{"id":6138,"date":"2026-01-01T09:48:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T09:48:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happylotus.de\/taking-good-care-of-yourself-is-not-selfishness\/"},"modified":"2026-10-01T15:06:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T15:06:57","slug":"taking-good-care-of-yourself-is-not-selfishness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happylotus.de\/en\/taking-good-care-of-yourself-is-not-selfishness\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking good care of yourself is not selfishness"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why self-care in the new year has nothing to do with self-centeredness or self-optimization \u2013 a yoga-therapeutic perspective<\/h4><\/div>

For many people, the start of the year is not a fresh start, but a source of internal stress. We write long lists: more discipline, more exercise, less stress, better routines, a “better self.” <\/p>\n

What is often overlooked in the process is that, with these lists, we place ourselves under immense pressure right from the start\u2014and create the very conditions under which failure becomes almost inevitable.<\/p>\n

For these resolutions convey a clear message: the way you are isn’t enough yet<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

They rarely take into account what our everyday lives actually look like, how exhausted many of us are, or the extent to which our nervous systems are already operating under constant stress. Instead, they demand perseverance, control, and self-discipline. <\/p>\n

And when we\u2014unsurprisingly\u2014fail to remain consistent, something very predictable happens: the inner critic takes command.<\/p>\n

Suddenly it’s no longer about development, but about self-devaluation. \u201cI wanted to do something good for myself\u201d becomes \u201cI can\u2019t manage it again.\u201d Many then give up completely – not only in terms of their intention, but also in how they deal with themselves. <\/p>\n

From a yoga-therapeutic perspective, this is not a personal failure. It is the logical consequence of a system that relies on pressure rather than self-regulation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Gut<\/span>

\u00a9 freepik\/freepik.com<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Self-care is not self-centeredness<\/h4><\/div>

It is precisely on this point that confusion often arises: self-care is equated with selfishness or egocentrism.<\/p>\n

But that is a fundamental error.<\/p>\n

Egocentrism<\/strong> means placing one’s own needs above those of others, disregarding boundaries, and losing sight of the relationship.
\nSelf-care<\/strong>, on the other hand, means recognizing one\u2019s own needs, taking responsibility for one\u2019s own state, and regulating one\u2019s nervous system in such a way that relationship remains possible in the first place.<\/p>\n

In yoga therapy, we view self-care not as a withdrawal from life, but as a prerequisite for a healthy, connected existence. Those who consistently push past their own limits do not become more generous, helpful, or present\u2014but rather exhausted, irritable, or mentally disengaged. <\/p>\n

Taking good care of yourself is therefore not a sign of self-centeredness, but of self-responsibility.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Gut<\/span>

\u00a9 freepik\/freepik.com<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Self-care is not self-optimization, either<\/h4><\/div>

Especially at the beginning of the year, it is important to clearly distinguish self-care from self-optimization.<\/p>\n

Self-optimization often follows these internal assumptions:<\/p>\n