How is Self-Care Different from Soul Care?

Post Author: Rev. Merianna Harrelson

If you feel like your feed is infiltrated with reminders about the importance of self-care, you are not alone. The $1.5 trillion self-care industry is expansive and pervasive in its influence. It isn’t an accident that you are receiving reminder after reminder of the ways that you can ensure that you are taking care of yourself. Instead, it is intentional marketing in order to capitalize on this bustling business. 

More and more, people are beginning to understand that what is advertised as self-care is more centered on spending money than finding your center. The urges to indulge in shopping therapy or #treatyoself days made popular by the show Parks and Recreation actually result in feeling more disconnected from yourself. The other extreme of the self-care pendulum is to savor simple activities like taking a shower or sitting in your car for a little longer after running errands rather than to address the inequities in mental load exacerbated by the pandemic. 

Although we may rightly be dubious about these false forms of self-care, their ubiquity points to something within us that is searching and aching for more. The collective trauma of living through a pandemic and trying to recreate normalcy has taken its toll on us. Added to this burden, we are discovering that more and more people are feeling disconnected and disheartened as we try to rebuild connection and belonging after so long apart. 

If self-care isn’t the answer, then what is? 

Soul-care. 

A Picture of the Atlantic Ocean on a Spring Morning with a bird flying overhead

Soul care helps bring our bodies and minds back to center and unites our bodies, minds, and souls together. When we care for our souls, we also see the world and our to-do list completely differently. We begin to see what matters truly in the short amount of time we have here on earth and what distracts us from living truly meaningful lives. When we care for our souls, our to-do lists begin to shift.

Soul care begins with our breath. We bring our attention back to our breathing and as we do, we remember that we are not guaranteed our next breath. We remember that we are dust and to dust we shall return. Each breath we take is truly a miracle. As we bring our attention to our breath, oxygen begins to flow to the places where we are storing stress and anxiety. We realize that we have been holding tension and burdens that are not ours to bear. We are able to release the things we cannot control and accept that we can only control our own reactions. 

As our breathing slows and the oxygen flows, we may find our bodies begging for rest. If that’s the case, we know our souls need rest. As our breathing slows and the oxygen flows, we may find our bodies aching with grief. If that’s the case, we know our souls need sanctuary to grieve. As our breathing slows and the oxygen flows, we may find our bodies are lonely. If that’s the case, our souls need connection and belonging. As our breathing slows and the oxygen flows, we may find our spirits need inspiration. If that’s the case, we know our souls need revelation through art, nature, or beauty. 

Our souls speak to the core of who we are: the uniqueness of our individuality wrapped in a body and mind living in this world. As we care for our souls via attending to our breath, we are able to show up fully and wholly here and now, treasuring each breath and each moment this life has to offer us.