The art of caring for yourself

Our obsession with measurement drives our behaviour

We are obsessed with measurements. We constantly measure ourselves, our environment, and our performance. We know our weight, age, height, circumference, intelligence, emotional intelligence, wealth, blood pressure, and heart rate…

And we chase these measurements. It is often a lifelong challenge to reach the ideal weight, to feel slightly superior with a higher IQ, or to build the ego through wealth indicators - a fancy car, expensive shoes, a name-brand handbag for everyone to see.

All these measurements track our interactions with the world or in relation to other people.

Developing self-care

What if we had a measure of how we take care of ourselves? An indicator of how we look after our own well-being, the way we talk to ourselves, our brain health, our efforts to maintain a positive mindset, and how we become our own cheerleader - the Me Quotient, or Me Q.

The concept of Me Q uses a range of indicators to determine how connected we are with ourselves. A better connection improves self-belief, awakens potential, unlocks better relationships, and, most importantly, leads to discovering the amazing person you truly are. Improving your Me Q score is not difficult. It requires only small shifts, but they must be purposeful, consistent, and deliberate. The impact of all of this is profound; it can change your life.

First indicator - changing the inner voice from negative to positive

We all have that inner voice — the little voice that can often be very judgemental when we make a mistake or struggle with something. Become aware of how you talk to yourself.

That inner voice is you speaking to yourself. Do you encourage yourself, or do you use harmful and hurtful words, putting yourself down?

Realise that you can change that inner voice. You can be kinder to yourself. Encourage yourself. Because if you don’t encourage yourself first, who will?

If the inner voice says you cannot do something, respond with an assertive: I can do this.

If the inner voice says you are stupid, respond with: You are so wrong. I am wise, exceptional, and amazing. Feel how your emotions and mindset shift.

Second indicator - be more purposeful in how you view the world

The best way to explain this is through an analogy.

If you buy a yellow car, all of a sudden you become aware of all the yellow cars on the road. They were always there, but now you notice them. Filtering works in the same way.

If you have a filter that always expects the negative, you will see the negative side of every situation. If you always expect something to go wrong, you will notice how things go wrong.

Changing your filter requires deliberate focus. Because your mind is accustomed to a certain way of looking at the world — and often quite set in its ways — you will need to unlearn and relearn.

When you notice you’re slipping into a negative or destructive filter, simply ask: Is this true? Is there something I am missing?

Third indicator - do you treat your brain as your most valuable asset

Our brains are involved in absolutely everything we do, yet we seldom pay them much attention.

Neuroscientists are conducting extensive research into neuroplasticity and how we can help our brains work better for us. And it is simpler than we think.

According to Dr Andrew Hubermann, even mild cardiovascular exercise for 45 minutes regularly can help the brain’s memory system. Spect imaging by Dr Daniel Amen shows the impact of alcohol and drug abuse on brain health.

Become aware of your brain’s health and fitness, not just physically, but also your thoughts.

Your brain is key to your health and well-being and deserves respect.

The power of MeQ

The power of MeQ (Me Quotient) lies in its ability to enhance our connection with ourselves, which in turn significantly impacts our overall well-being, mindset, and life experiences. It is about shifting our focus from external measurements - like wealth, intelligence, or appearance - to an internal one, based on self-care, self-compassion, and positive self-talk.

Nothing describes the sentiment of Me Q better than this quote by Lao Tzu, which has been true for centuries:

🪄 ‘Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.’