are, grace for where we are, and honesty about what we need.
Loving ourselves well means listening to our bodies, honoring our limits, tending to our spiritual lives, and making choices that align with our values rather than our fears. It is recognizing that rest is not laziness, boundaries are not rejection, and saying “no” can be an act of faith.
Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that adulthood must be heavy to be responsible. But joy is not a distraction from purpose – it is fuel for it.
Fun is not frivolous. Laughter, play, travel, creativity, and delight reconnect us to the fullness of life. They remind us that we are alive, not just productive. Self-care that excludes joy eventually becomes another obligation. Self-care that includes joy restores our energy and our perspective.
Balance does not mean everything gets equal time. It means the important things get intentional attention.
Balance is caring for your spiritual life without neglecting your physical health. It’s nurturing relationships while still honoring solitude. It’s pursuing purpose without abandoning rest. Balance requires reflection, adjustment, and humility. It is about the willingness to notice when something is out of alignment and to respond with wisdom rather than guilt.
For me, self-care is not a single action or routine. It is a way of living!
Self-care asks us:
What does love require of me right now?
Where can I invite more joy?
What needs to be realigned so I can live with intention?
This is the posture I want to carry forward into this space. This blog is not about perfection. It is about presence. It is not about having it all figured out, but about paying attention — to God, to ourselves, and to the life unfolding around us.
And so I return, in my mind, to that moment at the falls.
Standing still. Cold water rushing. Trusting the flow.
That image reminds me that sometimes self-care looks like movement, planning, and growth. And sometimes it looks like surrender and allowing life, grace, and God to wash over us and do what we cannot do on our own.
May this space be an invitation for you to redefine self-care in a way that feels honest, life-giving, and aligned with who you are becoming.
Until next Saturday!
Love, Talisha ❤️
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As I stood beneath the rushing water at Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica, letting it flow freely over my shoulders, I felt something I hadn’t realized I needed so deeply. I felt release. No striving. No fixing. No performing. Just standing still and allowing the water to do what it naturally does. In that moment, […]
10 Responses
Beautifully written. Self care for me must first start with self -awareness. I knew what I wanted careerwise quite early and the family relationship I wanted to create, but I never took the time to understand my emotional needs. I am by nature a nurturer for others but not so much for myself. I am on a journey to find me in all aspect of my life.
Thanks Maureen. Self-discovery is a beautiful journey! Enjoy every moment of it.
Thank you for your words, your openness and the stewardship in helping others live in their own purpose. Every opportunity I get I will sit and read, resonate and reflect how I can apply what I’ve read to my life. As individuals we face numerous challenges and forget just being a human being is a blessing. For me, I believe that your environment plays an integral part in anyone’s development whether it’s self-care, love, fun and balance. Thank you and keep leading those that require just a simple word of encouragement, engagement or reason to try again with themselves.
Love Always
Trottybear♥️
I really appreciate your feedback Melissa!
This is honesty at its best! Talisha, every word, every thought, every expression is true. I see what you have experienced vividly as if I was there. Thank you for sharing.
Self-care is what alot of of need, but don’t experience because we are too “busy” doing too much of what? Let’s slow it down, let’s be intentional about everything we do and let God guide our us from this moment onward.
Thanks Nicole!! Yes… Let’s slow it down and Let’s be intentional!
Thank you for this!
I am thinking how can I really enjoy some self-care with respect to how you explained and expressed what it should really be..sobering 🤔
It’s my pleasure Nicole! I am here to help you with this process.
Really beautiful Talisha. I particularly appreciate your section on balance! That really puts it into perspective for me. Have a wonderful week!
Thanks Kathryn! We often picture “balance” as the scale – both sides being equal, but I have come to learn that true life balance involves more than just work and life competing for our time, talent and treasures. I look forward to sharing on all these areas of life.