Skip to content

We Can Do Hard Things: Self-Care

by Jenna Gilio

When you think of self-care, what comes to mind? A great candle? A pair of cozy socks? Binge-watching an entire series on Netflix? While there is certainly a time and place for all of these things, Glennon Doyle has a different idea of what true self-care means on this week’s episode of We Can Do Hard Things. Glennon argues that the “self-care” we see sold to us on television and social media isn’t really self-care at all. This kind of self-care appeals to what she refers to as our “outer-shell.” The outer shell is all about how others experience us, rather than how we experience ourselves. She believes true self-care should always be traced back to a specific inner need. The problem is this: many of us have a difficult time identifying what our needs are. Glennon states, “We are trained to believe to be a good parent or mother or person means abandoning yourself. Being a martyr. Being selfless.” Ironically, Glennon argues that only way we can truly care for others is if we put our own needs first. When we abandon ourselves, we abandon those we love because we are not capable of offering the true gift of ourselves. Contrarily, when we bring our real selves to the table, we grant permission for those we love to do the same. As Glennon puts it, “Self-care is the best kind of others-care.”

At the end of each episode, Glennon leaves her listeners with what she calls a “Next Right Thing.” This week, the Next Right Thing is this: What is one thing you can do each day to recognize or get in touch with your inner soul outside of your typical roles?

If you are interested in joining my “pod-squad,” you can listen to “We Can Do Hard Things” through most podcast services, including Apple PodcastsAudible, and Spotify. Throughout this week, remember that we can do hard things!