The Second Rule of Self Care

Rule number two:

Be grateful to the three yous. There’s the past you, the present you, and the future you.

If you want to love someone and have someone love you back, you have to learn to love yourself, and the three yous are the key.

Be grateful to the past you for the positive things you’ve done and do favors for the future you.

Feeling unmotivated and down on yourself today? Stop a second, think of a good decision you made yesterday. Salad and tuna instead of Big Mac? Thank you younger me. Was yesterday a nonzero day because you wrote 200 words? Thank you younger me. Saved up some coin over time to buy that sweet thing you wanted? Thank you.

Second part of the three mes is you have to do your future self a favor, just like you would for your best friend (no best friend? You do now. You got two. It’s future and past you).

Tired as heck and can’t get off television/videogames/internet? You know what present self? This one’s for future me, I’m going to rock out P90X Ab Ripper for 17 minutes. I’m doing this one for future me.

Alarm clock goes off and bed is too comfy? You know what present self? This one’s for my best friend, the future me. I’m up and going for a one mile run (or quarter mile run, as long as it’s a non-zero)!

Make sure you thank your old self for rocking out at the end of every single thing that makes your life better. The cycle of doing something for someone else (future you) and thanking someone for the good in your life (past you) is key to building gratitude and productivity.

Over time you should spread the gratitude to others who help you on your path.