When Self-care Fails

A student in our Bhagavad Gita course recently shared that her usual grounding practices were no longer working. It echoed an article I read a few days ago about how our typical self-care routines might feel insufficient in these chaotic times.

If you're experiencing this, know that you're not alone. Even when we faithfully maintain all our trusted methods for staying centered - the morning meditation, the evening yoga, the mindful walks - we may still find ourselves frazzled, anxious, and overwhelmed.

What can you do when your tried-and-true self-care strategies fail to calm your nervous system, quiet your mind, and lift your spirit?

The answer is simple, though not necessarily easy: love yourself anyway.

It goes back to yoga’s most foundational teaching – that we are fundamentally okay just as we are, regardless of how off-kilter we might feel. Like a wise and loving mother, we can learn to cradle our struggles with gentleness and understanding.

This isn't just poetic imagery - we can embody this loving and compassionate inner presence in simple, everyday moments:

• Be honest. When your usual practices aren't bringing peace, try taking a slow breath and acknowledging your truth: "I'm overwhelmed, and that's okay" or "I'm scared, and that's perfectly natural." This isn't about fixing anything—it's about making space for whatever arises.

• Meet yourself where you are. If you notice that you’re blaming yourself for your practices not working, or feeling like you should be a “better yogi,” start there. If thoughts arise like "I should be handling this better" or "My meditation should be deeper," try adding "...and I'm loving myself through this thought too." The key is being there for yourself, no matter what emerges.

• Imagine you're sitting with a dear friend who's struggling. Notice the natural compassion that wells up. Now turn that same tender attention toward yourself. You might silently say, "I'm here for you" or simply breathe with awareness of your own steady, inner presence.

By accepting yourself exactly as you are, each challenging moment becomes an opportunity to deepen your relationship with yourself.

Over time, this radical self-acceptance may become your most reliable practice of all - not because it makes the challenges disappear, but because it bolsters you to meet them with courage and an open heart.