Fill Your Cup

All of us from time to time feel as if there's something empty inside of us.  I have always thought there are certain cups within each of us that we need to fill;  spiritual, mother, father, music, nature, the arts, productivity.  Each of these things can't be filled by anything else, although some try -- with booze, drugs, sexual promiscuity -- you get the picture.  

But we all have a self cup as well that needs to be filled.  We're not much good to anyone else if our own cup isn't filled.  So often, we put others' needs before our own.  But in order to be helpful or inspiring to others, we need to be that for ourselves first.  And that only comes from taking time for ourselves each morning, before trying to be good for the world. It’s not selfish, it’s required.  How many of you grew up like I did, thinking the only right thing is to think of others first?  I'll repeat that:  It's not selfish, its required.

We all have needs that go unmet, apart from spiritual needs. Problems develop in relationships because we hope and expect that others will meet those needs, even when we’re not sure what those needs are. Our lack of filling our own cup creates an emptiness -- leaving us with nothing to give to others.  We're often pushed and pulled in a hundred different directions.  Like Bilbo in The Fellowship of the Ring, we feel “thin, like butter scraped over too much bread.”  Sometimes there's just not enough to go around. 

 

If you’re feeling used-up and empty, spend some time on self–nurturing. This doesn’t have to be a fabulous vacation.  It's about the little things - small daily gifts to yourself, little ways to feed your spirit with beauty and rituals that make you smile and give you pleasure.

When you nurture yourself with love and beauty, you fill your own cup so you can help and give to others. Find some simple ways to take care of your own needs so that you can care for others from your own fullness rather than emptiness.   It could be as simple as stopping at a flower shop and purchasing a single red rose.  A soft scented candle (small votive candles are usually less than 50cents!) to fill a room with a favorite scent.  A long bubbly bath, a glass of wine, or both!  It isn't something that I might suggest-- its something that gives you pleasure, nurtures your senses, and fills your cup.

Find something that fills your cup today!