Denver Counselor Valerie Shinbaum Explains How To Say No Around The Holidays

Nov. 10, 2012 - PRLog -- The key word is “self.” So much is written about the self and related topics to the self - self-esteem, self-concept, self-awareness. We think about and work to improve these self items, the better to navigate through our sometimes difficult and overwhelming lives. Yet out of the word “self” comes the word “selfish” and that word gets a lot of undeserved bad press.

We are raised to be unselfish. It’s important for everyone to learn the world doesn't revolve around each individual and that it’s good to be giving to others. But some people believe there is NEVER a time to be selfish, and I beg to differ. There are plenty of times in life when it’s important to be selfish, because being selfish is required for proper self care. If we don’t do proper self care, we have nothing to give to others anyway. Proper self care can be basic simple things like getting enough sleep, making sure we nourish ourselves reasonably, dressing adequately for whatever weather we encounter, remembering to lock our doors and wear our seat belts and pay our bills and try to save some money and a thousand other details of life. Taken to another level, self care also has to do with finding joy in our own lives, to shape ourselves into fully functioning and wholly integrated human beings.

Valerie J. Shinbaum, MS, LPC, MAC, NCC Counseling in Denver at Westside Behavioral Care

For the full article please visit http://westsidebehavioralblog.info/news.php?extend.22.3

For more information about Valerie or to schedule an appointment, please visit http://www.westsidebehavioral.com

This article is offered as a public service by Westside Behavioral Care, Inc., a company that provides outpatient counseling, psychotherapy, and mental health services across the greater Denver metropolitan area.