“Self-preservation is what’s really going on today.”
This line from this Candi Staton classic always just hits me right in the feels. It always gets me thinking. It makes me attentive to what I am actually doing to preserve myself, my health and mental health.
I’ve always loved this song “Young hearts run free”, even though it is 10 years older that I am. I may not be married with children, but self-preservation is definitely right at the top of my list of priorities.
To some those words may just be that, a sequence of words strung together. But for me it is a reminder to be mindful of the things I allow into my life. It is a reminder that I need to be wary of the boundaries I have set in both my personal and professional life.
To preserve something means to maintain something, or to make it last longer. To me, self-preservation means going about life in a certain way that will ensure you are able to experience as much of it as you can. To me, it means making sure you are equipped to overcome all the tiny stumbling blocks and ensuring you have the mental resilience to climb those big mountains that are sure to be found on our journey through life.
Self-preservation is when you realise you deserve to rest. You deserve to be spoiled and pampered. It is when you realise you are brave enough to stand up for yourself and what you believe in.
Too many times we feel guilty about taking time for ourselves or when we buy that item we’ve wanted for so long. Sometimes we feel as if we are weaker than the generations that have gone before us, but to this generation’s defence life was a lot less complicated and stressful than it is now.
Preserving oneself may well be a selfish act, but it is the kind of selfishness that is needed to ensure longevity.
The other line from the same song is, “My mind must be free to learn all I can about me”. Needless to say, this too has to do with preserving yourself. We spend so much time thinking about the negative that surrounds us, whether directly or indirectly, that we don’t leave much space to think about the greatness we want to achieve. We forget it is our own will that has got us so far in our lives. We need to clear our mind of the things that hamper our prosperity. We need to place focus on our strengths and our reasons for self-preservation. And it has absolutely nothing to do with anyone else in our lives, but ourselves and respecting ourselves enough to create the certainty of a life filled with moments of clarity, no guilt and contentment.
Do not be ashamed of whatever you choose to be your catalyst to self preservation. Proudly stand your ground and make it your number 1 priority to give yourself a chance to live as much and for as long as you can. After all, it is your right.
So, I too want to “encourage the babies, every time they say self-preservation is what’s really going on today.”
