I know you might find this hard to believe, what with me being a superstar coach and all, but sometimes I get a teeeensy bit moody and snappy at times…especially when I’m not feeling good.
Case in point, recently when I was struggling with a trapped nerve in my neck.
I hadn’t slept well at all, and I was eating breakfast with a face like a slapped arse.
Kev kindly said he thought I should try to bring my next chiropractor appointment forward.
I knew he was right, but the thought of trawling through my calendar to look for a space, and getting on the phone to make another appointment just seemed to tip me over the edge and I strutted out of the kitchen saying, “I just can’t deal with that right now!” like he’d just asked me to mend a puncture on his car.
Bonkers, eh? He was only trying to be helpful.
I knew he was right, but I didn’t want to hear it because it meant a bit of extra effort was required.
When I’d been on my own for five minutes in my office I could see what a mad cow I was being, and I went about rebooking my appointment.
I decided to go for the next available appointment even if it clashed with a coaching call, because I knew I’d be useless until I sorted the pain out.
I basically took the advice I’d give to anyone else and looked after myself before I tried to help anyone else.
Later that day, I apologised to Kev for being grumpy, and I thanked him for caring enough about me to suggest getting help for my neck.
He hugged me close - a little too close in fact and said, “It wasn’t for your benefit - it was for mine. I was fed up with looking at your miserable face!”
(Don’t worry I gave him a slap once I’d struggled free…)
Of course, it’s easy to laugh about these things when you’ve calmed down, but the message remains true every single time:
Self care isn’t selfish.
You’re a better person to be around if you look after yourself as well as you look after others.
Being a martyr doesn’t help anyone.