Reasons to Treat Yourself Often

The phrase “treat yourself” has been warped in our culture, so much so, that when you look up the word “treat” the first example is:

“Treat yourself-you can diet tomorrow”.

To “treat yourself” is to indulge in unusual practices that brings great pleasure and joy. It is unfortunate that in our society, we feel compelled to deprive ourselves of things we enjoy for purposes that tend to be superficial. We are trained to restrict ourselves in various ways to encourage self-discipline.

Somehow food became entangled in discipline because people fear “letting themselves go” and “loosening up”, because they are afraid of looking different and being rejected by society. With deprivation comes the craving and the lack of discipline that people find abhorrent. If we didn’t deprive ourselves and we chose to treat ourselves with care and incorporated pleasurable things in our lives, we might not feel caught in a repetitive cycle.

Fortunately, we have the power to change this cycle by using self-discipline as a positive force in our lives.

Self-discipline generally has a harsh, restrictive, and negative connotation. The definition encompasses an “ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it”. Unfortunately, we live in a world where self-care is not a norm, and it is difficult for people to feel deserving of pleasure and joy, but what if we used self-discipline to encourage treats and self-care in our lives? Can we use self-discipline to do something fun, daily or even once a week? Reading a book or a magazine? Waking up late or going to bed early? Going to the theater or having a night in watching movies? Going to a nail salon? A nice dinner out? The possibilities are endless.

Treats and self-care should be encouraged as a common practice that enriches our lives rather than an indulgence.