Toxic Self-Care: It’s Benefitting Capitalism, Not You
Self-care in a world which teaches us to dislike ourselves, overwork ourselves, and prioritise success over happiness, is radical. Self-care can come with a lot of painful growth, triggers and resurfaced traumas as we try to navigate a space of love, joy and rest, in a society that has made us feel ugly, inadequate, and lazy. It’s vital to see self-care as a radical act of resistance against our modern culture, which can seem as though it’s getting more toxic every day. Self-care is our birthright as human beings. It is not always aesthetic or productive. It is not a face mask after a busy day. It is not a 5-minute meditation before work to increase our productivity. It is not a cocktail on a Friday while feeling burnt-out from an exhausting week. Real self-care benefits you and all of your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs.
Sadly, this movement is has been hijacked by capitalism. The concept of self-care is undervalued, and corporations profit from the practices integral to our survival.
‘Radical Self Care’, is a term coined by feminist icon Audre Lorde. She spoke of self-care and rest as a way to reclaim power in a world that is constantly…
