Goals, intense goals, can keep a person alive when nothing else will. You've all heard of people who lived beyond expectation because they wanted to see a child graduate from college, a wedding, or other important occasion. The mind is VERY powerful. Goals can help you to live longer. No medicine in world is as powerful in bringing about long life, as is desire to accomplish something.

This is an issue of self-esteem. You have to feel that you deserve to feel good in order to do what it takes. Sure, there are times when work or family need all your attention, however, once crisis is over, return to taking care of yourself. If crisis is too long, you'll run out of energy and begin to deplete all your reserves. This won't help your work or family, will it? It is also likely to cause you to resent work, demands or people. Then, you might beat yourself up for feeling that when, actually, resentment is simply a sign that you are not giving yourself what you are giving to others. Notice this and take better care of yourself.

Be consistent with your self-care. This doesn't mean creating a rigid schedule. That only causes resistance. Be gentle, yet firm, with yourself. Exercise for thirty minutes three times a week. That's a great start...and it's do-able. Once you get that established, you'll probably feel like adding to it, so, take a walk, play a game or go for a swim. Set yourself up to win and enjoy it! You deserve it.

Consistency creates self-confidence. Go for it!