Questions About Self-Nurture

Today’s entry is a little philosophical.  It’s also a little more revealing of myself than I am comfortable being.  However, I’d really like to hear your thoughts on the subject.

As the tagline of this blog says, this is a place to explore ways to nurture ourselves.  I am not writing from a standpoint of “Look at me.  I’ve got all the answers.”  I am writing because I too am exploring, I’m walking places I haven’t been before.  I’m seeking out new territory.  I’m telling you about good things I’m seeing along the way, but I am still very much on the journey.  I have not arrived at the destination.  I am asking the questions too.

And today’s question is, how do we balance being good to ourselves with being good?  How can we balance nourishing ourselves with living a moral and ethical life?

Here is where I am coming from.

As you know from my last post, I am a Christian.  That means I find my life’s meaning in the person of Jesus Christ.  I try to follow the teachings of the Bible.

But that doesn’t mean that I am mindless.  It doesn’t mean that I am blind to some of the difficulties of following a faith that occasionally seems at odds with common sense.  (Now don’t get your feathers ruffled.  I know that God’s ways are the wisest and best.  I believe that with my whole heart.  But that doesn’t stop me from wondering.)

Scripture tells us that the best way to nourish ourselves is by depending upon God and obeying Him.  But to be honest, sometimes following what God seems to require involves some personal pain.  Sometimes obeying Him feels like it’s hurting us rather than building us up.

So what do we do when faced with this situation?  How do we live a good life while still being good to ourselves in the times when the two goals feel in opposition to each other?

Thoughts?  Comments?

And don’t worry.  The next post will be much lighter.